2022 Legislative Priority - Graduate Student Workers

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Background

CWA represents roughly 4,500 graduate workers who teach, grade, research and mentor at SUNY schools. All SUNY graduate workers must pay mandatory fees. For a Graduate Assistant engaged in full-time coursework, the average fees exceed $2,000 a year; the average stipend is $20,000. This means that on average, a grad worker pays 15% - 25% of their salary back to the employer in order to work.

What We're Fighting For

  1. Permanently phasing out broad-based fees for graduate student employees who serve at least a half time appointment.
  2. Phased out over the next four years in the FY23 budget.