Hageman also mentioned that the University provides little competition to other institutions recruiting graduate students to study or teach because of the low stipends students receive, even though graduate assistants do not have to pay tuition. According to a Nebraska study, which compared institutions on various subjects, SIUC ranked toward the bottom in assistantship pay compared to its peer institutes such as Kansas State University, Central Michigan University and Middle Tennessee State University. But Wilson said because SIUC's tuition is lower than most comparable universities it compensates for the lower stipends graduate students receive. Bill Peters, president of GPSC, said graduate students are an integral part of the University community. He said the University could have a better pool of students if potential students knew they were receiving a reasonable package.
Fellowships bring better graduate students from across the country.
Ada Ford, a second-year graduate student in Rehabilitation and Services from Chicago, differs with GPSC's position on assistantship pay. My tuition is paid for, I get support for the University and I have no complaints. Peters said GPSC has had these concerns for a long time and has not yet received an answer from the administration that has put a smile on his face. This document may be distributed electronically for personal use only, provided it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. We encourage you to create links to our pages and ask that you do not duplicate our pages on your own site.