Approximately 100 CMU graduate employees, teaching assistants and researchers are collaborating to form a Graduate Student Union to advocate for the rights of graduate students as employees.

CMU has a solid reputation for treating most of its employees well; however, many graduate student employees have fallen through the cracks. Despite many graduate students working full-time to benefit the university, our estimates based on public records indicate approximately two out of three graduate assistants do not receive full-time stipends.

Furthermore, many doctoral students do not receive basic healthcare, and graduate employees do not receive basic healthcare. Because of an inadequate tuition waiver, many doctoral students pay back most of their stipend toward tuition.

Several graduate assistants must rely on government food assistance, and many cannot afford medical or dental visits. This situation is particularly different for international students, who have major work restrictions. In many cases, graduate employees receive less compensation than similar university employees, who often receive better pay, higher tuition waivers and healthcare benefits.

CMU lags far behind similar universities in this regard. The graduate student employees have repeatedly expressed these concerns to student groups, department heads, the graduate school and CMU officials. However, it appears easier to form a union than to get CMU to compassionately listen to our concerns.

The changes proposed will contribute to the prosperity of the university, improve retention, bring in higher quality students, increase alumni giving and have long-term financial benefits for CMU as a whole. Graduate employees wishing to get involved can find information and meeting times at www.cmugsu.com.

-Graduate Student Union Members

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