VSE Faculty:
There has been a lot of discussion over the past several months
about the fact that VSE needs to improve significantly both the
quality and quantity of doctoral students if we are to achieve our
aspirations for significant research growth. There are a number of
dimensions to addressing this problem, some of which will take time
to implement. For example, at this late date, we cannot
realistically increase the size or quality of the pool of doctoral
candidates for fall 2017. However, we can immediately raise the
stipends we offer. By doing this, we may be able to improve the
yield from the current pool of applicants and attract more of the
best students in that pool. With this in mind, the Volgenau School
will make the following changes to stipends and tuition credits for
doctoral GTAs/GRAs:
Stipend Levels
- Beginning in fall 2017, the minimum stipend for doctoral GTAs
(not masters GTAs) will be $21,000.
- Beginning in fall 2017, the minimum stipend for school-funded
doctoral GRAs (typically associated with tenure-track faculty
start up packages or project cost-sharing) will be $21,000.
- As of today, all new proposals for sponsored research should
budget a minimum of $21,000 for doctoral GRAs.
- All existing doctoral GTAs and GRAs will receive stipends of
at least $21,000 as of fall 2017. If a sponsored project has
GRAs who earn a lower stipend, and the PI does not have project
funds to cover the difference, the PI may present a proposal to
Kim Goodwin-Slater, the School's Director of Finance, for
financial support from VSE. Kim will take into account the size
of the indirect pool available to the PI when evaluating the
proposal.
- Departments are free to offer stipend levels higher than
$21,000 if they have funds available, such as through Provost
awards.
Tuition Credits
- Beginning in fall 2107, tuition credits will be increased from
6 per semester to 9 per semester for doctoral GTAs and
school-funded doctoral GRAs.
- As of today. all new proposals for sponsored research should
budget 9 credit hours per semester for doctoral GRAs.
- If a GRA is supported by an existing grant, and if the
increase in tuition credits cannot be supported by the grant,
the PI can make a proposal to Kim Goodwin-Slater for financial
support from VSE. As above, Kim will take into account the size
of the indirect pool available to the PI when evaluating the
proposal.
If you have questions about this, please contact me or Kim
Goodwin-Slater ([log in to unmask]) for more
information.
Stephen Nash
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Stephen G. Nash
Senior Associate Dean
Volgenau School of Engineering
George Mason University
Nguyen Engineering Building, Room 2500
Mailstop 5C8
Fairfax, VA 22030
[log in to unmask]
Phone: (703) 993-1505
Fax: (703) 993-1633
https://volgenau.gmu.edu/profile/view/10248