2008 Woodie Awards
Increased graduate aid will greatly benefit the University
STAFF EDITORIAL
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Opinion
INCREASED GRADUATE AID is something that The Vanguard has pushed for the past two years, and now The Vanguard is proud to announce that this wish has begun to come true thanks to a grant of $471,000 provided to the University by the University of South Alabama Foundation.
The grant will provide $246,000 for the creation of 22 new USA Foundation Fellowships and will provide $225,000 to help supplement 73 of the 132 currently offered assistantships.
USA's level of funding for its various graduate assistantships and fellowships was well below the national average in just about every graduate program offered by the University. For example, USA previously funded only three engineering graduate students a year at a rate of $6,000 per academic year, plus tuition waiver. The national average for master's-level students in engineering is nearly $18,000 a year, plus tuition waiver.
"The previous level of funding was far below that needed to attract the best graduate student in engineering," Dr. John Steadman, dean of the College of Engineering, said. "It is common for other graduate assistantships in engineering to provide a stipend of $20,000 per year, plus tuition waiver. The GA's at USA were making it very difficult to attract really strong graduate students in engineering."
The University's level of graduate aid was not just well below national averages, but was also well below state averages. The average graduate stipend at the University of Alabama was twice that of the average stipend provided to graduate students at the University of South Alabama. Even schools like Troy University and the University of Alabama at Huntsville provide higher levels of graduate aid.
Competitive levels of graduate funding are absolutely necessary to improve the University's graduate programs and the University as a whole. The benefits that will come as a result of the Foundation's grant will be tremendous.
As Dr. Covey put it, "Graduate assistantships … are universally recognized as an essential component of graduate education. They allow students to become immersed in the scholarship and professional activity."
Competitive graduate aid can also lead to greater levels of productivity and greater levels of research output by the various departments.
However, it must be noted that even after the increases, USA remains well below national averages and will probably remain below state averages when compared to other doctoral-granting institutions. But the increases are significant enough to make graduate school at USA a viable choice for talented students looking for a good graduate program that is willing to support them in their scholarship and research.
We only hope that The Foundation will agree to continue with their annual commitment to USA's graduate programs. Or better yet, hopefully they will agree to increase their commitment in the coming years.
The grant will provide $246,000 for the creation of 22 new USA Foundation Fellowships and will provide $225,000 to help supplement 73 of the 132 currently offered assistantships.
USA's level of funding for its various graduate assistantships and fellowships was well below the national average in just about every graduate program offered by the University. For example, USA previously funded only three engineering graduate students a year at a rate of $6,000 per academic year, plus tuition waiver. The national average for master's-level students in engineering is nearly $18,000 a year, plus tuition waiver.
"The previous level of funding was far below that needed to attract the best graduate student in engineering," Dr. John Steadman, dean of the College of Engineering, said. "It is common for other graduate assistantships in engineering to provide a stipend of $20,000 per year, plus tuition waiver. The GA's at USA were making it very difficult to attract really strong graduate students in engineering."
The University's level of graduate aid was not just well below national averages, but was also well below state averages. The average graduate stipend at the University of Alabama was twice that of the average stipend provided to graduate students at the University of South Alabama. Even schools like Troy University and the University of Alabama at Huntsville provide higher levels of graduate aid.
Competitive levels of graduate funding are absolutely necessary to improve the University's graduate programs and the University as a whole. The benefits that will come as a result of the Foundation's grant will be tremendous.
As Dr. Covey put it, "Graduate assistantships … are universally recognized as an essential component of graduate education. They allow students to become immersed in the scholarship and professional activity."
Competitive graduate aid can also lead to greater levels of productivity and greater levels of research output by the various departments.
However, it must be noted that even after the increases, USA remains well below national averages and will probably remain below state averages when compared to other doctoral-granting institutions. But the increases are significant enough to make graduate school at USA a viable choice for talented students looking for a good graduate program that is willing to support them in their scholarship and research.
We only hope that The Foundation will agree to continue with their annual commitment to USA's graduate programs. Or better yet, hopefully they will agree to increase their commitment in the coming years.
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