Graduate students can expect to get a portion of their yearly stipends more frequently in the coming academic year.
A new bi-weekly stipend distribution will take effect this fall, said Ohio University’s Graduate Student Senate President Tracy Kelly. This means students would experience somewhat of a “pay day” every two weeks instead of solely the beginning of each month.
There will now eight pay periods a semester. The first pay cycle can be expected on Sept. 15 with another following on Sept. 30. The new distribution plan is aimed to alleviate some of graduate students financial burdens.
Graduate students can make anywhere from an estimated $3,500 to 10,000, said Kelly.
Stipend amounts vary depending on the graduate degree being pursued and area of study.
“With the masters the pay is below the poverty level,” said Kelly.
This push for additional “pay days” was in the works last year within the bursar’s office and graduate council but got pushed back due to other developments with the Graduate Student Senate.
