The U.S. Congress continues to consider various tax reform proposals with implications for higher education and specifically for graduate education. H.R. 1, marked up in committee last week, will move to consideration by the full House. The Senate bill was released late last week, and will be considered in committee this week. If each bill makes it through its respective chamber, a conference committee will debate how to reconcile differences in the two versions before final consideration in Congress and eventual transmission to the President.
The two bills currently differ on some elements important to higher education. There is still time to voice your opinions on these bills to legislators in the House of Representatives and the Senate. You can find contact information for all federal officials at https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials.
A proposed tax on university endowments appears in both of these bills. Among other uses, Cornell's endowment payout benefits graduate students directly through funds for financial aid such as fellowships and conference and research travel grants, in addition to providing funds for undergraduate financial aid, faculty salaries, and other university functions that directly support students. Protecting the endowment to be able to target it to these critical elements of Cornell's mission is a key priority.
The two bills currently have different implications for tax treatment associated with student loan interest deduction (section 221). The Senate bill maintains the current above-the-line deduction (an adjustment to income) on the interest paid on qualified education loans, whereas the House bill would repeal the student loan interest deduction. Although very few (3%) of graduating PhD students at Cornell graduate with educational debt from their Cornell doctoral studies, many may have student debt from their undergraduate studies, and educational debt levels are higher among professional degree students. Preserving the student loan interest deduction is important to many student constituencies. Section 221, student loan interest deduction, reduces these individuals' taxable income, providing financial benefit as they pay back their student loans.
The two bills also differ in how they treat subsection 117(d) of the current tax code, which is important to many graduate students nationwide. This subsection currently allows tax-free tuition to be awarded to some types of funded graduate students. The Senate bill preserves this subsection, but the House version would repeal subsection 117(d) and change the current non-taxable status of qualified tuition reductions to be considered taxable income. Preserving the non-taxable status of qualified tuition reductions is critical to maintaining a strong system of graduate education nationwide, as many universities rely on this subsection to be able to provide a non-taxable tuition benefit to graduate students. Last week's Graduate Announcements provided Cornell-specific details about this subsection.
Cornell's leadership, trustees, alumni, and government affairs team continue to work actively on these issues, following the latest developments and making Cornell's concerns known to legislators particularly regarding the potentially negative effects of certain proposed provisions on Cornell's mission and our students, staff, and faculty.
Related People:
Steve Hindy '71, M.A. '75, graduate student Hailey Scofield
Ask a Dean
This week, the Graduate School received
three similar questions about Cornell's response to the proposed changes to the tax code. All questions received the same response. The questions are grouped together below with a response that follows the third question.
Question four at the bottom is not related to the previous three and has a separate response.
Tax Question 1:
Dear Sir / Madam,
I recently heard that the new Republican tax plan involves taxing graduate students on their stipend PLUS their tuition. This would increase our taxes by ~ $6K, a significant amount.
What is Cornell's plan regarding this development? What will this mean for graduate students moving forward?
Thanks,
Tax-conscious Graduate Student
Tax Question 2:
To whom it may concern,
The new proposed tax plan includes a provision which aims to repeal the tax deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses. If I am interpreting the various published interpretations online correctly, this would significantly disadvantage graduate students and inflate their taxable income relative to take-home-pay.
What can graduate students do (besides calling Congress) to voice their concerns and push for changes to this proposal?
Does Cornell have a plan in case the changes pass which would mitigate the resulting tax burden on graduate students?
Thanks,
Concerned Graduate Student
Tax Question 3:
Hi,
In the House GOP tax proposal, Sec. 1204(a)(3) states that the bill would strike subsection (d) of section 117 of the current tax code. This subsection is what makes the tuition reduction for graduate students on TA/RA'ships non-taxable income.
From what I understand, if this proposal passes, it would mean that the tuition waiver we receive from Cornell would be considered taxable income. I calculated that this could amount to a roughly 75% in
crease in our federal income tax burden, cutting our effective income by almost 10%.
Have you looked into this part of the tax proposal? I know that there has been a lot of debate so far about the proposed excise tax on endowments (the recent NYT piece on the issue even quoted President Pollack), but I haven't seen any debate about this portion yet, even though it would significantly impact our finances as graduate students. I'm wondering if I'm reading this portion of the bill correctly, and if Cornell has thought about how they could alleviate the impact on students if it were to pass?
Here are a few articles that have mentioned this aspect of the bill:
"The proposal would also eliminate a provision of the tax code used by many universities to waive the cost of tuition for graduate students filling positions like teaching assistantships. If the proposal were to go through, those institutions wouldn't be able to waive tuition costs without imposing new taxable income on grad students, said Steven Bloom, director of government relations at the American Council on Education."
Recently news has circulated that a draft tax code could, if implemented, remove the tuition wavier for grads, double our taxable income, and thereby increase our federal taxes two- to threefold. The November 6, 2017 graduate school newsletter had one explanation for why this wouldn't technically affect Cornell grads, but nonetheless I and many of my friends are worried.
It is unclear to me exactly how tuition write-offs function now, let alone how they'll function under a new code. The bill is after all just a draft, and when-or if-it ever passes the results could be better or even worse for grads than currently reported.
Though right now it may not seem like it to the school's lawyers, lawmakers have already shown willingness to target tuition waivers and the tax plan could still change in unexpected ways. My question is: If the worst happens and Cornell grads face an increased tax burden, will the graduate school commit to increasing wages or decreasing tuition in order to provide stable take-home wages? To be clear: I am not askingwhetheryou or your lawyers think it will happen, I am asking what the graduate school will doifit happens.
Reaching the Finish Line! Preparing for the December 31st Conferral
Congratulations to students who have reached the finish line and plan to complete their degree requirements this semester. Please be aware that you will need to defend in November and submit your approved thesis or dissertation by December 1st. Refer to the Thesis & Dissertation Planning Timeline for detailed information on deadlines and submission requirements to stay on track!
If you plan to be engaged in full-time study at least 100 miles from campus during the spring semester you may apply for in absentia status. Please review the
In Absentia form for general Information, requirements and checklist items. Requests submitted after November 1 are subject to a late registration fee and applicable finance charges.
Study and Take Courses at Participating Research Universities
Cornell doctoral candidates have the opportunity to conduct research or take courses at a number of top universities as part of the
Exchange Scholar Program. You may elect for one or two semesters in residence at any one of the participating universities (Berkeley, Brown, Chicago, Columbia, Harvard, M.I.T., Princeton, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, or Yale).
Applications must be submitted to the Graduate School a minimum of two months before your intended period of study. For more information on this program, contact the Graduate School Student Services Office in Caldwell Hall at 255.5820.
Graduate School Programs
Fall 2017 Diversity in Scholarship and Engagement Symposium
Monday, December 4th, 2017| 1:00 to 2:30 pm | Klarman Hall, Groos Family Atrium | Lunch will be provided
The Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI) and the Graduate School Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement (OISE) invite your participation in the Fall Diversity in Scholarship and Engagement Symposium (DSE). Each year, OADI and OISE celebrate the research and scholarship our growing community of scholars have been engaged in since the summer. Student presentations will be followed by the keynote speech given by Professor Chris Schaffer, Biomedical Engineering, and the event will conclude with a reception. We encourage you to join us in celebrating the achievements of these upcoming scholars and consider presenting your own research. For questions or accommodation requests please email [email protected]
Students (undergrads and graduates), RSVP to present your research (poster or PowerPoint) by Monday, November 20, here.
Faculty and Staff, RSVP to attend by Monday, November 27, here.
Call for Applications: Colman Leadership Program for Doctoral Students
The Colman Leadership Program provides doctoral students with a transformative leadership immersion experience to help them develop as leaders in graduate school and beyond. The online application for the January 16-19, 2018 offering of the program is open now through December 1. Graduate School Deans Scholars and students applying from graduate fields affiliated with the Cornell Sloan & Colman Scholars Program will receive priority consideration. However, the program has the capacity to serve PhD from across all graduate fields and backgrounds (domestic and international) so please apply if this opportunity is of interest to you!
As many of you may have read, Cornell released the findings of the 2017 Cornell Survey of Sexual Assault and Related Misconduct last week. The Graduate School is a resource for graduate and professional students who are concerned about the prevalence of sexual violence on campus and for individuals seeking support.
Join us to review the findings (as presented by Dr. Einarson) and participate in a discussion of the 2017 Survey as they relate to our graduate and professional student community. Presenters: Dr. Marne Einarson, Assistant Director, Institutional Research & Planning; Jessie Bonney-Burrill, Senior Public Health Fellow from the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives at Cornell Health; and Janna Lamey, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Life.
2017 - 2018 GPWomeN-PCCW Speaker Series presents:
"Curiosity: The Language of High Performance" with Janet Gerhard
How to create a team, or even better an organization, of highly curious individuals
What organizations can due to improve curiosity levels
Cornell alumna and PCCW member Janet Gerhard has extensive experience transforming the way organizations understand and manage customer experience. By analyzing and strategically changing how organizations interact with their customers, she helps clients redefine their growth strategy and customer experience ecosystem thereby driving top-line growth and bottom line results. More information about the event and Janet Gerhard can be found here.
TIME OUT! for Students with Children
Tuesday, November 14 | Time Out: Stress (management) in the family
Let's face it, having kids can be stressful. On top of that, being a Cornell graduate student can be challenging, along with perhaps having a partner with you on this journey. Have you wondered how stress can impact a family unit? What does stress look like to our children? More importantly, how can families better manage stress to support their children and themselves? Our guest speaker will lead a frank discussion about the impact of stress on the family and what family units can do to better help support one another. Presenter: Catherine Thrasher-Carroll, Skorton Center for Health Initiatives, Cornell Health. Time will be reserved for adults to have dinner and network with one another.
Participate in the December Recognition Event
Saturday, December 16, 2017 10am-12pm Barton Hall
The university's fifteenth annual Recognition Event and Reception for December Graduates is a special event enjoyed by students and families. There is no limit to the number of guests who may attend and there are no tickets. However, for event planning purposes, students who plan to attend must RSVP.
Thursday, November 16, 2:00-3:00pm in 341 Caldwell Hall
Open to all graduate and professional students!
Pie with the Deans sessions are open to any graduate or professional student to chat with the deans at the Graduate School. Stop by for pie and an informal visit with the Graduate School deans. Come and go as needed.
Cornell Proposal, Thesis, and Dissertation Writing Boot Camp
Do you need help jumpstarting your proposal, thesis, or dissertation writing? Do you want to become a more productive writer to meet your goals and deadlines for completing your proposal, thesis, or dissertation? If so, we encourage you to apply for Cornell Graduate School's Writing Boot Camp, presented by the Graduate School's Office of Academic and Student Affairs, Associate Dean Jan Allen ([email protected]).
Once you pre-register to indicate your interest, you will receive an application where you may indicate your interest in participating in one of the following:
Writing Boot Camp includes group meetings, individual coaching and writing support, and at least four hours of writing each day. Students who are selected to participate will be notified as soon as possible and will receive materials prior to the start of the event. If you are interested in attending the January 2018 event, please pre-register here to receive an application, information, and materials, including the book, The Productive Writer. Email [email protected] with questions.
Career Advisor Tips:
Gaeun Seo, Cornell Graduate Career Advisor
Tips on Presenting Your Key Skills to Employers
If you've browsed job listings outside academia recently, you may have noticed that few require advanced degrees or academic skills (e.g. research or teaching skills) in the job description. This does not necessarily mean you are not qualified. Employers outside academia look for a core set of competencies, abilities, experiences, and values that a candidate can bring to their organization.
So, what should you do?
The short of it is that YOU DO have valuable transferable skills (e.g., here, here, here, here) that build upon and extend beyond teaching or research! You help employers see the unique set of transferable skills that might make you the perfect candidate a position.
The Buttrick-Crippen Fellowship is open to candidates with an interest in undergraduate writing from any field of the Graduate School at Cornell. Preference will be given to those who are enrolled in a Ph.D. program. The award is intended for graduate students who have had substantial teaching experience. The Buttrick-Crippen Fellow will spend the fall semester preparing a new First-Year Writing Seminar for the John S. Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines and will teach that seminar in the spring. In 2018-19 the award will provide a stipend ($25,780 in 2017-18), tuition, and health insurance. The Fellow may receive the opportunity to attend appropriate conferences. He/she may also be invited to participate in various Knight Institute activities and will be expected to submit a final report on the development of his or her course at the end of the teaching semester
The application and more information about the Buttrick-Crippen Fellowship can be found here.
The Chateaubriand Fellowship call for applications is now open. Complete applications must be submitted by January 16, 2018.
The Chateaubriand Fellowship is a grant offered by the Embassy of France in the United States. It supports outstanding Ph.D. students from American universities who wish to conduct research in France for a period ranging from 4 to 9 months. Chateaubriand fellows are selected through a merit-based competition, through a collaborative process involving expert evaluators in both countries.
In support of the Make Our Planet Great Again Initiative launched by President Emmanuel Macron in June 2017, the Chateaubriand Program is offering additional fellowships this year for research projects related to Earth System Science, Climate Change and Sustainability, and Energy Transition.
Grants Program for Digital Collections in Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences and Cornell University Library (CUL) have established a competitive digital collections grants program to support collaborative and creative use of visual resources through the creation of digital content of enduring value to the Cornell community and scholarship at large. The collections created through this grants program will become a part of Cornell University Library's digital library. The program is open to Cornell graduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Find more information, including requirements for applying, here.
Tuesday, November 14, 4:45-6:00 pm, 143 Plant Science Bldg.
What are the challenges of students being seen as 'different' in an academic setting? This session offers participants an opportunity to discuss strategies for teaching and mentoring all your students.
An important part of the job search is interviewing and then negotiating the offer. Come learn about the art of interviewing! Presenters: Yael Levitte, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity, and Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies. This is a brown bag event - bring your lunch. Part of the Academic Job Search Series sponsored by CU-CIRTL and the Office of Postdoctoral Studies. RSVP
The Colman Leadership Program invites you to apply to be a part of the 25-30 PhD student cohort who will participate in an intensive 4-day program focused on providing skills and knowledge to support their development as leaders in graduate school and beyond
CTA is seeking graduate student applicants for two open positions:
Community Collective Impact Assistant and Collective Impact Community Management Assistant. Applications are due by November 22, 2017.
Designed for full-time doctoral students in political science, history, public policy, public administration, international relations or area studies or other related fields
The purpose of the HRLDP is to build a HR Talent Pipeline for Business Unit HR and hire future HR leaders for the function through accelerated and well-defined experiences
Master's degree in related area and/or HR certifications- a plus
Oversee a staff of librarians, library support staff, and student assistants in developing collections and providing library services to the faculty, staff and students in a variety of STEM disciplines
A successful candidate would have a Ph.D or multiple Masters Degrees or research-level work experience in or involving the disciplines of STEM.
Work with faculty and teaching staff to facilitate excellence in teaching and learning by providing pedagogical and instructional design consultation, and support for the effective use of instructional technology
We are seeking a skilled individual who can take the lead on delving into our archives and organizing the information into a brief institutional history, with a focus on how our programming connects to the historical context of the time.
This is an unusual opportunity to be part of a growing, fast-paced, leading organization that works to achieve greater accountability for human rights and environmental abuses caused by development finance.
professional or advanced degree in business, finance, law, international relations/economics, public policy, or other relevant field required
YouthBuild Public Charter School (YBPCS) is an alternative education and workforce development program for youth ages 16-24 seeking to transform their lives by re-engaging in their education in a non-traditional school environment.
Concentration or advanced degree in education preferred. Two or more years of experience teaching the subject area they will lead, preferably including knowledge of and experience with the revised GED
Primarily responsible for the design and implementation of complex systems in secure and open environments in support of data acquisition and telemetry systems
M.S. in computer science or related field - completed or soon to be completed highly desirable. U.S. citizenship required
Wellness and Safety
Weekly Safety Tip - Blue Light Escort
When a Blue Light Escort is requested, two members of the Cornell University Police Auxiliary accompany any member of the Cornell community or visitor to destinations on campus or near campus. If you are riding a bus, they will wait with you at the stop until the bus arrives.
Blue Light Escorts are members of the Cornell community hired and trained by Cornell Police. Each escort wears a highly visible uniform and is in direct radio contact with Cornell Police. To request an escort team, call 255.7373 on campus (607.255.7373 outside the campus system), or use one of the Blue Light phones on campus. The service operates from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day during the fall and spring semesters.
EARS Peer Counseling
As the end of the semester approaches, it can be an incredibly stressful period for students. With that in mind, EARS is open seven days a week for free, confidential, non-judgmental peer counseling. While graduate students are welcome at any time during our open hours, graduate student counselors are available on the following shifts:
Mondays, 5-7 pm
Tuesdays, 3-5 pm and 7-10:30 pm
Wednesdays, 5-7 pm
Thursdays, 7-9 pm
The EARS room is at 213 Willard Straight Hall (one floor below the Ivy Room). Our phone number is 607-255-EARS (3277). Students are welcome to call or walk in, no appointments necessary! Snacks and tea are also available.
Calm.com
Free premium access for anyone with a cornell.edu email address for the 2017-2018 academic year.Calm that supports mental health and well-being with meditation, music and tools to help with sleep. All Cornell students, staff & faculty should take advantage of this resource. Let's invest in ourselves!
Follow these steps to create your account and begin your journey into Calm:
Create your account from your laptop using your @cornell.edu email address (NetID) and a password of your choosing.
Receive your confirmation email and activate your account. At this point, you should have premium access on the Calm website.
Download the app on your mobile device and log in. At this point, you should have premium access on the Calm app.
Personalize your profile, set a mindfulness reminder, and track your streaks and stats, using the icon in the top left corner.
Personalize your background and ambient sound/music, using the icon in the top right corner.
Explore all parts of the app: Meditate (guided, thematic meditations sessions), Music (music to help you focus, relax, and sleep), and Sleep (tools to help you fall asleep).
From Cornell Minds Matter
Free YOGA! - Mondays and Thursdays - 5:00-6:15pm
Willard Straight Garden Room (go down the stairs across from the International Lounge) Open To All Cornell students for Free. All skill levels welcome. Increase your physical and mental well-being. We will have some yoga mats, but if you have one, please bring it. Everyone loves our teacher, Jyoti Kessler!
The Blue Room - Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00pm
Second Floor of Willard Straight Hall (one floor below the Ivy Room)
The Blue Room, a project through Cornell Minds Matter, is a space for people who feel they might have depression or are diagnosed with depression to come together and talk about what's bothering them, how it is affecting their life, and how to move through it, through peer facilitated conversations. Students are encouraged to bring friends or just come to make new friends with similar issues.
Free ZUMBA with the Amazing Abe! - Tuesdays, 5:00-6:00pm
5th Floor Lounge, Willard Straight Hall
Latin-inspired dance-fitness craze that blends red-hot Latin music and contagious steps to create a fitness party! Exercise, relax, energize! Join us if you want to try Zumba for the first time or if you are a Zumba addict. Open to the entire Cornell Community.
Around Campus:
Free Speech on Campus
Speaker: Erwin Chemerinsky
Monday, November 20, 2017
6:30pm to 8:00pm
Alice Statler Auditorium
Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of Berkeley Law at the University of California and co-author of the book "Free Speech on Campus," brings a reasoned, scholarly perspective to a polarizing topic that has divided university campuses and the country.
oSTEM@Cornell Presents: Advocating for Science as a Scientist
While science is an investigation of the world around us, scientists and the practice of scientific research exist within the world in combination with aspects of society. This means that scientists and scientific research are subject to federal policies and regulations that affect how science is done. Who decides or influences those policies? Who speaks up on our behalf? Who investigates policy issues from a scientific point of view? As scientists, we can lend our expertise and insight in order to ensure a fruitful future for science, whether it be an occasional policy action taken or a career in science policy and government relations. Please join us for a talk by American Physical Society Government Relations Specialist Gregory Mack, where he will share the story of his transition from academia to a policy- and advocacy-focused career at the American Physical Society and what it means to be a physicist on the front lines of government relations.
Science Immersion Program for Graduate Students in Agriculture and Life Sciences
The Cornell University Library is pleased to offer the Science Immersion Program, an intensive, three-day series of workshops on research skills for graduate students in the agricultural and life sciences. The program will be held in Mann Library on January 17-19 and is tailored for students who have matriculated in this year.
The program aims to provide participants with practical technologies, tools, and research skills to become more efficient scholars. Hands-on workshops will cover such topics as:
advanced citation management
complex search strategies
author rights
data management
research impact
and much more...
A complete agenda of the program will be available at the end of the Fall 2017 semester.
Space is limited. The deadline for applications is December 1, 2017. Application can be found here.
If you have any questions, please send a message to [email protected].
Expand Your Horizons (EYH) Accepting Workshop Proposals
Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) is a one-day conference for 7th-9th grade girls. The 7th & 8th grade girls each participate in three workshops organized by Cornell students and faculty, while 9th grade girls participate in two extended workshops. The goals of the conference are to stimulate the participants' interest in math and science through these hands-on activities, to provide them with woman scientist role models, and to foster awareness of opportunities in math and science-related careers.
EYH 2018 will take place on April 28, 2018. Check out the previous year's workshops here.
The deadline to submit a workshop proposal for EYH 2018 is 5pm on November 17, 2017! Visit this page for application materials.
30th Annual Traditional American Thanksgiving Feast
Tickets will be sold online.
See Feast details and ticket information here. Click on "ISSO Programs." Prior to purchasing tickets you will need to login and create an account, if you have not already done so, previously.
TICKETS GO ON SALE for Cornell students, faculty, staff and alumni on Tuesday, November 14th at 9am. We will open up the ticket sales for the General Public on Monday, November 20th at 9am.
This event is sponsored by the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) and CU Dining, and is made possible through the generosity of our many co-sponsors across campus, including the Big Red Barn.
Cornell University Wind Symphony; James Spinazzola, conductor. CU Winds is joined by the Cornell Klezmer Ensemble; featuring Adam Gorb's Yiddish Dances, and more.
