Graduate Assistant Summer Hours Change
Student Health Insurance Premiums for 2005 - 2006
Tuition and Differential (GAD) Rates for 2005 - 2006
Graduate Assistant Tuition Budgeting Policy Announced
Mandatory Health Insurance for Graduate Students in 2005-2006
Final approval has been received to offer a subsidy to Graduate Assistants enrolling in the Student Insurance Plan. This subsidy, in the amount of $125 per semester, is available only to graduate students receiving an assistantship, who enroll in the Student Insurance Plan. Enrollment in the Student Insurance Plan must occur during the 31 days immediately following the start of Fall or Spring semester classes (the "open enrollment" periods), except under certain circumstances.
General information regarding the Student Insurance Plan is available from the Redfern Health Center. The plan is administered by Pearce & Pearce, Inc., an insurance agency specializing in student insurance plans. Detailed information on the Clemson Student Health Plan is available on their Web site.
The table below presents a summary of the Student Insurance Plan premiums for the 2005 - 2006 policy period (August 16, 2005 - August 15, 2006). The rates given below are for the student only; coverage is available for spouses and dependent children of enrolled students at additional cost.
Updated August 16, 2005
| Fall 2005 (15 Aug 05 - 5 Jan 06) |
Spring/Summer 2006 (6 Jan 06 - 15 Aug 06) |
|
| Reg. Student Premium | $365 | $505 |
|---|---|---|
| Grad. Asst. Subsidy | $125 | $125 |
| Net Grad. Asst. Premium | $240 | $380 |
| Tuition and Differential (GAD) Rates for 2005 - 2006 |
|---|
| Posted: June 28, 2005 |
At their meeting on June 24, Clemson University's Board of Trustees approved a 12.4% general tuition increase. The fees listed in the table below reflect this increase, which is effective beginning Fall 2005.
Total Graduate Fees* for 2005 - 2006 Academic Year |
||||
| Fall/Spring Semesters |
Summer (each session) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students not receiving Assistantships | ||||
| South Carolina Residents | ||||
| Full-time† | $4,608 | $1,350 | ||
| Part-time‡ | $450/SCH | $450/SCH | ||
| Non-Residents | ||||
| Full-time | $9,220 | $2,280 | ||
| Part-time | $760/SCH | $760/SCH | ||
| Students receiving Assistantships (Resident and Non-Resident) | ||||
| Graduate
Assistant Fee (paid by student) |
$1,044 | $348 | ||
| Graduate
Assistant Differential (GAD) (paid on behalf of student) |
$3,564 | $1,002 | ||
| * | For graduate programs OTHER THAN those subject to "differential tuition" rates (e.g., MRED, MSHP, Off-campus MBA/MHA/MEngr). Information on "differential tuition" rates currently in effect can be found here. All fees are subject to change without notice. | |||
| † | Registered for at least 12 scheduled credit hours (SCH) per semester; at least 3 SCH each Summer session | |||
| ‡ | Registered for fewer than 12 scheduled credit hours (SCH) per semester; fewer than 3 SCH each Summer session | |||
| Graduate Assistant Tuition Budgeting Policy Announced |
|---|
| Posted: April 26, 2005 |
The Graduate Assistant Tuition Budgeting Policy was approved by the Board of Trustees during their February meeting, and is effective July 1. Under this policy, departments and other business units are required to account and budget for the difference between the full-time graduate tuition rate and the Graduate Assistant Fee, for each graduate student receiving an assistantship. This difference, representing the portion of tuition that is not collected from the student, is referred to as the "Graduate Assistant Differential" (GAD).
This change in policy DOES NOT increase the amount a Graduate Assistant must pay to the University, provided that student meets eligibility criteria in effect at the time.
The text of the new policy was disseminated by Dr. Przirembel, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, in a memorandum dated March 28. The new policy is quoted from that memorandum below:
The Graduate Assistant Differential (GAD) will be budgeted and accounted as a student fee and an operational expense in the University's budget process and accounting system. Funding levels for the graduate assistant differential for teaching and research assistantships and for cost share for externally supported research will be established through allocations made by the Dean of the Graduate School based on the policy directions and strategic plans established by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, and the Vice President for Public Service and Agriculture. Assistantship differentials requiring funding in excess of the institutional allocations will be funded through sponsored programs, gifts, auxiliary, PSA, or departmental funding. Eligibility criteria for graduate assistantship differentials will be determined by policies and procedures approved by the Dean of the Graduate School in accordance with the policy directions and strategic plans established by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, and the Vice President for Public Service and Agriculture. Revenue collected as a result of this new policy will be deposited into the Graduate Assistant Differential Fund. The Graduate Assistant Differential Fund will be managed by the Dean of the Graduate School based on the policy directions and strategic plans established by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, and the Vice President for Public Service and Agriculture.
One important impact this new policy does have is on the budgeting process for all new sponsored program (i.e., grant) proposals (again quoting from Dr. Przirembel's memorandum):
As of April 15, 2005, all sponsored program proposals submitted for funding as of July 1, 2005, or after should include the GAD cost beginning with the Fall 2005 semester and thereafter for the life of the project. For preparation of proposal budget purposes, the Principal Investigator should use the current GAD rate plus a 5% increase each year, with the understanding that the rate is subject to change based upon action taken by the Board of Trustees.
Multi-year projects, which are in mid-award, are 'grandfathered' under the policy in effect at the time they were awarded until the conclusion of the award period. Projects which require annual renewal, but have no formal multi-year award period, must use the new policy.
If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact Dr. Rafert, Dean of the Graduate School, at 656-4423 or jbruce@clemson.edu.
| Mandatory Health Insurance for Graduate Students in 2005-2006 |
|---|
| Posted:
April 12, 2005 Original message sent to all graduate students April 11, 2005 |
While Clemson's Redfern Health Center (RHC) provides efficient and economical primary care, it cannot meet all of the complex health care needs of Clemson's students. For example, treatment for an illness or injury that requires hospitalization, surgery, or long-term care requires access to extensive health service capabilities beyond those many excellent services provided by RHC. Given the extraordinarily high costs associated with modern health care, many situations can arise for individuals who do not possess health insurance. Large and potentially devastating medical bills accumulate and seriously interfere with educational and career objectives. Individuals who do not possess health insurance also will discover that health service providers are reluctant to accept uninsured patients. Each year, uninsured students are confronted with these problems.
In the past, Clemson University has strongly recommended that all students have health insurance, to both ensure access to high quality and reliable health services and to offer a buffer against devastating medical charges for serious illnesses or hospital visits. The importance of this issue was underscored this past year by the Clemson Graduate Student Government (GSG). They indicated that their top concern was the need for more comprehensive health insurance, and their top priority was to obtain a health insurance subsidy that would be available to all eligible graduate students.
Beginning in the fall of 2005, Clemson University will be requiring all full-time (9 hours or more), on-campus graduate students to have health insurance coverage. All international graduate students are required to have health insurance (a continuation of the past policy for this group of students).
This new policy will be administered by RHC. All full time, on-campus students will be enrolled in the university plan unless they present evidence of alternative coverage to RHC's Office of Student Insurance, Room 105 no later than Sept 6, 2005. A waiver form will be available on RHC's web site effective April 20, 2005. Students who are covered by their parent's, spouse's or employee health insurance will, in general, find those policies to be sufficient to meet this condition, but must submit the waiver form nonetheless. Insurance plans that restrict enrollment based on national origin such as those sold only to international students will not be accepted for waiver.
We recognize that requiring health insurance may create an additional financial burden. This burden will be outweighed by the many negative consequences of not having health insurance, the positive attributes of the services that are supplied, and the ability to avoid gaps in health insurance coverage that create complications for individuals with pre-existing conditions. To partially offset some of the health insurance premium costs associated with this requirement (contingent upon final approval of a regulatory relief bill that has been introduced in the legislature), Clemson will provide all Graduate Assistants who purchase health insurance from Clemson with an annual non-refundable, non-transferable health insurance subsidy of $250 to partially defray an anticipated annual premium amount of ~$1000. A plan has been developed and is being considered to further increase the amount of the university subsidy on an annual basis. Departments and colleges may also supply additional amounts to the university subsidy.
The Clemson financial aid office has indicated that the cost of university-sponsored graduate student health insurance will be considered in making financial aid awards.
Details concerning the implementation of the new policy will be available on RHC's Web page on or about April 20, 2005. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact Dr. Rafert, Dean of the Graduate School, at 656-4423 or jbruce@clemson.edu.
