College of Engineering
Department of Computer Science

CS Graduate Teaching Assistant

The Computer Science Department @ Va Tech Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) assist faculty in the department in the teaching mission, with assignments including laboratory teaching, grading of examinations, problem sets and/or lab assignments, setting up lectures/laboratory sections, and preparing/maintaining laboratory equipment. GTAs gain valuable professional experience for their future career.

All CS graduate students requesting a GTA must complete this survey form every semester.

Who Can Apply

Applicants must be a current VT Computer Science graduate student.

A GTA cannot also hold a GRA position at the same time.

GTA positions require students to be a U.S citizen, permanent resident, or have a VISA that permits them to work in the U.S. with the work authorization card on the date of their GTA contract.
VT and the CS Dept. can not pay GTAs who are not physically located within the United States.

Who Can NOT Apply

BS/MS accelerated CS students may NOT start a GTA position until after they have graduated with their BS degree.
MEng students must NOT submit this form. MEng students are NOT eligible for GTA positions.
NON-CS Grad Students: you must apply to your home department for a GTA position. The CS Dept. does NOT offer CS GTA positions to non-CS grad students.

How GTAs are selected

The department prioritizes Computer Science PhD students in good standing who are making satisfactory progress toward their degree, including the timely completion of academic milestones such as the Plan of Study, PhD Qualifier, and Preliminary Exam. In addition to academic progress, several other factors are considered when assigning GTA positions. These include the student’s degree program (with PhD students prioritized), prior GTA performance, Graduate Student Activity Report (SAR) evaluations, the number of semesters of GTA funding already received, total time spent in the program, any admission funding guarantees, and current departmental course needs. This approach helps ensure that GTA assignments align with both student progress and instructional demands.

Applications

Summer 2026 CS GTA Application
Deadline: May 4, 2026 (May the 4th be with you)
The GTA application survey will confirm your application reception, (i.e., do not email requesting confirmation).

Resources

Virginia Tech Academy for Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Excellence
Canvas

If you need access for lab teaching or otherwise request your supervising CS faculty member to setup access for you through VT Classroom A/V Services.
The VT Graduate school requires certain level of English proficiency. Get more information at the link.

a minimum TOEFL score of 90 (IBT) IELTS score of 6.5
TOEFL scores of 20 or greater in Listening, Writing, Speaking, and Reading subsections are required.
GTA English requirement: score of 25 or greater on the TOEFL Speaking subtest.

Required Training

FERPA and Title IX training are required for all GTAs.
All GTAs are required to complete and submit the FERPA form. The form can NOT be submitted electronically. You must print the form, complete it, sign it and physically turn it in to the secretary in Torgerson Hall room 3210. (If you have previously been a GTA and have already submitted a FERPA form you do NOT need to do so again.)
All Va Tech employees are required to complete Title IX and Retaliation training. The sexual harassment of students and sexual violence involving students are forms of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX and university policy. The training explains Title IX’s focus on sexual harassment, sexual violence and the prohibition against retaliation for participating in a discrimination investigation or complaint. Learn how to support students, satisfy your compliance responsibilities under Virginia Tech’s policy and ensure that actions are not taken to retaliate against someone for bringing or participating in an investigation. Direct all questions regarding Title IX training and access to training to Human Resources at hrservicecenter@vt.edu. (If you have previously been a GTA and have already completed the Title IX Training you do NOT need to do so again. Title IX training needs to be renewed every two years.)

ZOOM webinars for Title IX training will be posted here when they become available. GTAs need only attend only one of the following sessions and engage in the webinar, to receive credit for the Title IX training:

Once you complete the training, VT HR will be informed and update your information to indication your completion. Be aware though, you must engage during the webiunar to receive credit.

Privacy

Be aware that in your duties as a GTA you may have access to other students’ grades and academic work. Note that you will have a legal obligation, (as do all people who work for the university), to maintain the strict confidentiality of any students’ grades and work. As policy, student data must NOT be downloaded for permanent storage. Only temporary download of student data is allowed as necessary for the entry/updating of students' grades. All student data will only be stored on the course servers or instructor’s computer.
NEVER download student data to external data mediums, (USB flash drives, etc.)!
NEVER identify students by their full name and VT ID number via email or in documents.
Return all hard copies of student data to supervisor(s) at the end of the semester for destruction.
Delete ALL temporarily downloaded students' data from your computer!

updated: 2026.3.5 DirAcadOps@cs.vt.edu