U. gives grad students more cash
Sophia Li
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Campus News
On Feb. 23, the University's highest governing body announced a budget that would increase the net investment in graduate education to $12.4 million from $10.8 million.
The increased funding will allow the Graduate School to expand the first-year class without having to reduce the level of support for each student, said Sheila Bonde, dean of the Graduate School.
Stipends for both current and entering doctoral students on University support will increase from $18,500 to $19,000, said Richard Spies, executive vice president for planning and senior adviser to the president.
Spies said the change in stipend will not affect master's students. "Most of those programs do not regularly provide fellowship support."
Spies said that Brown's more competitive stipend will be more attractive to prospective doctoral students.
"Obviously, any increase in stipend will benefit the graduate students' well-being, making it much easier to focus on our research and teaching rather than worrying about financial matters," wrote James Doyle GS, president of the Graduate Student Council, in an e-mail.
"Among schools that provide stipends, teaching assistant positions or research assistant positions, Brown is definitely comparable in its offer of financial support," Doyle wrote. "The guarantee of five years of reasonable compensation definitely factored into my decision to attend Brown."
The deliberations of the University Resources Committee are confidential, said Professor of Political Science Terrence Hopmann, a URC member.
"For a variety of reasons, last year there were some cuts in the funding of the Graduate School," Hopmann said, adding that the increase this year is in part compensating for cuts made last year.
But he added that the increase in funding for the Graduate School will help Brown recruit faculty.
"Having a good-sized graduate program is so important to a department's reputation," said Ruth Colwill, associate professor of psychology and chair of the Faculty Executive Committee, which addresses faculty concerns.
The increased funding will allow the Graduate School to expand the first-year class without having to reduce the level of support for each student, said Sheila Bonde, dean of the Graduate School.
Stipends for both current and entering doctoral students on University support will increase from $18,500 to $19,000, said Richard Spies, executive vice president for planning and senior adviser to the president.
Spies said the change in stipend will not affect master's students. "Most of those programs do not regularly provide fellowship support."
Spies said that Brown's more competitive stipend will be more attractive to prospective doctoral students.
"Obviously, any increase in stipend will benefit the graduate students' well-being, making it much easier to focus on our research and teaching rather than worrying about financial matters," wrote James Doyle GS, president of the Graduate Student Council, in an e-mail.
"Among schools that provide stipends, teaching assistant positions or research assistant positions, Brown is definitely comparable in its offer of financial support," Doyle wrote. "The guarantee of five years of reasonable compensation definitely factored into my decision to attend Brown."
The deliberations of the University Resources Committee are confidential, said Professor of Political Science Terrence Hopmann, a URC member.
"For a variety of reasons, last year there were some cuts in the funding of the Graduate School," Hopmann said, adding that the increase this year is in part compensating for cuts made last year.
But he added that the increase in funding for the Graduate School will help Brown recruit faculty.
"Having a good-sized graduate program is so important to a department's reputation," said Ruth Colwill, associate professor of psychology and chair of the Faculty Executive Committee, which addresses faculty concerns.