March 8, 2021
We’re very happy to report that Graduate Division recently announced its new Non-Resident Student Tuition (NRST) policy – making waivers available to post-candidacy graduate students for up to 12 quarters. All post-candidacy non-resident graduate students should make sure to apply for their waiver by visiting the University’s website here.
Nearly 700 Student Researchers and Teaching Assistants advocated for NRST waivers through petitions, meetings with UCR administrators, and completing surveys. This victory creates additional protections for international students that experience an increase in time to degree as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are nowhere near done, though. Through forming a union, we will have the ability to negotiate with UC as equals and win many more necessary improvements and policy changes – like higher wages and protections from discrimination and harassment. Right now, hundreds of Student Researchers across the UC system are organizing to make a Student Researcher union a reality, but more help is needed. Can you help by reaching out to your friends and colleagues? If so, click here to get in contact!
If you have any other questions or want to learn more about how forming a union can improve conditions for international students, please don’t hesitate to contact us, visit our website, or check out our Facebook and Instagram.
Solidarity,
Farzana Kabir, Ph.D. Candidate, Dept. of Electrical Engineering
Somchate Wasantwisut, Ph.D. Candidate, Dept. of Chemical & Environmental Engineering