FROM THE PRESIDENT

Increasing Graduate Stipends 11% Starting Next Year

As many of you know, one of my highest priorities as president is increasing financial aid at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition, a key goal of the strategic plan is strengthening graduate education. Graduate student support is essential for recruiting and retaining the very best graduate students and extraordinary faculty members from around the world, which is at the heart of our mission.

In keeping with my commitment to moving Penn forward as effectively and expeditiously as possible, I am pleased to inform you that starting next year, stipends for current and incoming Ph.D. students will be increased 11 percent, from $15,750 to $17,500. Also, the University will continue to pay the health insurance premiums for these students. Specifically, the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Design, Education, Social Work, and Nursing have all agreed to raise their minimum Ph.D. stipend to $17,500 for FY06. Stipends in the other schools are already at this level or higher. The new stipends will greatly enhance our academic excellence moving forward.

This is very good news for graduate students and for Penn overall. I wish to thank Interim Provost Peter Conn and Deans Preston, Hack, Fuhrman, Gelles and Meleis for their enthusiastic collaboration on this important project.

I have had extremely productive meetings with the leadership of the graduate student groups GAPSA and GSAC. Peter and I are looking forward to an ongoing dialogue with these groups to find ways to continue improving the graduate student experience at Penn.

—Amy Gutmann, President