Graduate Student Senate President Tracy Kelly delivered specifics last night of the upcoming one percent merit pool increase, which will funnel an additional $118,000 to graduate student employees.
I contacted the Provost's Office and I was able to receive a monetary amount as to what (the increase) means to the Graduate College
Kelly said. And that means an increase of $118 000.
The money total is one percent of the total salaries of graduate students on contract receiving pay checks, said John Day, associate provost for academic budget and planning.
As it is currently outlined, the Dean's office would have the authority to distribute the money to the Graduate College however they saw fit.
Graduate Student Senate would like to propose our own way to allocating that money Kelly said. I have talked to the Provost Office and (they said) that would be acceptable.
While the Dean's office does have the authority to allocate the funds, there are no specifics to where the money must go.
There is no central policy for how they must do something (with the money)
Day said. There have not been any restrictions...they can use the money for new stipends or old ones.
Kelly wants to make sure that money is properly spent in the college.
My understanding is that they are going to accept what we think should be an appropriate expenditure to make sure that it goes correctly to the graduate students
Kelly said.
The provost plans to work with both the Graduate College and the deans to finalize a method of allocating the money, said Ann Fidler, interim associate provost for strategic initiatives.
Since Provost Benoit is new
she wants to start having a conversation with deans in the past to see if they have been satisfied with the expenditure of moneys
Fidler said. She hasn't had the conversation with them yet...that is where she would want to start.
One option that GSS is pushing is to use the money to buy down the general fee increase approved by the Board of Trustees last week.
I am still working on some numbers right now
Kelly said. But it looks like right now that the $118
000 could entirely offset the entire 3.5 percent general fee increase.
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