gazette@watserv1.waterloo.edu (Chris Redmond) (03/12/91)
Text intended for this week's Gazette: ............................................................ After much pondering, a UW policy on graduate student support is nearing the final stage of approval. It goes before senate next Monday, after receiving the blessing of senate graduate council last month. It has also been discussed extensively at faculty council meetings. The policy is the product of the graduate student support advisory committee, chaired by Dr. Jim Kalbfleisch, associate provost (academic affairs). Faculty and grad students were represented on the committee. "I feel very good about it, because a lot of people have worked hard on it," said Nelson Joannette, president of the Graduate Student Association. "Because of our input, I feel confident that we are representing graduate students." The policy spells out guidelines to follow in dealing with graduate students across the campus, including a dispute resolution mechanism. It sets out a process in offering financial support to new graduate students. The two main sources of money for grads are research assistantships, paid for by research grants and contracts, and teaching assistantships, provided from the UW operating budget. The policy says that by accepting an offer of admission and financial support, a student agrees to perform the required duties. "Students| shall be informed of the normal completion times for the program, the minimum total level of financial support that is promised, the period of time over which this support will be provided, and any special conditions concerning continuation of the support." UW will "make every effort" to keep financial support at the levels promised, despite possible cuts in external funds, the policy says. Students can apply through their faculty for emergency assistance. The policy outlines employment duties, hours of work, and procedures governing rates of pay. Safety training and responsibilities are also touched on. Joannette said the policy is a positive development. "Its major purpose is to make incoming graduate students aware of what they can expect." He looks forward to tackling other issues as a member of the graduate student advisory committee. Among them: parental leave, minimum support levels and the first consideration of grads for marking jobs before markers are hired from off campus. The committee is expected to present a report on conditions and minimum levels of support, together with implementation procedures, by February 1992. An interim report is due in September. It "will consider such factors as the definition of support, degree completion times, the cost of living for graduate students, data on poverty levels (and) market conditions in some disciplines," Kalbfleisch says in a memo. It will also check the situation at other Ontario universities. Joannette said UW's creation of a policy on graduate student support differs from what's happening other campuses, where grads have formed unions to press for better pay and working conditions. Graduate students at the University of Western Ontario recently reached a deal much like UW's. "The difference is that we have a long-term policy, whereas at Western it is an agreement." He said it has taken about three years to prepare the final policy. Three grad presidents, including himself, and other student volunteers were involved in the process.