Graduate Student Congress
Associated Student Government
University of Arkansas
ASG GSC RESOLUTION 5
2015-2016
RESOLUTION TO REQUEST UNIVERSITY SUPPORT FOR AND
ESTABLISHMENT OF A GRADUATE RESEARCH AND ENROLLMENT
INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR OUT-OF-STATE GRADUATE STUDENTS
Authors: Representative Garrett Jeter, Representative Nasya Sturdivant
Sponsor: GSC Speaker Scout Johnson
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WHEREAS,
the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, has published as part of
its goals for achieving Top 50 ranking to include 1) keeping down
costs of an education at the university, 2) reducing obstacles to
student success, and 3) provisions of competitive compensation
packages so as to recruit quality, talented graduate students
(Gearheart Transparency and Accountability Report, 2009);
AND WHEREAS,
attracting talented and promising grad students will advance Goals
6 and 8, namely, marshaling talent so as to grow the state’s
knowledge-based economy, and graduate students represent
present and future promise of contribution to achievement of those
goals;
AND WHEREAS,
all of the above have the intent of advancing Goal 12, qualitybrand reputation for the University statewide, nationally, and
internationally, as a renowned research institution, and that
academics and scholarship will drive these goals;
AND WHEREAS,
Goal 3 of the Top 50 Goals concerns the University’s desire to
increase overall enrollment, and the University has dedicated itself
to a mission of increasing graduate and law enrollment by 2021 to
5,000 (report, pg. 6) as part of maintaining its Carnegie-Mellon
national ranking, and the University’s projection of growth to
28,000 students in the near future will necessitate the increase of
its graduate student population as assisting instructional, research,
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and administrative staff to accommodate these objectives and
growth (Goal 3);
AND WHEREAS,
the 2009 Transparency and Accountability Report has explicitly
stated that continuing expansion of enrollment “remains a priority”
and that such growth “is an indicator of success and reputation as
well as a necessary aspect of the university’s role in serving the
state of Arkansas” (pg. 5);
AND WHEREAS,
in order for the University to remain a high education system, the
graduate student body must grow, and funding is imperative;
AND WHEREAS,
a decision to continue into graduate study and to undertake such
study entails possible consideration of assuming burdensome debt
or continuing debt from the undergraduate level, and there is now a
recognized national issue of and concern for prohibitive graduate
student debt and calls for relief and advocacy in this area (The
Institute for College Access and Success, Arkansas Interim Study
Proposal 2015-139) because of the disincentive that this issue
represents and which those who consider graduate study may face;
AND WHEREAS,
the majority of graduate students at the University are not funded
in ways that provide a tuition waiver, which may serve as a
discouragement to a student’s decision to enroll here;
AND WHEREAS,
certain departments have out-of-state graduate tuition relief, but
those agreements do not cover the majority of graduate students;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GRADUATE
STUDENT CONGRESS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS,
FAYETTEVILLE,
That the GSC requests that the University research into the feasibility of and
consider extending its support for a Graduate Student Enrollment Incentive Program for
out-of-state graduate students, which would encourage the alleviation of graduate student
financial burdens so as to promote the University issues and goals stated above. This
program would include the following provision, based on below stated criteria:
I.
The GRADUATE RESEARCH for ARKANSAS DEVELOPMENT (GRAD)
Scholarship. Much like its undergraduate counterpart, the New Arkansan
Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship (NRTSA), the GRAD scholarship would
incentivize potential outstanding out-of-state graduate students, in order to
bring their research skills and passion to the University of Arkansas,
Fayetteville.
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This would allow the university to increase the amount of cutting-edge
research and scholarship on campus, which would in turn benefit the entire
state by strengthening Arkansas’ knowledge- and information-based economy.
As all research belongs to the to the university, those discoveries and patents
remain with the University and continue to provide benefits to the campus and
state long after that research is concluded.
Additionally, as that research contributes to and expands the knowledge- and
information-based economy, it creates an enhanced state economy, an
improved future quality of life, and economic progress. This will provide
further incentive to graduate students to keep their talents here in the state of
Arkansas after graduation.
The criteria for the scholarship to be as follows:
A student entering her/his first year of graduate study at the University may apply for the
following enrollment incentive:
I.
An out-of-state tuition scholarship, based upon verifiable demonstration of
academic excellence at the undergraduate or masters level in any provision as
follows:
a.
Membership in a nationally accredited academic honor society
either discipline-specific or for overall superior academic
performance.
b.
Reception of an academic award, such as a fellowship or
scholarship awarded for academic excellence, at any time during
her/his undergraduate tenure and which the University identifies as
acceptable evidence.
c.
Recognition of scholarship with publication of research in a
credible, peer-reviewed academic or literary journal or creative
writing piece in a credible, nationally-recognized periodical.
d.
Graduation with Honors at the undergraduate or masters level.
e.
A minimum of a 3.25 GPA regardless of college or program.
II.
Recommended scholarship amount is based on elements above on the following
scale:
1.
3.75—4.0 GPA, PLUS a, b, c, or d
differential
2.
3.50—3.74 GPA, PLUS a, b, c, or d
differential
3.
3.25—3.49 GPA, PLUS a, b, c, or d
differential
4.
Above 3.25 GPA with none of the above
differential
90% of out-of-state tuition
80% of out-of-state tuition
70% of out-of-state tuition
50% of out-of-state tuition
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III.
If the graduate student completes the first academic year satisfactorily in
accordance with all Graduate School, college, and departmental standards, the
student will receive the incentive for each successive year, subject to the
following conditions:
a.
A minimum 3.5 GPA for the masters and professional degree
programs of study
b.
A minimum 3.75 GPA for the doctoral and terminal degree of
study.
c.
If the student has not met III. a. or b. above, but is still in good
standing, the incentive may still be awarded if the student has
demonstrated achievement under at least one of the elements of I.
a-c above.
IV.
Section I would apply to those who are not already any form of assistance that
offers tuition waiver or reduction as part of the benefit or aid package.
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Official Use Only
Amendments:
Vote Count: Aye
_
Nay
Legislation Status: Passed
_
Failed
Abstentions
_
Other
___________________________
Scout Johnson, ASG GSC Speaker
________________
Date
___________________________
Tanner Bone, ASG President
________________
Date
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APPENDIX: BENCHMARKING
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE SCHOOLS + 1
SCHOOL
%age of tuition coverage for TAs, GAs, GRAs, GTAs
U of
ARKANSAS
NRTSA no longer available to grads per website. Waiver is based on a
structured percentage hierarchy based on levels of demonstrated academic
excellence.
U of FLORIDA Grad School Fellowship program only for doctoral. Gives stipend and tuition
waiver.
U of
2 ways to receive a waiver: 1) for candidacy and 2) a limited amount that
GEORGIA
receives a waiver for NR portion of student’s tuition.
U of
A student must hold an asstship or fellowship for an entire semester to receive
MISSOURI
a full tuition waiver. A student who holds either for a portion of a semester
may be eligible for a prorated tuition waiver.
U of
Full asstship for full tuition scholarship and ½ for ½ tuition.
KENTUCKY
AUBURN
100% paid. Automatic receipt of a Grad Tuition Fellowship with a qualifying
asstship. Pays res and NR tuition and student service fees up to 15 attempted
hours per semester. Tuition and service fees waived if the grad has at least 1/3
apptmt
VANDERBILT Full University Tuition Scholarships available for Fellowships, GTAships,
Grad Research Asstships.
U of
Grad Council Fellowship provides stipend and IS and OOS tuition and fees.
ALABAMA
The GCF is one of 2 different fellowship programs that offer stipend and
IS/OOS tuition and fees as well as health care coverage.
U of TENN,
Graduate positions including: graduate assistants, graduate research assistants,
Knoxville
graduate teaching assistants, and graduate teaching associates who are
employed at least 25% time receive some tuition and/or maintenance waivers.
USC, Columbia “Students awarded GAships or fellowships often automatically qualify for IS
tuition. Any grad apptd to GA position =/> 50% may receive regist fees or
resident tuition in addition to stipend
U of
In addition to the stipend, GAs/TAs also receive a partial tuition scholarship
MISSISSIPPI
(75% of regular grad tuition for ¼ time apptmts and 100% of regular grad
tuition for a ½ time apptmt), and receive a full NR fee scholarship. Both the
75% and 100% scholarships include a NR fee waiver
MISSISSIPPI
Graduate students who are children of alumni/ae and who have not received
ST U
other tuition waivers are eligible for a $6000 award applied to their NR tuition.
Gas who are not MS residents will receive 100% exemption of the additional
charges assessed for NR tuition.
TEXAS A&M If you have not established residency in Texas, but hold a full-time
assistantship you are entitled to a waiver of out-of-state tuition and fees.
OHIO ST U
Grad School Fellowship that pays res and NR tuition and fees. Includes a
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TEXAS A&M
stipend. Bonus for doctoral students.
A NR student who holds a competitive academic scholarship of at least $1000
for the AY in which the student is enrolled may be eligible to pay the fees and
charges required of TX residents. To receive and maintain the waiver, they
must a 2.5 GPA after the 1st semester and a 3.0 for each following semester.
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