Ph.D. Students Fight for Stipend Equity
This post originally appeared in the September/October edition of SSWR DSC’s Monthly Monitor, available here.
In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, doctoral students serve as the intellectual backbone, contributing significantly to research, innovation, and academic excellence.
These emerging scholars dedicate countless hours to advancing knowledge and pushing the boundaries of their respective fields. However, beneath the surface of their academic achievements lies a concerning issue that has long persisted: the lack of stipend equity. The disparity in stipend amounts among graduate students has raised important questions about fairness, inclusivity, and the well-being of those pursuing advanced degrees.
As universities strive to create diverse and inclusive learning environments, it becomes imperative to address the issue of stipend inequity. Graduate students, regardless of their background, ethnicity, gender, or research area, deserve financial support reflecting their value to their institutions. This article delves into the current state of unrest stemming from stipend distribution disparities and explores how some universities are making progress.
THE CURRENT STATE
In recent years, a growing wave of discontent and unrest has been brewing among doctoral students across universities in the United States regarding their stipends. These students, who dedicate their time and intellectual efforts to advanced research and scholarship, have increasingly found their financial support to be inadequate. The rising cost of housing, healthcare, and other basic needs has outpaced the incremental stipend increases, leaving many students grappling with financial strain and debt due to needing to live off student loans. Graduate-level fellowships are also not keeping pace with these basic needs. As a result, students who should be focusing primarily on their academic pursuits are burdened with the stress of making ends meet.
Ph.D. students across various universities have advocated for proper and fair wages. These efforts have taken diverse forms, including town hall meetings, petitions, unionizing, and strikes. Articles such as Ph.D. students demand wage increases amid rising cost of living | Science and Graduate assistants, integral part of teaching force, petition for higher pay | Administration | utdailybeacon.com highlight the determination of Ph.D. students to secure better compensation for their crucial roles. North Carolina State University students have also organized a town hall meeting, raising concerns about the inadequacy of their graduate stipends and the additional burden of student fees (N.C. State University students to hold town hall on graduate stipends, student fees | NC Newsline). The meeting signaled a growing urgency to address these issues collectively. As students continue to consider the rising costs associated with pursuing higher education, they are coming together to voice their concerns and advocate for a fair and reasonable adjustment of stipends.
Additionally, as detailed in Student Workers Move Closer to Unionizing at USC - Knock LA, University of Southern California graduate student workers established the GSWOC-UAW to advocate for their rights and fair treatment collectively. The power of unity is further exemplified by the strike led by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union at the University of California, as covered in UAW: UC Plans to Cut Graduate Admissions, Increase Class Sizes After Strike. These students' organized actions underscore their determination to ensure that their academic pursuits are not overshadowed by financial stress, and their united front serves as a testament to their resolve to create lasting change in the landscape of higher education.
A DEEPER DIVE INTO STIPEND INEQUALITIES
The average graduate stipend for a nine-month contract will range between $20,000 and $30,000. Unfortunately, the inequalities of stipend distribution mirror the imbalances seen in everyday life: racism, sexism, and a lack of transparency that allow institutions to maintain the status quo. While this survey collected individual Ph.D. stipend data, it is self-reported and is not exhaustive of all programs. However, a quick review of the survey demonstrates that hard sciences (chemistry, neuroscience, biomedical engineering) have higher average stipends than soft sciences (political science, psychology, social work), with the lowest averages belonging to liberal arts majors (sociology, literature, foreign language). It is accepted that different degrees will determine a varied salary trajectory; however, graduate assistant requirements are generally the same across all programs, making the discrepancies particularly inappropriate.
These discrepancies reflect the gender pay gap, with women-dominated fields receiving significantly less money than men-dominated. A survey completed by the American Psychological Association showed that 72% of psychology doctoral students are women, compared to a survey conducted by the American Chemical Society that showed women comprise 27% of chemistry doctoral students (with the limitation of gender being listed as a binary). The inequity of stipend distribution contributes to the hardship individuals in female-dominated fields experience. The financial burdens are compounded by the increased cost of living not reflected in stipend increases. For example, The University of Minnesota is in Hennepin County, with an average cost of living of just over $37,000 for a single adult with no children. Psychology Ph.D. students at the University of Minnesota report a $23,500 stipend, while their chemistry counterparts report $40,000 in the same year.
MOVING FORWARD
While the fight continues, there have been some encouraging strides toward achieving Ph.D. stipend equity as universities respond to the calls for fair compensation and improved financial support for graduate students. Institutions like Louisiana State University (LSU) and the State University of New York at Buffalo have recognized the importance of providing competitive stipends to their graduate assistants by setting a minimum of $23,000 across all program stipends and supplementing health insurance for graduate students. Brown University has also taken a significant step toward addressing stipend disparities. Their Graduate Labor Organization (GLO) successfully negotiated stipend increases for the fiscal year 2023. Similarly, the Graduate School at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has demonstrated its dedication to advancing the financial prospects of its graduate assistants with their announcement of a 10 percent increase in minimum graduate assistant stipends.
Furthermore, amidst petitions, strikes, and unionization efforts, some universities finally acknowledged the necessity of addressing stipend disparities. For example, Duke University announced a stipend increase to address the rising cost of living. Additionally, the University of Chicago and the University of California have taken steps to increase minimum stipends and work towards better financial conditions for graduate students. These instances of progress illustrate a growing awareness within academia of the need to provide fair and adequate compensation for graduate students. They also show that fair stipend pay CAN be achieved. As universities respond to these demands and make tangible changes to stipend structures, they contribute to a more equitable and supportive environment for doctoral students.
The current state of doctoral students' fight for stipend equity is a pressing issue that deserves the attention of universities, policymakers, and stakeholders in higher education. The expectation that Ph.D. students (or anyone) can make insufficient funds last the entire year, plus many universities also restricting students from working outside jobs, is unreasonable.
Furthermore, with these inadequate funds, many students must live off student loans to stay afloat. Adequate stipends are not just a financial matter but a reflection of the value placed on doctoral students' intellectual endeavors and contributions. By addressing this issue, institutions can better uphold their commitment to fostering a supportive and conducive environment for academic excellence.