GPSA R9 (2015-2016): Resolution Concerning Graduate Student Lecturers and Clarity of Admission Letters

Acknowledged by the President

• Resolution:
  GPSA R9 (2015-2016): Resolution Concerning Graduate Student Lecturers and Clarity of Admission Letters
• Day:
  June 10, 2016
• Action:
  Acknowledged by the President
• Summary / Notes:
• File Attachments:
• Text Attachment:
  Dear Nate,
  
  Thank you for the copy of GPSA Resolution 9: Resolution Concerning Graduate Student Lecturers and Clarity of Admission Letters. The call for greater transparency in both admission letters and summer appointments is very reasonable. While graduate student loan data show that very few research-degree students are incurring significant educational debt associated with their Cornell enrollment, it is clear that students need accurate, timely information to develop their budgets.
  
  Dean Knuth will be forming a working group to review the content and format of admission letters with the specific goal of clarifying funding offers. Members of the GPSA will be invited to participate, with the hope that recommendations can be incorporated into admission letters for the upcoming year. Because doctoral students in some fields receive summer support from grants, it may not always be possible to provide detailed multi-year plans far in advance at the time of admission. The Graduate School will explore other opportunities to improve communication between funding units and students in these cases.
  
  There are many forms of summer appointments and employment that do not fall under Policy 1.3, so it would be impractical to address these all within that policy. Instead, SCESS has offered to add new language to their website and appointment letters to clarify the rights and responsibilities of graduate student lecturers. The Graduate School will also work with fields and other appointing units to promote transparency around this important topic of summer support.
  
  As always, thank you for your continued advocacy to improve the experience of Cornell’s graduate and professional students. Your efforts and insights are extremely valuable to the university.
  
  Yours sincerely,
  
  Hunter Rawlings