Some members think that it is the most important issue. Should also Include dissertation year fellowships. Faculty would pool resources, work out criteria for reinsurance procedure. This would be a mechanism to insure the use of funding to get better students, not simply more. It can be a give and take with the deans to provide funding for our students.
Most graduate students do get funding somehow.
The other problem is that many group students do not know, quarter by quarter, where their funding will come. We need to create some sort of security. Programs should have the number of graduate students that they are able to support. Should not be dictated. Department should set its own upper limit.