Notice on Compensation and Stipend Increases
Dear Students,
Since March 2025, the University has been engaged with the Student Workers of Columbia union (SWC) in negotiations over a successor collective bargaining agreement to follow the contract that expired on June 30, 2025. As we have continued to meet with SWC over the last academic year and this summer, the union has focused much of our time on issues unrelated to the terms of employment, rather than concentrating on compensation and other basic contract subjects. While Columbia remains dedicated to reaching a long-term agreement, our progress over the last year and a half toward that goal has been limited, and we remain far apart on the core issues of a labor agreement.
Regardless, Columbia remains committed to supporting our PhD students — for whom appointments as Student Officers of Instruction and Research are an integral part of their educational training — and Master’s, undergraduate, and other students who also hold instructional and research appointments. Accordingly, the University will again implement a 3% increase in minimum support rates for all PhD students, both on and off Student Officer appointments, effective September 1, 2026. In addition, the University will implement a 3% increase in compensation for all other students holding Student Officer teaching or research appointments, effective September 1, 2026.
This 3% increase matches the 3% increase the University implemented last October 2025, reflecting the institution’s ongoing dedication to supporting its PhD students and Student Officers, and recognizing the important role they play within our academic community.
We remain hopeful that SWC will shift its focus to bargaining on critical employment matters. With that core focus on both sides, we could quickly reach a strong agreement that would materially benefit every student employee at Columbia.
Additional information regarding negotiations is available under the Current Negotiations tab on the Student Benefits website.
Thank you for everything you do to support our community and help make Columbia the world-class institution that it is.
Sincerely,
Amy Hungerford
Executive Vice President of Arts and Sciences
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences