Dear Students,
As many of you are already aware, the University has generously made a significant commitment to The Graduate School to ensure that our programs are or will become among the most competitive in the nation. An announcement to this effect was made to the press a few weeks ago. In the intervening time, a number of you have approached me and my colleagues around the University with the obvious question, “What does this mean for me?” I’d like to spend some time in this message addressing these relevant concerns.
Our endeavor in the allocation of these new resources is to make the maximum impact on the maximum number of programs across all disciplines. Each program, to some extent, has its own particular wants and needs, and we have done our best to listen to the leadership of programs and schools, as well as of student groups, to determine the most effective distribution of funds. We recognize that anticipation is high that you and your program will be significantly impacted in some way. We hope that in most instances this is the case. However, it is important to convey up front that neither all programs nor all students will benefit equally or in the same ways as a result of these new investments.
I’d like to begin by explaining the resource allocation that will certainly benefit all students in some manner. We have discussed in our strategic plans for the past two years the desire to “build a better student,” and a major portion of new resources will go to this effort. What is building a better student? We already support a large number of initiatives towards this end and are pleased to add significant funds to support:
We firmly believe that support for these items, above and beyond competitive stipends and health insurance coverage, is critical for your success and the ongoing competitive advantage of our graduate programs as a whole. Specific amounts available for individual students for these items will be made public later this academic year. Details are, quite honestly, still being worked out, but the additional resources being added in these categories are significant.
Beyond the funds to build a better student, we are making specific allocations to schools in the interest of maintaining and promoting the competitiveness of our programs overall. What I would like to provide here is an overview of the types of allocations we are making to individual schools, allocations that have been based, again, on the needs raised by each particular school and its programs and/or as a result of analysis by The Graduate School. What follows are the broad goals (in no particular order) of our new investments beyond “building a better student,” rather than specific details about particular allocations to this department or that one (many of these details are also still being finalized). You will note that funds will be dedicated almost exclusively to quality and not quantity – we do not plan to grow the size of departmental programs substantially over the next five years. However, we will expand somewhat in targeted areas across the University. We encourage you to talk with your program directors of graduate study and chairs to learn more about the impact these new resources will have on you and your program this year and beyond. Not all initiatives will take place in the next academic year, but it is our intention that most, if not all, will be instituted.
Goal #1: Guarantee funding for all PhD students for at least five years
It is our firm belief at TGS that, because PhD students typically require at least five years to complete, we should do everything in our power to fund them for this time period, so long as satisfactory academic progress is being made. Funds are being made available to individual schools so that this guarantee can be made for new and continuing students, given the current size and distribution of our student population. This is of particular importance in non-science and engineering programs.
Goal #2: Raise stipends in areas where we are less competitive
Our research suggests that in nearly all fields our stipends are already competitive, especially when one compares the cost of living in Chicago to that of other metropolitan areas. That said, there are certain disciplines in which we are less competitive, and additional resources will be provided in targeted ways to improve our recruitment and retention rates. Funds provided may be used for new and continuing students. Please note: the base stipend set by TGS and provided to all funded students will be the same for all PhD programs and will continue to rise annually at its historical rate (approximately 2.5%).
Goal #3: Provide summer stipend for all PhD students for at least four years
Making progress toward your degree is a year-round effort. To this end, we plan to guarantee that all PhD students are funded with fellowships, traineeships, or assistantships over the summer for at least four years of study.
Goal #4: Subsidize health insurance costs such that all students are covered equally
We have already achieved this goal, as it was the top priority for new resource allocation by TGS to ensure that no student was disadvantaged when it came to health insurance coverage. This goal has been achieved in two key ways: a) we have increased the subsidization of students who receive only the base stipend to 100%, and b) we have ensured that students who are paid over the base stipend are subsidized at 50% and compensated such that they can cover the remaining 50% of the premium. New resources will be dedicated to ensuring this continued coverage.
Goal #5: Catalyze innovative research across and within disciplines
These resources will support independent as well as group research exploring new directions. A significant percentage of new resources dedicated to science and engineering programs will be to fund new areas of research that are new and therefore perhaps not yet funded by external agencies. TGS will work with the deans of its partner schools as well as with the Office of Research to dedicate these new resources most effectively. Many plans are under discussion, and it is safe to say there will be a focus on support for interdisciplinary programs where new research meets at the nexus of multiple programs.
Goal #6: Increase years of fellowship available in targeted programs
In many disciplines, it is essential to have time dedicated to research and writing without the responsibility of providing service as a teaching or research assistant. For this reason, in targeted disciplines, we plan to increase the fellowship funding available to new and continuing students. In many programs located in WCAS, students will now receive two years of guaranteed fellowship.
Goal #7: Stimulate innovative recruitment activity
The University must ensure its competitive position relative to its peers, and a significant part of this insurance involves being creative in how we recruit students. These efforts will include steps to diversify our graduate student population as well as to improve the recruitment of the best students nationally and internationally. In the next year, TGS will work with the deans of its partner schools as well as with program leaders to determine the most effective strategy for new resource allocation to stimulate creativity in our recruitment efforts.
I very much hope that this overview helps explain the strategy of TGS to improve the diverse portfolio of graduate programs across the University. I understand that not all of your questions will be answered here and I will look forward to further communication with you on these topics as more details are finalized. This certainly will be a topic for an upcoming Town Hall Meeting and/or for discussion during a spring Run with the Dean. In the meantime, again, please discuss these plans with your program leadership as well as with me and my terrific staff at TGS, who stand ready to answer your questions, support your progress, and promote your success as much as we are able.
Best,
Andrew B. Wachtel
Dean, The Graduate School
Last updated: Mar 6 2008 3:14PM
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