University and Division Policies

Social Sciences Quad in Summer

University Student Manual

The Student Manual is the official statement of University policies and regulations, and expected standards of conduct that are applicable to all students. Students are expected to be familiar with these policies. 

If you have questions about policies and requirements after browsing these pages, please contact ssd-dos@uchicago.edu.

SSD Disciplinary Procedure

The University of Chicago is a community of scholars dedicated to research, academic excellence, the pursuit and cultivation of learning, and robust intellectual exchange among faculty and students. Every member of the university —student, faculty, and staff—makes a commitment to strive for personal and academic integrity; to treat others with dignity and respect; to honor the rights and property of others; to take responsibility for individual and group behavior; and to act as a responsible citizen in a free academic community and in the larger society. Any student conduct, on or off campus, of individuals or groups, which threatens or violates this commitment may become a matter for action within the university’s system of student discipline. 

SSD Grievance Policy

The Division of the Social Sciences constitutes a community of scholars committed to free academic inquiry and exchange, both of which depend on forthright professional relations among students, faculty, and staff. Graduate training is a complex enterprise with many competing approaches and visions, which can generate legitimate concern and conflict about academic matters. The division has established policy to assist students who are seeking resolution of difficult interpersonal conflicts through informal and formal grievance procedures. These procedures consider complaints about academic impropriety that arise as a result of the actions of a member of the faculty or administration, or a Department or Program committee, regarding academic matters.

Guidelines for PhD Students wanting to hire research assistants/student employees

All PhD students wishing to employ another graduate student or an undergraduate student as a research assistant (RA) should contact the Dean of Student Office (DOS). Students are NOT permitted to hire another student on their own and all student employment must go through the Dean of Students Office. More information is available here.

PhD External Funding Policy

We encourage students to continue to pursue external funding opportunities, which can demonstrate excellence in their field and better position them for future funding and employment opportunities. In addition to the prestige and professional development associated with winning external fellowships, the Division provides a financial incentive for students to apply for fellowships: a student who secures external funding will always receive more than they would have from Divisional funding alone.

When a student secures external funding, the Division evaluates the terms of the external funding and applies the framework below. The Division’s external funding incentive is equal to 30% of the minimum annualized Divisional fellowship/assistantship. For 2024-2025 the incentive is $13,500.

For external awards* up to $13,500:

  • The student receives the external funding.
  • The student receives their full Divisional fellowship/assistantship.
  • No incentive is paid.

For external awards* between $13,500 and the program’s minimum fellowship/assistantship level:

  • The student receives the external funding.
  • The student receives Divisional fellowship/assistantship at an amount that when combined with external funding equals the program’s minimum stipend level.
  • The student receives the $13,500 incentive as additional fellowship/assistantship.

For external awards* greater than the program’s minimum stipend level:

  • The student receives the external funding.
  • No Divisional fellowship/assistantship is paid because the student’s external funding is already at or above the program’s minimum stipend level.
  • The student receives the $13,500 incentive as fellowship/assistantship.

* Notes: 

  1. External awards intended to cover specific additional expenses (e.g., travel, research, etc.) may be calculated at less than their full value. For example, a $15,000 external award that includes $2,000 designated specifically for airline tickets would be calculated as a $13,000 award.
  2. For the purposes of calculating Divisional fellowship/assistantship and incentive fellowship/assistantship, the Division will combine multiple external awards that cover the same time period. If an external award spans more than one academic year, the incentive is paid only once.

The external funding framework is intended to incentivize students to seek additional external funding without penalty. External funding opportunities are unique, so if you have questions about how your external funding will interact with your Divisional stipend, please let us know.