easy path to study, teach, and do research at a leading research university. In close partnership with student leadership, Columbia has worked hard to earn the trust of those who serve as teaching and research assistants through a series of significant improvements made over the past decade:
Raised stipends for Ph.D. students at the Morningside schools at more than 3 percent per year for a decade and guaranteed raises at 3 percent or more for at least the next three years.
Extended parental leave to twelve weeks and created a child care allowance of $2,000 per year per child for all doctoral students.
Supported international students when a computer error at the US Internal Revenue Service stopped their tax refunds and sent them bills for taxes they had already paid.
Made sure no one in the Student Health Plan lost dental coverage when Aetna cancelled their program due to low enrollment.
Extended every benefit and protection not just to Ph.D. students when they worked as TAs and RAs, but to funded Ph.D. students all the time.
Announced a campus-wide minimum wage of $15.00 per hour in response to student concerns.
Created a new Graduate Student Center in Philosophy Hall.