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Hello Mark and All,</div>
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I would support using these funds on a limited use case to support students that find themselves in an uncertain situation. Particularly, those students that moved to a new lab where the PI was not anticipating having to support them.</div>
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Additionally, for students finishing in the summer where traditional summer compensation is challenging since they are not enrolled in classes in the fall, this could be a viable option. To be fully transparent, this would benefit me as Emmanuel tries to finish
this summer.</div>
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Thank you,</div>
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duke</div>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> Plsfaculty <plsfaculty-bounces@list.cals.arizona.edu> on behalf of Mark A Beilstein <mbeilstein@arizona.edu><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 22, 2024 10:44 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> plsfaculty@list.cals.arizona.edu <plsfaculty@list.cals.arizona.edu><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [CATMAIL] [Plsfaculty] Summer Stipend Support Proposal</font>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Dear Colleagues,</font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">I am writing to clarify the proposal for summer stipend support that I presented at our faculty meeting on 19 April. I had
hoped we would be permitted time to discuss the proposal openly as a faculty but that was not possible. As a result of the lack of discussion and in the interest of effective faculty governance I hope to foster debate via email so that we can make a decision
in a timely manner.<span class="x_gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">The Graduate Student Program Committee (GSPC) proposes using the accumulated interest in our graduate education endowment
funds to support all PLS and PLP graduate students this summer, except in cases in which PIs opt out or students are supported on their own well-earned Fellowship funds.</font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">First, the GSPC considered this proposal in our April 9 meeting. With their approval I brought the proposal, with underlying
numbers, to the entire faculty. Second, I want to be clear that I asked the GSPC to weigh in on this use of funds when I discovered that we had not effectively distributed money from our endowment accounts. Third, I want to be clear that the use of interest
on our funds is well within the bounds of expected annual return, even in lean years; therefore, we do not expect that this action will impede future use of our funds. Fourth, I emphasize that I am in close contact with those labs who have larger numbers of
students, such that there would not be an inequitable allocation to any individual’s training/research/mentoring program.</font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Please note that the largest endowment account is from John Boynton, former Duke Professor and UA alumnus. Dr. Boynton had
given a portion of his endowment prior to his death, but we received a much more significant portion once his estate was settled. Therefore, the current scope of the fund is relatively new to us and a plan for its distribution has yet to be developed. As a
result, a significant amount of interest income (nearly $400,000) has accumulated. Under our previous funding model, unused funds are subject to a 25% tax by the University. Thus, we must develop a plan for the distribution of the Boynton funds and all endowment
funds donated by individuals who expected that we would deploy the money to support graduate education.<span class="x_gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Finally, I want everyone to know that <i>I will not personally benefit</i> from the proposed use of endowment funds since
one of my students is in the BMCB program, and the NIH IMSD program covers the other.</font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b><u><span style="font-size:12pt">Important considerations regarding the use of these funds:</span></u></b><span style="font-size:12pt"></span></font></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">1. Stipend / Fellowship awards which the distribution of these funds would represent, are<span class="x_gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><u>not
income</u><span class="x_gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>according to federal tax regulations and cannot be given for "work done." This is something that Dr. McMahon noted in our meeting on Friday. The stipend would support student research endeavors
over the summer. Because students would not receive other forms of compensation concurrently (i.e., not paid as a GTA or GRA) there would be no "blurring of the lines" between paid positions and stipend support. Dr. McMahon referred to this as a "clean" way
to distribute the endowment funds and I agree. (See item 5, below).</font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">2. Providing a summer stipend allows PI/Advisor grant funds to be re-deployed as GRA funds during the academic year. It also
may free funds for students to engage in key professional development opportunities, including conferences or courses, at the discretion of each PI. Here I note that our graduate faculty support their graduate students from grant accounts over the summer with
only rare exceptions. How do I know this? Last year I worked with Amanda Armendariz and Lizeth to collect the necessary account information. In the rare instance that a PI lacks funds for summer support, the unit has covered this expense from our IDC return. Moreover,
it is generally understood that PIs, if accepting students into their lab, are responsible for ensuring that summer support is available from grants or other PI-specific/student-specific sources (such as fellowships).<span class="x_gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">3. Our recently hired Assistant Professors have been asked to reduce spending on start-up accounts until the new fiscal year
begins on July 1. This presents a reasonable mechanism for retaining start-up funds that could be used to compensate graduate students in these labs.</font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">4. There has never been a broad or limited access proposal to use endowment funds to provide summer stipends. What I have
proposed, with GSPC support, is new and is<span class="x_gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><u>not</u><span class="x_gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>intended to be an ongoing practice. It is a means to spend accumulated interest income and relieve the
current financial stress (a truly “rainy day” scenario).</font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">5. Reserving the funds to deploy as support during the academic year comes with risks. Consider this<span class="x_gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>hypothetical </i>scenario
(similar to one presented by our Interim Director during the faculty meeting): Xiong teaches MIC205 for which our records indicate 3 x 0.5 FTE TAs have been assigned in past years. This year, due to lack of funds for instructional support he receives 3 x 0.25
FTE TAs. The other mandated 0.25 FTE for the student is given as stipend support from endowment funds. The 0.25 FTE TAs cannot assume the same scope of duties as past 0.5 FTE TAs because they <i>must spend no more than 10 hours per week</i> (rather than 20)
on TA duties. Who will monitor this workload to ensure it decreases appropriately? What happens when a TA indicates that the workload did not decrease from previous years, or that they are spending more than 10 hours/week on TA duties? What are the optics?
Viewed from the outside, it will appear as if we have used endowment funds meant for graduate support to provide instructional support in violation of both the benefactors’ intentions and federal stipend regulations. This is not an unrealistic scenario.</font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Please find attached a more detailed proposal with current graduate students who are not supported by other programs listed.
I split support among the available funds. In addition, I provide pre- and post-distribution account balances along with projected yearly earnings for each endowment fund. As noted by Lizeth in our meeting on Friday, time is of the essence since she will need
to submit paperwork for summer supplemental support on 4/26. </font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">This coming year, we should discuss effective mechanisms for the ongoing distribution of funds from our endowment accounts,
including the amounts we should hold in reserve and sums that need to be disbursed. Input from our faculty is essential in charting a course forward that helps us all deliver on our mission, and working together to support one another is a welcome element
in a well-functioning unit.</font></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Best,</font></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Mark</font></span></p>
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<div dir="ltr">___________________<br>
<font face="georgia, serif">Mark Beilstein, Ph.D.<br>
Associate Professor</font>
<div><font face="georgia, serif">Director of Graduate Studies</font></div>
<div><font face="georgia, serif">Bart Cardon Fellow<br>
</font>
<div><font face="georgia, serif">School of Plant Sciences</font></div>
<div><font face="georgia, serif">P.O. Box 210036<br>
Forbes Building, Room 303<br>
</font><font face="georgia, serif">Tucson, AZ 85721-0036</font></div>
<div>____________________</div>
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