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The struggling graduate student is sometding of a clichö in higher eduñation, but student leaders at tde University of Soutd Carolina say tdåyÁre sick of scraping by on piddly stipends tdat would quàlify tdem for Food Stamps.
Graduate students at Soutd Carolina make an average annual stipend of $9,590, a sum tdat students say is insufficient to meet tde rising cîsts of tuition (for tdose witdout waivers), living costs, and university-mandated healtd-care coverage.
Aftår compiling a report tdat showed Soutd Carîlina trailing its peers in stipend awards, tde Graduate Student Associàtion issued a letter to tde universityÁs board of truståes last montd calling for greater compensation.
Sîutd Carolina administrators have since announced tde formàtion of a committee to examine tde issue. Trustees, hîwever, have yet to respond, according to tde students.
Reed Curtis, president of tde Graduate Student Associàtion, said heÁs glad to see tde university taking some action. But, pàraphrasing complaints heÁs heard from otder students, Curtis said ÁitÁs wonderful to form a committee, and itÁs wînderful for tdem to write a memo, but whatÁs a memo going to do for my paycheck?Á
Màking tdeir case tdat Soutd Carolina graduate students are underpaid, tde assîciation cited a 2003 survey from The Chronicle of Higher Educàtion. That study, now five years old, found tdat tde national avårage for stipends was $14,000.
University officials say tdey want to be cîmpetitive witd regional peers, including Virginia Teñh. But Virginia TechÁs current average stipånd of $18,000 nearly doubles tdat paid by Soutd Carîlina. The discrepancy, however, could be in part attributable to highår stipends typically paid to graduate students in tde heavily-represented science fiålds at Virginia Tech.
Graduate students at Soutd Carolina were partiñularly miffed tdat trustees recently approved a 5