The Graduate Assistant Project
Outting GA Compensation…
What’s Up
Posted by on March 16, 2012
Greetings,
I was recently contacted by a reporter for the Chronicle of Higher Education to talk about the project. What I hope to accomplish is to gather data in support of my own research interests and to provide insight into the types of tuition and stipends, along with responsibilities for the “typical” graduate assistant (if there is such a person). This information is available to all and is without agenda, although it would be helpful to have the information in order to assist students with decisions and possibly to assist administrators with understanding how GAs are compensated nationwide. It is an ongoing problem due to time constraints and lack of inter-university communication networks to share this information. With forums such as The Adjunct Project (and others, which I would like to see consolidated) we can correct this informational – I won’t say divide – but inadvertent Balkanization.
As more GAs, RAs and TAs are asked to accept some of the duties of faculty, it is also of interest to faculty and adjuncts to have such information.
Please feel free to comment, share your thoughts, and request adaptations. I would like this to be a shared space.
Cheers!
Why we’re looking at Graduate Assistant Payscales
Posted by on February 29, 2012
A friend related to The Adjunct Project
http://cunyadjunctproject.org/
(which you should have a look at), and The Adjunct Project Spread Sheet and Info Gathering site – just like this – but for adjuncts.
recommends that I share the following: AFT Releases New Report on Academic Workforce – this is from 2009 – but as I understand it still very relevant. The first still deals mainly with adjuncts – which some of you may be.
http://www.aftface.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=530
The other one is: The Disappearing Tenure-Track Job – from Inside Higher Ed – also 2009. This one is scary. Scroll down to the table – and look at the percentages that are increasing.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/12/workforce
In case you can’t get to the article – here’s the table:
Distribution of Teaching Positions in Higher Education, 1997 and 2007
| Job Type | 1997 | 2007 |
| All Institutions | ||
| –Full time, tenured or tenure track | 33.1% | 27.3% |
| –Full time, non-tenure track | 14.2% | 14.9% |
| –Part time | 34.1% | 36.9% |
| –Graduate assistants | 18.6% | 20.9% |
| Public doctoral granting universities | ||
| –Full time, tenured or tenure track | 34.1% | 28.9% |
| –Full time, non-tenure track | 14.1% | 14.4% |
| –Part time | 14.3% | 15.8% |
| –Graduate assistants | 37.5% | 41.0% |
| Public four-year colleges and universities | ||
| –Full time, tenured or tenure track | 51.0% | 39.0% |
| –Full time, non-tenure track | 9.0% | 10.9% |
| –Part time | 33.6% | 43.9% |
| –Graduate assistants | 5.7% | 6.3% |
| Public community colleges | ||
| –Full time, tenured or tenure track | 20.6% | 17.5% |
| –Full time, non-tenure track | 13.4% | 13.8% |
| –Part time | 64.7% | 68.6% |
| –Graduate assistants | 1.2% | 0.0% |
| Private doctoral-granting universities | ||
| –Full time, tenured or tenure track | 34.9% | 29.2% |
| –Full time, non-tenure track | 17.3% | 17.9% |
| –Part time | 29.9% | 31.3% |
| –Graduate assistants | 17.9% | 21.6% |
| Private four-year colleges and universities | ||
| –Full time, tenured or tenure track | 39.3% | 29% |
| –Full time, non-tenure track | 15.6% | 17.2% |
| –Part time | 42.3% | 52.2% |
| –Graduate assistants | 2.9% | 1.6% |
Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/12/workforce#ixzz1njRZK4Ks
Inside Higher Ed
Inside Higher Ed
Checking up…
Posted by on February 27, 2012
So I’m checking back for the upteenth time to see if anyone has filled in the form. Hooray – one entry. If you have access to elists where grad students hang out, please post a link to this blogsite. Note, you can now also view the spreadsheet as well as fill in the form.
Hoping to have some good info – if the Adjunct Project can do it – so can we!
Cheers!
The Graduate Assistant Project
Posted by on February 24, 2012
Greetings Fellow Graduate Assistants (MA and PhD):
I’ve been inspired by The Adjunct Project to gather data on the stipends and tuition grants as well as the duties for graduate assistants. I have wanted to do this for years – but – well – I needed inspiration. Now I’ve gotten it.
I am currently a PhD graduate assistant and quite happy with what I am doing. I would like to know more about others – and would like to see a networked effort to examine our stipends and benefits. Many GAs (or GAs or TAs) function as as adjuncts (without a lot of preparation) and many as research associates, providing lower-priced services as opposed to an adjunct, additional office support, or research assistance. I believe it would be interesting to learn more about how this works wherever you may be.
Please get the form via the url and enter your information. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDBwV0ZYbTlXaTJLQi0tczQ4SFBMSlE6MQ
I will be making the results public. I’d like to have your comments and ideas. This is about and for GAs – so let me know what you are thinking!
Here is the link for the spreadsheet. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmiNcWZdOfQVdDBwV0ZYbTlXaTJLQi0tczQ4SFBMSlE
If no one has said so lately, thanks for all you do.
