School of Social Work: Student Salary Policy

This document establishes suggested minimum hourly pay rates and salary guidelines for School of Social Work student employees, including undergraduate, MSW, and PhD students. It also explains the rationale for student pay equity and outlines how different student employment roles are classified and compensated.

Unit Policy

Title

School of Social Work: Student Salary Policy

Introduction

Purpose

This document establishes suggested minimum hourly pay rates and salary guidelines for School of Social Work student employees, including undergraduate, MSW, and PhD students. It also explains the rationale for student pay equity and outlines how different student employment roles are classified and compensated.

Scope

This document applies to School of Social Work student employees, including undergraduate Program Assistants, MSW Program Assistants, Graduate Assistants, Research Assistants, and PhD students receiving stipends.

Student Salary Base Policy

The School of Social Work has established suggested minimum hourly rates for student employees, including undergraduates and MSW graduate students, dependent on type of employment, job title, and number of years of experience (indicated as year in position). The below has been determined and approved by the Assistant Dean of Recruitment, Admissions, and Financial Aid, the Director of Human Resources, the Associate Dean of MSW Education, and the Vice Dean after consideration of historical hourly rates within SSW and student hourly rates across campus.

*Based on 280 hours for the Academic year (including in-kind service hours) to meet the minimum qualifications and trigger GSHIP eligibility. Student employees are typically hired August through April. If funded students are hired in September, they must complete the 280 hours September through May.

**Total salary is based on the academic year of 9-months at 280 total working hours.

Doctoral student stipends are determined by the Associate Dean of Doctoral Education with input from the Doctoral Committee and leadership. As of the date of this proposal (Fall 2024), their stipends are as follows:

***PhD students are paid 20 hours per week, at all years of the program, to be an equivalent of 720 hours per year. First-year students are only expected to work 15 hours a week for a total of 540 hours during the academic year.

Student Salary Equity Proposal Review

Student pay equity is essential to ensure that all students are compensated fairly for their work. These base guidelines have been created to promote fairness, reduce wage disparities, and demonstrate our commitment to transparency. The School of Social Work has established minimum hourly rates for student employees, including undergraduate and MSW graduate students, after careful consideration of pay practices and trends and in consultation with other units across the UNC Chapel Hill campus.

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students are hired as Program Assistants, and their responsibilities include basic administrative duties such as simple data entry, copying and collating materials, etc. These students are paid bi-weekly, keep track of their time in the TIM system, and may also fall under the category and classification of federal work study students.

MSW Graduate Students

MSW graduate students are hired as Program Assistants, Graduate Assistants, and Research Assistants.

• Program Assistants (PAs) perform mostly clerical-related tasks and complete biweekly time sheets, getting paid for specific hours they’ve worked. Duties may include filing and organizing materials, conducting surveys, scheduling events, performing marketing and publicity duties. PAs are not eligible for tuition remission, in-state awards or the Graduate Student Health Insurance Program.
• Graduate Assistants (GAs) perform clerical-related tasks and research-related duties. Activities may include filing and organizing materials, conducting surveys, scheduling events, performing marketing and publicity duties, including updating media, representing faculty or departments at university events and other relevant assignments. They may also conduct library searches, data entry, preparation of reports and other relevant assignments. GAs receive a monthly stipend. GAs are not eligible for tuition remission, in-state awards or the Graduate Student Health Insurance Program.
• Research Assistants (RAs) perform primarily research-related duties. Research assistants are employed in conjunction with a faculty member in a capacity that enhances the student’s career and educational development. Duties vary depending on the type of research project and may include library searches, data entry, preparation of reports and other relevant assignments. RAs receive a monthly stipend and (depending on their salary) may be required to receive health insurance and in-state tuition from the funding source that pays them.
  
  Salaries for research assistants that are higher than $8,250 for the year render them eligible for the Graduate Student Health Insurance Program (GSHIP). If the student elects to accept this health insurance plan, faculty are required to pay the premium cost for annual coverage for the policy year. The premium cost per student for 2024-25 annual coverage provided through Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC is $4,904.40 per year or $408.70 per month. The Campus Health fee remains unchanged at $205 per semester ($410 per academic year) for 2024-25.

Contact Information

Name: Andrea Murray-Lichtman, Associate Dean for MSW Education

Email: ajmurray@email.unc.edu