------------------------------------------------------------ Graduate Assistants United eNewsletter Vol. 2, No. 5, November 19, 2002 http://www.ufgau.org ------------------------------------------------------------ You are being sent this newsletter because GAU represents you in employment matters as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Florida. ============================================================ IN THIS ISSUE: Fall Social - Thursday Nov. 21 - 7:00 PM Graduate Student Council Facts About Graduate Assistants ============================================================ *** FALL SOCIAL EVENT *** For ALL Graduate Assistants and their Guests! The Fall Social Event will be held: Thursday, November 21, 7:00 PM - ???? Steve's Cafe American, 12 W. University Ave. Dress is business casual. Food, Beer, Wine, and Door prizes donated by: Custom Copies and Textbooks Food: Vegetarian Spring Rolls, Focaccia, Chicken Satay, Rolled Stuffed Salmon, Turtle Brownies, and Cookies. Door Prizes: (2) $100 Travel Grants! (2) Dinner certificates for Steve Cafe American (2) Dinner Certificates for Pio's Pasta (50) Gift Bags Notices have been mailed to all graduate assistants, to the campus snail mail 'work' address. Flyers are available online at: http://www.ufgau.org/fallsocial2002.pdf *** GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL *** GAU has no formal ties with the Graduate Student Council, but we do try to cooperate together on issues where we have a common interest and common constituency. The GSC is having a meeting on Thursday, November 21, at 6:30 PM in the conference room of the Brain Institute on Newall Drive. If you are interested in becoming active, they are in need of people to serve on their committees, especially the health insurance committee and the orientation committee. Please contact Corey Cherr ccherr@ufl.edu if you have any questions. Don't forget to go to the GAU Fall Social Event after the meeting! *** FACTS ABOUT GRADUATE ASSISTANTS *** Did you know the highest-paid graduate assistant makes $35,807.20 per year, and the lowest paid makes $1,120.08? Read more! From the National Center for Education Statistics: At UF, the number of total tentured and tenure-track faculty has decreased 40.1% from 1990 to 1999. At UF, the total undergraduate enrollment has increased 30.6% from 1990 to 2001. From the UF Instructor Evaluation Database: The percentage of undergraduate sections taught by graduate assistants increased from about 33.5% in 1996, to about 41.5% in 2001. Of the undergraduate course titles that are taught by graduate assistants, graduate assistants receive higher instructor evaluations than all other faculty categories combined, in each and every evaluation category. From our "peer" (as defined by the university) institution websites: The median minimum stipend (adjusted for Gainesville cost of living) of our peers is $9,803, which is $2,403 higher than the minimum stipend at UF. 10 of our 12 peer institutions provide health benefits to their graduate assistants. From the health insurance survey last Spring (1,004 respondents): 36% of Graduate Assistants are International 65% are in PhD programs 21% have no health insurance 32% are married 13% have dependent children 19% have pre-existing medical conditions 47% already have an advanced degree beyond their bachelor's degree Median age is about 28 8.5% of graduate assistants buy the UF Student Health Plan A 16% of graduate assistants buy the UF Student Health Plan B 27% of graduate assistants buy the Scarborough Int'l Student Plan From the October 1, 2002 pay report: 4,033 graduate assistants Bi-Weekly Pay Periods Assigned: Minimum 19.5 1st Quartile 19.5 Median 26 3rd Quartile 26 Maximum 26 Average 23.48091 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Assigned: Minimum 0.04 1st Quartile 0.33 Median 0.33 3rd Quartile 0.5 Maximum 1 Average 0.38784 Total Sum 1564.14 Bi-Weekly Rate: Minimum $57.44 1st Quartile $379.49 Median $510.54 3rd Quartile $652.41 Maximum $1,419.23 Average $500.83 Total Sum $2,019,831.52 Annual Salary: Minimum $1,120.08 1st Quartile $7,704.06 Median $12,259.78 3rd Quartile $15,827.24 Maximum $35,807.20 Average $11,925.30 Total Sum $48,094,735.33 'Hourly' rate: Minimum $9.49 1st Quartile $12.00 Median $15.94 3rd Quartile $19.71 Maximum $42.41 Average $16.44 (We would be interested in hearing from people who can help us further analyze these and other data to help us prepare for contract negotiations with the university, to assure that we negotiate the best deal for all graduate assistants) ----------------------------------------------------------------- You are being sent this email because Graduate Assistants United represents you in University employment matters. If you would like to be added to the list, please send an email to frank.goeddeke@cba.ufl.edu -----------------------------------------------------------------