Grad Student Workload and Expectations
Working a second job outside of an RA/TA is extremely discouraged at mines, even though the current minimum stipend is not competitive with other R1 universities or ample to cover cost of living in the area. The Graduate Assistantship Policies that every graduate student must agree with include a section under "eligibility" that requires your advisors approval if you want a second job. This comes from the fact that grad students are expected to work 50+ hour weeks regularly, which makes managing a second commitment difficult.
I understand that we are grad students first, but the current system seems flawed. We are expected to work beyond the hours of typical full-time job for less money than the cost of living in the area, and are extremely discouraged from seeking additional income. We should receive an increase in stipends to compensate us appropriately, or be allowed to manage our time as we see fit and seek additional employment if needed.