Kohberger Appealed WSU Teaching Assistant Termination
The former doctoral student challenged his firing just days before his December 2022 arrest for murder.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Higher Education
Bryan Kohberger appealed his December 19, 2022, termination from his teaching assistant position at Washington State University in Pullman. The appeal was sent to the Dean of Graduate Studies two days after his firing and before his subsequent arrest on murder charges.
Why it matters
The appeal reveals Kohberger stated he required the income and health insurance from his teaching assistant role to remain enrolled in his PhD program. Washington State University had initiated the termination following alleged altercations with a faculty member.
Kohberger had been placed on an improvement plan less than three months into his teaching assistant role. He is currently serving four life sentences at an Idaho prison after entering guilty pleas in July 2025.
The players
Bryan Kohberger
He is a former doctoral student at Washington State University who is currently serving four life sentences for murder.
Washington State University
This is a public research university located in Pullman, Washington, where Kohberger was pursuing his graduate studies.
The details
Washington State University officially terminated Kohberger on December 19, 2022, and later hand-delivered an emergency suspension notice to him at the Monroe County Correctional Facility on December 30. Kohberger is currently seeking to overturn the guilty pleas he entered for the murders in 2025.
Timeline
December 19, 2022: Kohberger received his teaching assistant termination letter.
December 21, 2022: Kohberger sent an appeal letter to the dean.
December 30, 2022: Kohberger was arrested and suspended by WSU.
July 2025: Kohberger entered guilty pleas to murder charges.
Roadmap
This administrative record offers insight into the period immediately preceding the 2022 Idaho student murders. It documents the intersection of academic disciplinary processes with a high-profile criminal investigation involving the suspect.
The case highlights the administrative protocols used by Washington State University to manage student employees during criminal investigations. These procedures remain a focal point for transparency in how the institution handles graduate staff employment status.
The takeaway
The documentation underscores how quickly academic and legal statuses can diverge during a major criminal investigation. It serves as a stark reminder of the complexities involved when institutional employment ends abruptly for students in high-stakes graduate programs.
Further reading
For more on campus policy and graduate administration, visit Higher Education.
