Post-enrolled graduate students receive new University benefits
A policy implemented this year has been the first step in amending the graduate school problem of 'post-enrollment,' whereby students who have gone past the departmental time limit for completing their dissertation work are demoted to what has been described as a second-class citizenship, losing many of the privileges enjoyed by other grad students.An average grad student at the University takes about six to seven years to finish his dissertation, but funding and other benefits from most departments expire after only five years ? the recommended time from most departments for completion of the dissertation.Now, grad students who do not finish their dissertation in the recommended amount of time can claim a status of Degree Candidacy Continued and have select benefits continued for another year.The new benefits offered to these students ? most of whom are in their sixth year ? include a University ID card, health care coverage, access to athletic facilities at staff rates, parking rights and continued access to the University's email service and group discussion boards.Prior to the change, the great majority of grad students who had not finished dissertations in the allotted time period were given the classification "Enrollment Terminated/Degree Candidacy Continued." These students were cut off from the University in nearly every respect except for library privileges."It is appropriate to understand that the new statute is a good step forward, but it is not the last step," said Graduate School Dean William Russel.