Stanford University has committed to issuing a $1,000 lump sum at the start of the winter term to Ph.D. According to emails sent to these students at their respective schools.
The email, signed by Lloyd Minor, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Debra Satz, Dean of the School of Humanities, said both schools offer $1,000 scholarships to eligible students for recent and long-term seizures. increase. affordability issue It affects graduate students.
PhD students from other schools, including engineering, education, and law schools, do not receive scholarships.
The announcement follows several attempts by graduate students to draw attention to issues such as affordability and cost of living.
On November 7th, I received an email summarizing my affordability concerns signed by over 400 PhDs in biological sciences. Sent to students, minors and other university administrators. The email, citing a survey sent to the biological sciences graduate community, found that “91.8% of his respondents reported that their scholarship did not meet their living expenses.” understood.
The same email also highlighted increased scholarships for other colleges. Citing Princeton’s 25% increase in scholarships this yearand MIT’s 8.7% Scholarship Increased from last year.
The Graduate Student Council (GSC) has also been active in addressing affordability issues. GSC he voted in September. approval of affordable billIt included a list of seven “action items” that addressed many affordability concerns, including housing and income.
The bill compared students with residents in Santa Clara County and across the country and identified that the income of Stanford graduate students falls into the “very low” income category. The bill also addresses specific housing issues, with a graduate student reporting spending 45% of her income on housing.
The council co-chairs applauded the university for taking action on scholarships.
“We reached out to both Dean Satz and Dean Minor and thank them for their leadership on this matter,” said GSC Co-Chair Emily Schell. . student. Schell said she and her council co-chair, Jason Anderson, are in her senior year with her doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics. Students were encouraged to follow the leadership of Dean Satz and Dean Minor by copying thank-you emails to deans of other vocational schools.
“The university and its individual schools continually evaluate all financial aspects of their graduate programs and work to address the affordability challenge,” said University spokesperson Luisa Rapport. I am writing.
Anderson said the council plans to continue prioritizing affordability, benefits and mental health.
“We and the Council alumni have been working on this issue of affordability … and we have traction here,” said Anderson. “This is a really big problem.”
Anderson and Shell, who have PhDs. Education and Engineering students are not paid.
“This is the first step. It’s certainly not the last step we expect from universities to tackle this supportability issue,” Shell said.
