Graduate Student Support Plan for Administrators
GSSP Minimum Stipend Increasing for Fall 2023
The Graduate Student Support Plan is a mission-critical program established in 1997 to attract top graduate students to NC State. The eligibility criteria have remained unchanged since the program’s inception. Recently, the Graduate School and the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost conducted an assessment of the program and its eligibility requirements. Based on that review and to accommodate inflationary increases, stipend guidelines will be updated over two academic years. These important changes are detailed below:
- Effective Fall 2023, there will be an increase in the minimum stipend for Graduate Student Support Plan (GSSP) eligibility. Specifically, all Graduate Assistantship and Fellowship minimum stipends will increase to an annualized amount of $10,000 for Master’s students and $15,000 for Doctoral students to receive GSSP benefits. These minimum stipends are applicable to Graduate Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, combination Teaching and Research Assistant, and Extension Assistant appointments. Graduate Services Assistants continue to be ineligible for GSSP benefits and are not impacted by the change in minimum stipends. The GSSP benefits and eligibility criteria related to full-time enrollment and on-campus programs will remain unchanged.
- Effective Fall 2024, the minimum stipends for GSSP eligibility will increase to $15,000 for Master’s students and $20,000 for Doctoral students. More details to follow this fall.
The following table provides a breakdown of the GSSP minimum stipend by semester and academic year:
| GA Term | Start Date | End Date | # of Pay Periods | Master’s – GSSP Minimum Stipend | Doctoral – GSSP Minimum Stipend | |
| Annual | 8/16/2023 | 8/15/2024 | 26 | $10,000 | $15,000 | |
| Fall 2023 | 8/16/2023 | 12/31/2023 | 9.8 | $3,769* | $5,654* | |
| Spring 2024 | 1/1/2024 | 5/15/2024 | 9.8 | $3,769* | $5,654* | |
| Academic Year 2023 (9 Months) | 8/16/2023 | 5/15/2024 | 19.6 | $7,538* | $11,308* |
The Graduate School has developed a GSSP Funding Structure tool to assist departments to readily determine the funding source for GSSP cost depending on where the GA or Fellowship stipend is funded.
*This the approximate rate that is actually paid based on the duration of the appointment; must be entered using the annualized rate.
Funding for GSSP Costs
The GA or Fellowship stipend funding source (project number/type of funds) determines “who pays” for GSSP benefits. The GSSP funding structure establishes the funding criteria for these costs. The Graduate School has developed a GSSP Funding Structure tool as general guidance to assist departments to readily determine who will pay for the GSSP benefits.
*Please note that, if a student’s stipend source is split (salary or stipend distributed across more than one funding source/project), so too will “who pays” for GSSP benefits. In other words, GSSP benefits are distributed according to the salary or stipend distribution.
Graduate Student Health Insurance Benefit Rates
For semester GSSP-related insurance and tuition journal information, please contact the GSSP Office (gradschool-gssp@ncsu.edu).
GSSP Exception Requests
Departmental DGP’s can work in coordination with the student’s major advisor to submit exception requests with compelling justification for students who are deemed ineligible for GSSP benefits. Program Graduate Services Coordinators can also submit these requests for evaluation on the Director of Graduate Program’s behalf.
Guides & Instructions
Grad Support Roster Instructions
VIDEO: RA-TA Insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shield
VIDEO: BCBS Mental Health Resources for RA-TA Insurance Plan
Request to Waive Academic Load Policy (pdf) – Instructions for requesting a waiver of the academic course load policy on behalf of a graduate student.