University to Offer Child Care Subsidy for Graduate Students

As of this fall, Syracuse University will provide full-time matriculated graduate students with a subsidy to help cover the costs of child care. The subsidy program was initiated with support from Chancellor Kent Syverud, Provost Michele Wheatly and Graduate School Dean Peter Vanable in partnership with the Graduate Student Organization (GSO).

Under the new program, Syracuse University will provide eligible students $500 per dependent child for up to two children for a maximum of $1,000 per household, to help pay for child care per academic year. Children must be under age 6 to be eligible.

“Syracuse University is fortunate to have such a vibrant community of graduate scholars, and we want to be sure they have the support they need to thrive during their time here,” says Vanable. “For graduate students who are also parents, child care is their number-one concern. This subsidy program recognizes and honors these students’ dual commitment to family and scholarship and helps meet an important need. It also underscores the University’s and the Chancellor’s own commitment to do all we can to attract and retain outstanding student scholars at every stage of their academic career.”

The subsidy program, which was piloted in 2015, addresses a need that graduate students have expressed about the high costs of child care.

“This is going to be a great benefit for graduate students who work hard to meet the demands of parenting while pursuing post-graduate scholarship,” says GSO President Rajesh Kumar. “The graduate students here at Syracuse are an important part of the academic community, and this subsidy program is an important way to affirm and support them in pursuit of their academic and professional goals.”

Additional eligibility requirements for the subsidy include the following:

• Applicants need to have a gross household income of $65,000 or less.
• Children cannot already be claimed on any other University child-care subsidy application, such as the faculty/staff child-care subsidy.
• In cases of married graduate students, only one student may apply for a grant for any one child.
• Applicants must be able to claim the child or children as dependents on their income taxes.

The application deadline for the subsidy is September 15. In addition to the online Child Care Grant application form, interested applicants must submit a signed copy of their most recent federal tax form as well as that of any co-applicant.

Applications will be reviewed and information verified by the Graduate School to confirm eligibility.

An email notification will be sent to graduate students at the start of the fall semester with details regarding how to apply.

For more information, contact Associate Dean Gabrielle Chapman at 315.443.2543.