Academics

FAQs now available from Town Hall on graduate student unionization

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Answers to questions submitted before, during and after a Town Hall on graduate student unionization are now available online at gradfacts.psu.edu. On March 13, Penn State Provost Nick Jones and Dean of the Graduate School Regina Vasilatos-Younken hosted the event to answer questions from graduate students on potential unionization and the upcoming election. A video recording of the entire Town Hall is available to view online at LiveEvents.psu.edu.

Prior to and during the meeting, students were invited to anonymously submit questions, and in total more than 100 questions were shared. Given limited time at the event, the hosts were not able to answer every single question. However, to continue to provide students with accurate information, the Graduate School has provided answers to commonly asked questions.

All eligible voters (all graduate assistants and trainees) are encouraged to educate themselves, avoid misinformation, form their own opinions and vote in the election. A simple majority of those who actually vote will determine the result for the nearly 3,800 graduate students in the bargaining unit (e.g., if only 100 vote, and the union gets 51 votes, everyone would be in the bargaining unit and could not choose to opt out).

The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board has directed that the election will occur over six days in April; four at the University Park campus (April 10-13) and one day each at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey (April 16) and at the Harrisburg campus (April 17). More information and details about the election will be made available at gradfacts.psu.edu and on the Graduate School’s Facebook and Twitter channels. For answers to additional questions, check the Unionization FAQs or email gradinfo@psu.edu.

Last Updated September 4, 2020