SGA executive stipends linked to tuition rates

With the Board of Regents increasing tuition, SGA executive staff members will be seeing larger stipends next year. The stipends for numerous SGA positions are coupled with tuition. The SGA president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, president pro-tempore and attorney general all receive a percentage of tuition as their stipend.

“Our stipend is on a percentage breakdown,” said SGA Vice President Evan Karanovich. “They’re set by a percentage of that year’s tuition.”

In Section III of the SGA Bylaws, the stipend breakdowns are spelled out by position. The SGA president receives a stipend of 80 percent of the current year’s tuition. Vice president receives 68 percent. Treasurer and secretary both get 56 percent. President pro-tempore and attorney general receive the least at 52 percent of tuition.

The percentage system was set up before any current SGA Executives came to Georgia College. According to President Pro-Tempore Andrew Whittaker, the stipend amounts were last raised in Fall 2007.

To raise the percentages of the stipends, SGA must pass a measure with a two-thirds majority twice. With a rise in tuition, the amount of the stipend automatically increases, no voting is required.

Currently, SGA president Zach Mullins makes $2,513.64 a semester. Karanovich makes $2,136.59. Secretary Claire Cantrell and Treasurer Megan Moss receives a $1,759.54 stipend. Whittaker and Attorney General Adrian Drepaul both make $1,633.86.

“With an increase in tuition there’s an increase in the stipend,” Karanovich said. “When you have more money going towards stipends, that’s less going to other things.”

Both Whittaker and Karanovich said they think the stipend amount is fair. According to Whittaker, there was previous talk of increasing the stipend percentage for attorney general and president pro-tempore due to the workload of the positions. The increase would raise the stipends by four percent to match the amount the treasurer and secretary earn.

“I think it’s a fair assessment that some (positions) are underpaid,” Whittaker said. “The reason for the increase is (the attorney general and president pro-tempore) do an equivalent amount of work that is equal to the secretary and treasurer.”

Whittaker said the talks never developed into anything concrete due to the economic hardships, such as furloughs and hiring freezes, that the rest of the university is facing.

The motivation in being an SGA Executive is not based on financial gain, Karanovich said.

“We don’t do this for the money…I could go work for Reynold’s (Plantation) and make four times (the stipend amount),” Karanovich said.

For Karanovich, the stipend is a constant reminder of this motivation.

“When I look at my stipend…I have to remember where the money comes from. I am being paid by the people,” Karanovich said. “We’re on the payroll of the students…we remember who we serve.”

Posted by Matt Chambers on Apr 21 2011. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.