Got funding? Well, maybe more than four years ago, but not enough-especially considering what Duke spends on its undergraduates.
Something has changed on campus over the past four years. Graduate and professional students are more connected and better informed than ever before. At its Monday night meeting, the Graduate and Professional Student Council approved $10,000 of group funding recommendations for the semester, awarding less than a quarter of what was requested by the groups.
This is after student group funding quadrupled over the last four years. At that time, few groups were aware of GPSC funding. In fact, only two applications were received for the $3,333 available in the third and final funding round that year. With the advent of student group affiliation in Fall 2002 and GPSCNews in 2003, students became more aware of events and attended more activities. Groups were better informed about funding opportunities.
Unfortunately, GPSC is one of very few sources of funding for graduate student activities, and its funds are limited. Also during Monday's meeting, former treasurer Sara Becker gave a presentation on the GPSC budget over the past few years. Last year, GPSC spent about $20,000 more than the approximately $55,000 it collected in student fees (at a rate of $9.50 per student per year). The money went to student group funding, social events for the graduate and professional student population, GPSC Campout, funding for community service and mentoring events and much more. However, the surpluses accrued in previous years that allowed for such spending will run out soon. Next year, GPSC will have to cut back on spending or raise the student fee, which is currently extremely low compared to both the undergraduate student fee and graduate student fees at comparable institutions.
Graduate and professional student groups are now very active, and student participation in some groups has increased several-fold over the past two years. Many groups are now under-funded, and unfortunately, there is not much University support for these groups. Graduate Student Affairs provides much needed funding to many groups that span the graduate and professional schools. University Funding also provides some support, but most of the money is earmarked exclusively for undergraduate groups. Counseling and Psychological Services, Dining Services and perhaps a few other offices help groups when possible, but very little is available for most graduate and professional groups and events.
This fall, Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta provided funding for graduate and student leaders to attend a GPSC leadership retreat. But the funding was available for this year alone, while a similar leadership conference is funded for undergraduate leaders every fall. Almost every initiative from Student Affairs is open or advertised to undergraduates only. Take, for example, this year's initiative to pay for the travel expenses of speakers who come from anywhere in the world to have dinner with small groups of undergraduates. Graduate and professional students are not invited to these dinners.
While some graduate students have family responsibilities or academic demands that prevent them from being as involved in campus life as undergraduates are, most do attend some events. The networking and support provided through these events can be critical to students during graduate and professional school, which can be extremely stressful and difficult to complete. Also, some students are more experienced and more focused than any undergraduate on leadership development. This is a time in our lives when our goals and skills are sharpened, and unlike in college or even the workplace, leadership development is not emphasized at Duke (with the notable exception of Fuqua).
It's time to support the half of the Duke student population that is experiencing what is now called "emerging adulthood," a stage in which student life and development can be just as critical as it is to undergraduate students. GPSC does more for students with its limited funding than any other graduate and professional student government I know of, but increased funding will be necessary to continue its current level of activity.
Student Affairs also needs to step up and support student groups with more than just a one-time leadership retreat. Moneta has voiced his support for GPSC and graduate and professional student groups, but we need more than words to put on our educational, networking, community service and leadership events. Put your money where your mouth is, Larry, and put Duke in the forefront of graduate and professional student development.
Heather Dean is a graduate student in neurobiology. Her column runs every other Wednesday.
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