On Monday and Tuesday, September 9th and 10th, GAU will be holding a ratification vote to formally approve our recent agreement on student fees.

What did we win?

After nearly five months of intense negotiations, we are pleased to announce that we won significant agreement with the University Administration on the payment of student fees.

Beginning in the spring semester of 2020, and each semester thereafter, the University will pay approximately 31% of non-tuition student fees. In the spring semester, a graduate employee enrolled in nine credit hours will see a savings of $227! A graduate employees enrolled in six credit hours over the summer will have an additional savings of $152. This agreement does not affect the availability of any services offered by the University or others. There will also be a $100 raise for returning graduate employees who were employed during the spring 2019 semester. The raise is effective October 2019.

When the full amount of fee relief is effective during the 2020-21 academic year, the average graduate employee taking eighteen credit hours will keep $455 more of their paycheck each year! Those enrolled in twenty-four credit hours will keep $606 more of their paycheck. As a result, graduate employees can expect to save approximately $910 to $1,212 over the course of a two-year degree, and $2,275 to $3,030 over the course of a five-year degree.

What Happens Next?

GAU will hold a ratification vote, and if a simple majority of those voting select "Yes," the changes in the contract will be implemented. 

When is Ratification?

The ratification will be held on Monday, September 9th and Tuesday, September 10th from 11:00AM-3:00PM in the Pugh Hall Ocora (atrium). 

Who Can Vote?

ALL GRADUATE EMPLOYEES, regardless of GAU membership, are eligible to vote and encouraged to do so.

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Voting Results

Monday, September 9, 2019: 51 Yes, 0 No
Tuesday, September 10, 2019: 77 Yes, 0 No
Final Vote: 128 Yes, 0 No

Status: Agreement ratified.