Pertinent Facts Regarding Graduate Assistantships - Essay Example

Due Negotiation Plan Background of Graduate program and Assistantships program at Purdue University The Purdue University strives to be among the top notch universities with international stature in the global arena. As part of ensuring this is achieved, the university after crafting and implementing several development plans decided to improve its graduate student department and within the department there are several subdivisions that work tooth and nail to facilitate the wellbeing of graduate students (Purdue.edu). It is with this in mind that the development plan incorporated student assistantships program where students are accorded work hours per day at an agreed pay. In addition to the assistantships program, the graduate students also have access to educational funding. This is basically to attract more international students to take advantage of the outstanding graduate programs the university offers. Pertinent facts regarding graduate assistantships Assistantships are the most regular schemes of financial backing to graduate studies. Since the implementation of the said development plans, close to 65 percent of graduate students admitted yearly at the university are beneficiaries of graduate student assistantships (Purdue.edu). As a graduate student at Purdue University, you may benefit from teaching, research, or administrative/specialized assistantships to assist you cater for educational costs and at the same time benefiting from rich employment experience. However, students need to note that when they secure an assistantship, they are regarded as part time workers with the university and the will enjoy all the benefits of assistantship (Purdue.edu). Among these benefits include: Monthly allowance- this is determined by the hiring department and as such it is not fixed for all students under the program Waiving of tuition health cover at good rates Students also need to know that assistantship program is not limited on department; that is, they can either secure assistantships from their departments of admission or from other department that is not relevant to their faculty, but this is limited to the areas of placements and availability of chances. The Negotiation Plan This plan is made subject to the continued outcry of our graduate students who are benefiting from the graduate assistantship program. The concern by the student is founded on the following main reasons; i. Pay ii. Number of work hours iii. Abuse by faculty members among other reasons attached to these three. Therefore, this negotiation plan is developed principally to address these three main concerns by our graduate students under the assistantship program. In addressing this issue, it is imperative that we give background information regarding the graduate program, graduate student government, VP /dean of graduate school, President of the Graduate Student Group (Todd, 34). The history of the university dates back to 1862 the then president of the United States Lincoln appended his signature a land grant act that would later lead to the ratification of the establishment of an institution by the Indiana general Assembly in 1865. Later in 1872 after the naming of this institution Purdue University, Richard O began his term as the first president of the University (Purdue.edu). The institution began with several undergraduate programs and one decade down the line, the graduate program was introduced with the improvement of facilities within the universities as well as the opening up of other campuses within the Indiana state. Thereafter, with the admission of graduate student both locally and internationally, the institution decided to incorporate a graduate student government to address the needs of graduate students by linking them with the Institution’s administration. The graduate students are therefore given the liberty of electing their representative also known as the President of the Graduate student group and this office is supposed to be held for a period of one year. In his duty to represent the students, the president of the graduate student works hand in hand with the dean of the graduate student. The dean of the graduate students handles elections issues among many graduate students related issues such as welfare and educational affairs. Therefore, this negotiation plan will involve two parties; the Purdue University Administration and the graduate student representative-the President of the Graduate Student Group. The dean of the graduate student school will act as a mediator in the negotiation as the office is the bridge between the institution and the of the student government. Goals of the negotiations In most logical sense, both parties of the negotiations will aim at achieving some goals. As has been mentioned above, there are technically three parties but we will focus majorly on two parties; the university administration and the student government through their representative. The university administration aims at achieving the following goals; That the graduate student fraternity understands the assistantship program offered by the Purdue University. That the administration will pay due attention to the graduate students concerns That the student fraternity understands the history of the graduate student program and the inception of the assistantship program. That Purdue University comes to an amicable agreement without having to come up with unionizing and bargaining unit for the graduate student body. That graduate student fraternity understands the differences between full employment terms and assistantship terms. That the roles of the departments assigning student assistantship are clearly understood by every graduate student. On the same note, the graduate student fraternity through their representative will aim to achieve the following goals; That the university administration listens to all their concerns That the university administration will work amicably with the student governorship to bring an end to their outcry That the university defines the terms of agreement concerning graduate student assistantship. That the university administration will allow the graduate student fraternity to form a unionized and bargaining unit. Interests This negotiation plan also takes into consideration the interest of the two parties. There are several interests but this plan focuses on only one interest for each party. The Purdue University administration’s main interest is to ensure that a unionizing and a collective bargaining unit is not established for the graduate student fraternity under the student assistantship program. This is because the state and the government legislation do not define this provision under employment law as well as University and student engagement. On the same note the assistantship program is considered an internship program for the student hence, very far way from employment engagements and as such introducing employment terms will be contravention of the law. This will also lead to redefining the terms to those of employment terms. On the other hand, the graduate student body’s main interest is to ensure that their three main concerns are addressed to ensure their stay at the university is without snarl ups. They may wish that a collective bargaining unit is established for them but the plan assumes that they are also open to other avenues of these concerns being addressed. Relationships Over the years since the introduction of the graduate student program and subsequently the student government, both the administration and the graduate student fraternity have enjoyed cordial relationship. This negotiation plan relies on this past relationship and hopes that the same will be carried over during the negotiation. This is very important as lack of cordial relationship may jeopardize the success of the negotiation and both parties will have not met their goals (Todd, 46). Issues Likely to Arise The plan envisaged a number of issues arising in the plan; Lack of outright agreement based on the arguments by both parties Lack of understanding by both parties on matters at hand Unclear plan of action Unrealistic demands from the student fraternity Resistance Points The points regarding employment laws and various state legislations may be resisted by the graduate student fraternity and they may cite the extent to which they offer their services to the institution. The university Administration may also resist the claim by the graduate student of the abuse by faculty members. This is backed by the code of ethics that govern both the students and the university staff both teaching and non-teaching (Paranzino). There is of course a laid down procedure regarding issues to do with indiscipline by both staff and students. However, the negotiation plan will ensure that a consensus is reached through understanding and persuasive arguments (Todd, 47). Closing Techniques and Persuasive Arguments The negotiation plan will give room for persuasive arguments by both parties where the representatives will be given ample time to air their opinion. In doing these each will be expected to cede some demands for the purpose of attainment of objectives and according to the university’s constitution and guiding principles but also for the good of the graduate students’ well being (Paranzino). Negotiation process The negotiation process will involve at least three meetings where both parties are expected to attend. The first meetings will set agendas for the subsequent meetings in the hope that an amicable solution and agreement will be reached. This will be guided by a timetable for the meetings and the locations as well as the agendas (Todd, 56). Time table Meeting Location Agenda Parties involved First meeting Senate Conference room Introduction of the parties involved Introduction of the issues of discussion Setting of rules of engagement Agreeing on a timetable of meetings Setting timeline for agreement and objectives to be met. 1. University Administration 2. Graduate student government representatives 3. Dean of graduate student(minor party) Second Meeting Senate Conference room Presentation of pertinent issues by both parties Explanation of reasons behind the issue presented Arguments and accusations and resistance points 1. University Administration 2. Graduate student government representatives 3. Dean of graduate student(minor party) Third meeting Senate Conference room Closing Techniques and Persuasive Arguments towards coming to an agreement 1. University Administration 2. Graduate student government representatives 3. Dean of graduate student(minor party) With this plan the administration hopes to come to an agreement with the graduate student fraternity. Works Cited Main source Purdue.edu , 2012. http://www.purdue.edu Todd, C. Williams. Rescue the Problem Project. New York: Routledge 2011. Print. Two cites talking about the project Paranzino, Gary A. How to Evaluate a Job Offer Letter and Negotiate a Better Deal: A Lawyers View. Retrieved from: http://www.offer-letters.com/ http://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-288.html Read More