The University of Minnesota and the Graduate Labor Union-United Electrical Local 1105 (GLU-UE) have been unable to reach an agreement regarding the representation of graduate school fellows. Despite engaging in mediation, the parties remain unaligned, and the matter is now before the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS) for clarification.
The University maintains that, in accordance with PELRA, graduate students awarded a fellowship are not performing work on behalf of the University. The clarification below distinguishes the difference between graduate assistants (public employees) and graduate students who are awarded a fellowship.
Graduate Assistant
Graduate assistants at the University are student employees because they perform paid work that supports the University’s instructional, research, and administrative functions. As employees, they:
- Are assigned instructional, research, or administrative duties by a supervisor
- Have defined work hours or percentage time commitments
- Are compensated for specific services and hours worked
- Are subject to the terms and conditions of employment
- Expected to pay income tax on their wages
- Are governed by the collective bargaining agreement between the University and GLU-UE.
Graduate Student Fellowships
Graduate student fellowships are non‑service awards designed to support a student’s academic and professional development. Fellowship awards are not considered taxable income. A graduate student who is awarded a fellowship award is responsible for making satisfactory academic progress toward their degree. Consistent with University guidelines:
- Fellows are not required to teach, conduct research, or perform services as a condition of receiving funding
- They do not have assigned work hours or percentage time appointments
- They are not supervised as employees
- Expectations of fellows relate to academic milestones, coursework, examinations, or independent research aligned with degree requirements
Graduate students who are awarded a fellowship may have academic advisors who guide their academic progress, ensuring they have the support needed to finish their programs and graduate.
There are instances in which a graduate assistant (a graduate student employed by the University) is also awarded a fellowship. In such a case, the individual is also represented by GLU-UE based on their graduate assistant employment.
How Fellowship Funding Works
Fellowships provide two core forms of support:
- Tuition coverage
- A living stipend
These funds function similarly to financial aid, allowing fellows to pursue innovative research and academic work with a level of autonomy that reflects the award’s educational purpose. Importantly, fellowship stipends are not compensation for services rendered.
Many fellowships are funded by external sponsors — such as federal agencies, private donors, or foundations — that explicitly require recipients to maintain non‑employee, non‑compensatory status or other requirements on how the funds may be used. Maintaining this distinction is essential to preserving eligibility for these awards.