University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Faculty Senate Votes In Support of Raising Minimum Stipends for Graduate Assistants

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville faculty senate voted 26 to 14 Wednesday in support of raising minimum stipends for graduate assistants to $2,225 per month, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported.

For a nine-month period, the total amount in the voted-on resolution would be $20,025. As it stands now, history graduate student teaching assistants get $12,700 and math graduate teaching assistants get $14,600, according to the resolution.

According to Dr. Michael Pierce, a resolution sponsor and associate professor of history, the amount in the resolution is based on living wages in Fayetteville and what The Ohio State University pays — said to increase to $21,280 this fall.

Stipend amounts vary by university, with University of Missouri paying minimum stipends of $16,389 for nine months and University of Oklahoma paying minimum stipends of $1,152.50 monthly.

Separately, UA officials said they are working to raise stipends, with UA top academic officer, Dr. Charles Robinson, saying he expects a “fairly modest” increase.