Printer-friendly version
PDF version
Just to clear this up: No one involved, including the University administration, considered the Regent’s Scholarship a free ride until this cut was proposed. Before this proposal hit, the administration constantly pointed to the Regent’s Scholarship as not only a benefit of working at the University, but as a part of the compensation package workers received and used it as leverage to keep wages down.
How convenient it is that now this cut has been proposed, the Regents Scholarship is being repositioned as a privilege and a perk. Those are veritable dirty words in our struggling economy. This is a cowardly move on President Bob Bruininks’ and the administration’s part. They know the job market is tough and that those of us who still have our jobs here at the University will likely keep them. I will. Do you know what I won’t do? Pay the University one red cent for education from here out, and neither will anyone I know. We either cannot afford it and we are sick of being trodden upon.
This is a huge mistake and a serious marketing liability for the University.
The story being reported here is not “Great! The U saves $2.5 million!” The story should be: “The U throws its lowest paid employees under the bus, again.”
The administration has taken its employee’s Drive to Discover and put it in park.
Andrew Brinkman
University employee
After graduating from the University in 2005, I took a job here knowing that while I would be earning a lower salary than my peers in the private sector, I would have the opportunity to further my education. I’ve taken at least one class a semester since then to work toward a master’s degree and to build my law school application.
However, with the proposed cut to the Regents Scholarship benefit, I will no longer be able to afford to take classes. Each graduate credit costs about $900. For someone making $70,000, $650 — or 25 percent of the cost of a three credit graduate course — is a manageable expense. For me, $650 is $100 less than my biweekly paycheck.
This cost is prohibitive and puts my continued graduate education out of reach. If the Board of Regents accepts this proposed cut, I will be unable to afford to take classes at the University. And if I — young, single, without dependent children or expenses like a mortgage — will be unable to afford classes at the University while being an employee here, how could President Bob Bruininks and the Board of Regents possibly think a single mother with two children trying to better herself by getting her degree would be able to afford the cost?
The $2.5 million dollars this cut will supposedly save is a pittance compared to the University’s operating budget. Please, President Bruininks and the Board of Regents, rethink this 25 percent cut to the Regents Scholarship. It by far hurts those of us who need it the most the worst.
Kemtae Lynch
University employee
Serving the University of Minnesota Community since 1900
23 Comments
To comment, please login.
Benefits going away during a
Benefits going away during a bad economy? Really? I had no idea such things could occur. I'm glad I work for a company that never cuts anything or anybody no matter how bad things get. We just pull more money out of our butts and keep on truckin'!
In agreement
I would hazard a guess that the University in changing the terms will find it doesn't generate the income they're hoping it will. Most who take the courses, will stop taking classes because they can't afford to pay 25% of the tuition costs for the courses. The U won't "save" money by cutting the benefit, they'll realize a new revenue stream and if they're basing it on a continued number of enrollments, I suspect they'll be disappointed.
True
I doubt it is a "money saving" gimmick but rather a policy to generate money from University employees. I highly doubt the validity of the program costing $2.5 million.
Less workers taking classes =
Less workers taking classes = smaller class sizes. Sounds good to me! I'm tired of 300+ mega classes.
Probably not
I'm fairly certain the University is pushing for LARGER class sizes, not smaller. This way they only have to pay one professor instead of 2. If a professor teaches one class in Willey of 300+ students or one class in Vincent of 20 students, they still get paid the same.
The U is also pushing for
The U is also pushing for fewer English-speaking TAs. If the U cut scholarships and it had the unintended consequence of slightly decreasing the communication divide between students and TAs, I would be all for it. Ditto for slightly smaller classes.
Wrong
International admissions is down. International students have stricter English speaking rules than ever. Students must pass a "speak test" provided by the U in order to be eligible to TA. If they can't pass it, they don't get the job.
HAHAHAHA what a joke! You
HAHAHAHA what a joke! You clearly are not an IT student. I'd have more proficient, english-speaking TAs if I took courses in Hong Kong!
p.s. Here's my impression of my math TA:
Student: "In the third step, you [did some math operation]. How did you do that?"
TA: "Here?" (pointing to the last step)
Student: "No, the third step" (pointing toward another spot on the board)
TA: "Here?" (pointing again)
Student: "No, down more."
TA: "Here?" (pointing again)
Student: "Down more and to your left."
TA: "Here?" (pointing again)
Student: "Yes, that step."
TA: "[gives an answer that does not have anything to do with the original question]... Does that answer your question?"
Student: "No."
TA: "[blank stare]... Ok, let's move onto 10.4."
Excellent communication AND teaching skills! Best 1,500 bucks I ever spent.
Maybe your TA hates you?
Maybe your TA hates you?
Not limited to math...
I'd say you gave a great characterization for a foreign TA in any IT class!
I have had sooo many TAs like
I have had sooo many TAs like this. The U has the worst quality control EVER.
p.s. Does anyone know where to get a copy of the test they have to take?
James: I would suggest you
James: I would suggest you take a poll of your class mates to find out who works for the U and exercises the Regents Scholarship. The result you will find in any given class will probably be less than 2% (if even 1%).
Let's do the math on that theoretical mega-section you spoke of: 300 X .02 = 6.
Are you still convinced it is U employees creating the need for mega-sections?
Every little bit helps! You
Every little bit helps! You have to start somewhere.
Spot on
These articles have it exactly right: The Regents Scholarship is a portion of our pay and a major reason for many skilled employees to work for the U. I have a masters but I still decided to take a very low paying position at the U specifically because of the scholarship. If it gets cut, I will seriously consider leaving the U, as will many other overqualified employees that I know.
The key word here is
The key word here is "overqualified." The U could get what it needs for less than it is currently paying.
The U uses pay ranges for
The U uses pay ranges for each job classification. If an employee were to leave, he or she would be replaced at a similar pay rate. There would be no money saved by hiring a new employee.
The replacements would have
The replacements would have similar pay, but fewer benefits. That's a net decrease.
The U doesn't vary pay for
The U doesn't vary pay for differing qualifications? That's dumb.
Actually, with the hiring
Actually, with the hiring freeze, the U has found yet another way to cut costs! You needn't even worry about the cost savings of a new employee versus an experienced one, as there will be no employee at all!
Sa-weet!
Sa-weet!
It's unfair no matter how you slice it.
I agree with the posted letters. This is a cut in our compensation. I would be paid more for what I do in the private sector, but the benefits (including the Regents Scholarship) make up the difference. If they're going to cut our compensation then it's only fair that they also cut the compensation packages of Administrators, P&A, and Faculty as well. If we have to tighten our belts, fine - but let's not leave it up to only the students and the staff to shoulder the burden. If one sector has to take a cut, we should all have to take a cut.
Regent’s Scholarship and wage freeze
The Regent’s Scholarship and wage freeze changes are a publicity stunt.
It costs nothing for the U to allow a few staff to sit in a room while someone lectures.
The wage freeze will save some money, but it is applied to research as well as support staff. Nearly all research is funded by federal grants and the wages hikes are included in these grants. Freezing the wages of researchers only appeases public sentiment and actually reduces researchers contribution to state taxes.
It is argued that people in research need to "share the burden", but nobody steps up to share the researcher's burden when their grant is cut.
You cannot be blaming the
You cannot be blaming the University for cutting or reducing the scholarship and freezing the wages the world over people are facing similar situations and why should anyone in particular remain immune to the facts and truth. It would be great if a university can alone shelter its employees but that would be wishful thinking. Its natural for the employees to think about leaving the institution but I do not think that in a market where jobs are not available they would want to risk their own jobs when they have one.
As for a good educational university curso de ingles helps people improve their language skills plus business skills and office skills so that you are always prepared for a challenging work environment that we all live in today.
Chris.