Dartmouth will raise its graduate student stipend support by 10 percent and increase its contribution toward health insurance for students supported by Dartmouth fellowships, as well as the resources provided to individual graduate training programs. These actions, which raise the Dartmouth fellowship from $19,020 to $21,000, were announced recently by Charles Barlowe, Dean of Graduate Studies and Professor of Biochemistry.
"These initiatives will further strengthen Dartmouthís graduate programs and recognize the many ways in which graduate students in the Arts and Sciences contribute to the community," Barlowe said.
"We appreciate the College's support," said Sharon Martinson, a Biology graduate student and Co-President of the Graduate Student Council. "Everyone faces rising living costs here in the Upper Valley and the increased stipends will be very helpful, as will enhanced health care coverage."
Brandon Smith, a graduate student in Chemistry, said, "Being married with a child and living near other married graduate students with children, I know how difficult it is to scrape by, so any amount of increase is greatly needed and appreciated."
Barlowe credited the collaboration between the Council on Graduate Studies and the commitment to graduate education by Carol Folt, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Barlowe stated, "We are extremely fortunate to have had such an effective advocate for the Graduate Community at Dartmouth. Graduate student stipend support and health benefits have increased substantially under Carolís leadership both during her tenure as the Dean of Graduate Studies and now as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences."
Folt is excited about the new initiatives and said, "The additional support to our graduate students will only strengthen Dartmouth's ability to recruit and retain the highest caliber of graduate students and provide the critical resources they need to flourish at the College."
In his October 2004 address to the faculty, President James Wright announced the resources would be committed to increasing stipends in the coming year. "We wish in this way to advance our objective that Dartmouth compete for the strongest graduate students," Wright said.
Barlowe note, "These initiatives are critical for us to recruit the best students in an increasingly competitive environment and to provide optimal support for graduate training."
Over 500 graduate students enrich the academic community at Dartmouth, where they pursue advanced degrees, mentor undergraduates and conduct research in over 17 fields ranging from Biology to Psychological and Brain Sciences.
