The graduate tuition policy, announced earlier this month, has sparked mixed responses from the faculty in all five schools. While some view the policy shift as a sound change, others find it unnecessary and questionable.
Some of the faculty knew about the plan as early as last spring, when Provost Bud Peterson talked about reevaluating graduate tuition.
However, since the faculty was asked to contribute with suggestions, “We were surprised when exactly what we did not want to happen happened,” said a faculty member who wished to remain anonymous.
“The new policy is appropriate,” said Bruce Watson, professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences. The effect of the new policy on departments, such as the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, which has a very active research component and not many TA’s, seems to be very limited.
Nonetheless, similar to all other departments at Rensselaer, increasing the cost of students will require an increase in external funding. “We will have to get more money from funding agencies, but it will not be a big change,” added Watson.
However, Don Steiner, professor of Mechanical Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, describes the change as “big” but “changes are always tough,” he said. “We have to wait awhile before we come to a sound conclusion,” he added.
Other professors also suggest that the administration should provide a model of where the Institute will be in relation to the new policy during the next few years. While short term results might be apparent, long term outcomes remain somewhat uncertain.
For the School of Humanities and Social Sciences the future is a little clearer. “Funding for our school compared to others is minimal,” said Kim Fortun, assistant dean of graduate studies in H&SS. “In the long run the policy will be beneficial,” but in the short run some of the doctoral programs might get smaller. The decrease which is in part the reason for the policy itself, “is not necessarily bad,” added Fortun. On this point Paul Hohenburg, chair of the economics department agrees.
On Monday the president announced that new fellowships will be awarded for students in the H&SS and Architecture schools.
The move is seen by many in the H&SS as an intelligent one that “reinforces the adminstration’s commitment to graduate programs,” said Fortun.
