Graduate and Professional Student Senate of Virginia Tech

Are you a graduate student in any of these departments? Fill out the survey in your inbox by 12/5!! We need this information y'all, please fill it out.

Got issues? Want to taco bout it? Come to Tacos with the Dean tomorrow in the GLC!

Graduating in December? Apply to borrow caps and gowns before 11/22!

Tacos with the Dean on Halloween! Make sure to register using the link in this week's GLC Listserv.

We're tabling at the Off-Campus Housing Fair today! Come learn about your rights as tenants and how Student Legal Services can help you if you ever need it.

The Travel Fund Program opens Monday! Apply to this competitive program to get funding for research conferences. gpss.vt.edu

Tacos with the dean tomorrow in the GLC at noon!

On September 14, GPSS President Rachel Maizel formally requested an audit of graduate student stipends over the past 3 years, after a GPSS survey showed 19% of VT graduate students did not get 5% raises this fall or did not meet the university or college level stipend minimums.

University minimum - $2420 per month
College of Engineering minimum - $2520/month
College of Science minimum - $2550/month

On September 28, the GPSS E-board received a reply with results from the Graduate School's investigation claiming all full-time employees are at the new $2420/month minimum and that there were “satisfactory explanations” for all but 3 of those students who did not receive a 5% raise. They did not comment on compliance with the college-level minimums.

We are currently working on updating our stipend analysis to follow their parameters and will send out an updated report soon. In the meantime, we want to corroborate this information ASAP! If you did not receive the 5% increase or the new $2420/month minimum but do not meet the following criteria:

-On an external fellowship
-Moved from GRA to GTA
-Moved departments
-Went from full-time to part-time or reduced part-time equivalency
-Moved from PhD to masters
-Had extra pay in Spring 2023 due to winter teaching or back pay
-Paid at the top of the scale
-New department policy that pays GTA's based on progress towards degree

Please contact Rachel Maizel ASAP at [email protected]

Come to the Graduate and Professional School Fair on October 2! See the participating schools and register at gpss.vt.edu/events/gpsf

Come talk with Emily Tirell, graduate rep to the Board of Visitors! Every Monday at 9am in GLC room 36D and on Zoom.

Hey everyone! Don't forget to sign up for Aetna insurance, and dont overpay if youre a graduate assistant!

PS: vision is included!

We've got so much soda for the GPSS Welcome Back BBQ tomorrow!! Is everyone excited for free tacos?