Message from the Provost

UC DAVIS: OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR; OFFICE OF THE PROVOST
June 20, 2003

DEANS, DIRECTORS, DEPARTMENT CHAIRS, AND GRADUATE GROUP CHAIRS

RE: UC Davis Policy on Nonresident Tuition Remission for Graduate Student Researchers

Dear Colleagues:

Over the past several months, the Joint Academic Senate/Administration Nonresident Tuition Remission Implementation Committee has discussed various models under which the campus might adopt a nonresident tuition remission policy for Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs). Members of the committee made numerous presentations to faculty groups and consulted broadly across the campus. Additional feedback was obtained via a Web site established by the committee. The majority of groups and individuals who provided input, including the Representative Assembly of the Academic Senate, recognized that the campus needs some policy regarding remission of nonresident tuition from gifts, grants, and contracts in order to strengthen our efforts in research and graduate education.

Based on this extensive consultation, the Joint Committee recommended that the nonresident tuition remission policy should be based on the Cost by Residency Model. Under this model, nonresident tuition for GSR's would be charged to the fund source that also pays the stipend to that individual. This model also received the endorsement of the Graduate Council.

I have accepted the recommendation of the committee. Effective Fall Quarter 2004, nonresident students who are appointed as GSRs will receive nonresident tuition as a benefit of their appointment. Under this policy, it is expected that this benefit will be charged to the same fund source (gift, grant, or contract) that pays the GSR stipend. In preparation for implementation of this policy, faculty may include nonresident tuition remission as a budget item on any grant proposal submitted on or after July 1, 2003. This charge must be included on grant proposals submitted after October 1, 2003, when there is a reasonable expectation of hiring a nonresident graduate student on that grant.

The Academic Senate committees and other groups raised a number of questions that must be addressed in order for the campus to fully implement this policy. Among the key questions is whether block grant funds can be substituted for grant funds to pay the nonresident tuition benefit. Proposed answers to many of the questions that were raised during the consultation are provided in the attached document developed by the committee. I want to emphasize that these answers are preliminary and are provided only as a guide at this time. I have asked Dean Gibeling to work with the Academic Senate committees, particularly the Graduate Council, Committee on Research, and Committee on Academic Planning and Budget Review, to develop a detailed set of procedures to implement this new policy. In addition, Dean Gibeling will solicit advice on how to utilize the $600,000 of new campus funds that I will allocate for graduate student support as a matching commitment to the nonresident tuition remission program.

I recognize that implementation of a nonresident tuition remission policy represents a significant change for our campus. I appreciate the many contributions of faculty to research and graduate education, and I am committed to strengthening our investments in these two important areas.

Best regards,

Virginia S. Hinshaw, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor