White House petition to allow Ph.D. students to be eligible for the Public Loan Forgiveness Program

[isol3]

Funded Ph.D. students,

 

Have a look at this White House petition and consider signing it: http://wh.gov/vfTo

[ANDS!]

I think you're playing fast and loose with the definition of public service.

[wolvie964]

Stop being greedy. If you want a free education then go to the library. There are already enough handouts in this country. 

[ZeChocMoose]

We are already getting compensated for our service of being TA/RAs by receiving stipends and getting tuition remission. I rather the money go to reestablishing subsidized Stafford loans especially for master's students who are not usually funded by their programs.

[musichistorygeek]

Stop being greedy. If you want a free education then go to the library. There are already enough handouts in this country. 

 

 

I'm not going to address the issue of "handouts," but PSLF doesn't provide a "free education" to anyone, regardless of the definition of public service. To qualify, someone in an eligible profession still has to make the first 120 payments (10 years) of their loan. 

 

According to the Federal Student Aid website, full-time employees of most public and private not-for-profit universities are eligible for PSLF.

 

http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/public-service-loan-forgiveness.pdf

 

 

So, for this to this sort of thing to apply to grad students (as well as other groups of university employees, such as adjuncts), it seems like one would have to address:

 

1. The definition of "full-time employee." Most of the grad students I know (myself included) are hired at 33.3% or 50% assistantships, which in theory suggests that we work (and are paid) for 1/3-1/2 of the time as full-time academic staff. There would definitely need to be some further research into how much time the average grad student (regardless of field or appointment)  actually works per week in comparison with full-time academic staff and/or faculty.

 

2. How much one's academic work counts as "work" in an employment capacity. I'm especially thinking of RAs and PAs who are paid for assisting a professor with research, but who also use that work towards completing a thesis/dissertation.

 

I don't know that grad students necessarily should be eligible, but the issue of what work we do and how we are compensated is an ongoing issue. Also, while I disagree with ANDS! that this is necessarily stretching or distorting the definition of public service (especially since many employees of both public and private universities already qualify), I do think we need to have more of a conversation in and around academia about what sorts of public services universities do provide for the general population.

Edited February 23, 2013 by musichistorygeek

[quick1]

They need something for the private loans.

[misskira]

Eh. Graduate school is a lifestyle choice. I am choosing to reduce my pay for the opportunity to go back to school and further my education. Its an opportunity cost decision. My choice to leave my teaching job (that does qualify for eventual loan forgiveness) shouldn't be the responsibility of the tax payers. Making interest payments are figured into my budget, as well as much larger payments once my phd is completed. Iwould much rather see a complete overhaul of the system making school much more affordable in the first place,so that future generations aren't in the position we find ourselves in.

[ANDS!]

I don't know that grad students necessarily should be eligible, but the issue of what work we do and how we are compensated is an ongoing issue.

 

Dear god, the further self-inflation of the role (and plight) of the graduate student.  Sorry, but a sociology major working in workforce development helping displaced workers rejoin the ranks of the employed - that is public service.  Grading papers or providing office hours for undergrads. . .not so much.

 

No one has a gun to any graduate students head, telling them that they NEED to get a post-bach degree.  This idea that graduate students need to be some coddled class is a tiring one (and no doubt a reason why graduate students - especially PhD's, get such a bad rap outside of academics).  

[michigan girl]

Full-time doctoral students, regardless of whether they are teaching assistants and/or research assistants, should not qualify for the Public Service Forgiveness Program. Going to graduate school, as someone stated earlier, is a lifestyle choice that is already subsidized by the university (livable stipend, health and dental/vision insurance, and grants/fellowships). Doctoral students enroll in school to become future researchers. There is nothing "public service" about this choice.

Congress should reverse its decision to remove subsidized loans for graduate/professional students and make private AND federal loans eligible for bankruptcy.

Edited February 24, 2013 by michigan girl