Graduate School Dean Susan Hockfield recently announced major enhancements in financial aid for the school's doctoral students beginning in the 1999-2000 academic year.

Hockfield announced that the school's standard stipend will be $11,000. All students currently enrolled in their first, second or third year of graduate study will receive a stipend of at least $11,000 next year, provided that they were promised stipend support from the University for their first four years at Yale at the time of admission. Currently, 99 percent of doctoral students in their first year at Yale are receiving a stipend of at least $10,200.

The change in financial aid means that many doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences will receive increased stipend support in 1999-2000. It also means that no student will receive a smaller stipend than another student simply because of the year in which he or she entered Yale. In the past, increases in the standard stipend for humanities and social science students would apply only to entering students, and not be given to students who were already enrolled.

"A shared standard stipend fosters a sense of community, and I am pleased that we will be making that the case in all of the Graduate School's academic departments," Hockfield said.

Hockfield emphasized that students now receiving more than the new base stipend of $11,000 would not see any diminution in aid. The change is not intended to reduce awards that exceed $11,000.

Hockfield also announced for 1999-2000 an increase in the level of the University Dissertation Fellowship from $9,500 to $11,000. The fellowship is made available to humanities and social science students in the fifth or sixth year of study to allow them to concentrate entirely on dissertation completion.

"The increase in the Dissertation Fellowship should lessen the need for students to seek supplemental funding, perhaps through outside employment, during the year of the fellowship," Hockfield said.

Last August, shortly after becoming dean, Hockfield announced improvements in the health care provided for graduate students. Graduate students enrolled in Ph.D programs now receive full Yale Health Plan hospitalization and specialty care coverage at no charge. In addition, for students enrolled in two-person or family plans, the Graduate School pays half the cost of the subscription (which includes primary care) for a student's spouse or domestic partner and children. All graduate students continue to receive free primary care services through the Health Plan.

"Generous financial aid packages that include the payment of tuition as well as stipends, comprehensive health care and an array of services and resources are significant factors in Yale's ability to attract the finest scholars to the Graduate School," Hockfield said. "I am pleased that we were able to make improvements this year."