Ohio State increases minimum graduate stipends by $4,000 over two years
Graduate associates provide vital teaching, research and operational functions
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The Ohio State University |
To enhance support for graduate students, The Ohio State University is increasing the minimum stipend for teaching, research and other graduate associates by $2,000 for the current academic year and another $2,000 in the upcoming academic year, President Kristina M. Johnson told University Senate today. This initiative is the result of conversations between university leadership and the Council of Graduate Students, and the work of the university’s Graduate Compensation and Benefits Committee.
This $4,000 increase will bring the university’s minimum stipend for nine-month, 50% appointments to $21,280 by fall 2021. About 3,500 graduate associates will be paid more under the initiative.
With these increases, Ohio State’s minimum stipend is projected to improve from below the median in the Big Ten to among the top third. Based on current figures, with this change, the university’s 2021-22 stipend would be fourth highest in the Big Ten.
“This is an investment in Ohio State’s academic mission and in our graduate students, who are a vital part of the university community,” said Johnson. “Graduate associates teach classes, conduct research and scholarship, and support the university while they are simultaneously earning advanced degrees.”
The university employs about 4,400 graduate associates each year, and stipends vary by position.
“This stipend increase has been a core goal of the Council of Graduate Students and is culmination of many meetings our administration had with the president, provost, dean of the graduate school, and vice president of student life,” said Council of Graduate Students President Stephen Post. “We are proud of our work through the university shared governance system and the continued collaboration on the Graduate Compensation and Benefits Committee.”
Details are being finalized on the implementation of the increases and will be shared in the coming weeks.
Ohio State has been increasing graduate stipends over a number of years. Since 2013-14, the university has increased the minimum stipend by $5,280.
“Increasing stipends for graduate teaching, research and administrative associates has been a top university priority,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Bruce A. McPheron. “We thank the members of the Graduate Compensation and Benefits Committee and Council of Graduate Students for their work on this important topic.”
