From the AR BLUES FORUM, CO-Sponsored by Graduate Students United and the Graduate Funding Committee

I. Summary of recommendations from the Provost’s Committee on AR and Time to Degree:

The following recommendations were the basis for the open forums in October, and will guide the Provost’s decision:

1.    AR Tuition (reduce it, but don’t eliminate it): The report maintains that AR out-of-pocket tuition allows graduate students to contribute to and access University services in our advanced residency years, and encourages us to finish faster. The report acknowledges that AR tuition rates have increased to a burdensome amount.  They recommend: reducing AR tuition for all graduate students, but not eliminating it (recommendation #1).  They suggest an end to AR out-of-pocket tuition waivers to those who teach on campus and a redistribution of the savings to reduce AR tuition for all AR students (recommendation #2).
2.    Teaching (more access, but limit amount, take out loans): Centrally and publicly list available teaching jobs on campus. At the same time, create limits on the amount of teaching a student can do in any one year.  Students shouldn’t be dependent on teaching to cover their financial responsibilities.  We should make up the difference with loans (recommendations 4 and 5).
3.    Structural/Admin changes (more advising, support, fellowships, changes to funding and ER): Divisions and departments should help grad students plan their financial resources better and understand their financial responsibilities; increase the number of fellowships and add 50 new summer research fellowships; include health insurance and tuition coverage in all internal funding awards; allow banking of the 5th year of funding; eliminate ER after the 13th year; extend the GAI to all divisions (recommendations 3, 6, 8-12, 13-15).

II. Summary of counter -recommendations by students-at-large, and by GSU members:

These two main areas of concern came out of the open forums and ongoing student discussions.  We can continue to push for these!

1.    Eliminate out of pocket AR tuition:  It is too high, it keeps us from finishing our degrees on time and it creates undue financial stress.  The University says we should contribute to our education, but it doesn’t recognize how much we contribute through teaching (at still not-so-high wages), working in other campus jobs (at low wages), and through our intellectual labor for the University.  Eliminating AR out-of-pocket tuition would not be a huge burden for the University (it only makes for 0.15% of the University operating budget), yet it would relieve a huge burden on students ($2300 a year, if you can’t teach). 
2.    Extend tuition waivers:  If AR tuition is not going to be eliminated, then reduce it significantly and extend the waiver system. Don’t get rid of the out-of-pocket tuition waiver for those who teach!  We don’t make enough as it is.  A better plan is to extend tuition waivers to ALL students who work on campus.  Don’t limit the amount we can teach if we still have to pay AR tuition (in addition to healthcare and just basic living).  Taking out $30,000 in loans at high interest rates is unacceptable. 
3.    Suspend out-of-pocket tuition immediately, then get rid of it or keep it very low:  Grad students in AR are hurting now!  While we wait for a decision, we are still paying what everyone agrees is an unreasonably high AR out-of-pocket amount.  So, suspend this amount now.  Then eliminate it for good, or reduce it significantly and extend the waiver system!

Happy new year! We have a good deal of news to share:

GSU News

GSU News issue no. 4 will be released next week - look for it in the Reg, Crerar, and cafes around Hyde Park!  This issue will feature a spread on the possibility of GSU affiliating with an international union - more on which below.

AR Tuition

On Thursday, January 28th, 6-8pm in Harper Commons, GSU and the Student Gov't Graduate Funding Committee will host an open forum on the ongoing campaign to abolish tuition charged to Advanced Residence students. Provost Thomas Rosenbaum will likely decide *this quarter* on how AR will be restructured, which makes it a critical time to think through and strategize how the campaign should proceed.  Free pizza and drinks!

For those not familiar with AR tuition issues, there are two documents you can read:  GSU's statement on AR, and the report of the Provost's Committee on AR.

Health Insurance

Thanks to all who took the admin's survey, which included several questions that GSU's health care committee pushed for.

Teaching Availability

GSU has been advocating since last school year for administration to create teaching jobs for all grad students, and our Teaching Availability committee is searching for new members.  If you are interested in organizing around this critical issue, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Departmental Organizers

GSU continues to implement its departmental organizer system, with lead organizers now confirmed in four units:  Anthro, SSA, Music, and EALC.  We are searching for organizers across the university to take on a leadership role in their department or program.  Lead organizers hold departmental meetings to discuss workplace issues and build the organization within their unit.  If you are interested in becoming a departmental organizer, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Affiliation

Lastly, on the possibility of GSU affiliating with an international union. We have held open meetings with SEIU, IWW, AFT and/or AAUP, and are now looking to broaden campus discussion in anticipation of a member referendum in the spring to decide the issue.  There are many ways to learn about it:  read the spread in GSU News, talk about it in departmental meetings, chat about it online....let us know your ideas about how to spread the word!