TCDSU passes motion on “overly strict” Academic Registry late payment penalties for postgraduates

The motion mandates that the union contact college to demand a change in the system

Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) Council have passed a motion to demand a change in the “overly strict” penalty system for late tuition payments made by postgraduate researchers.

The motion, which was passed at the first Council of the semester, mandates the Postgraduate Researchers Forum (PGRF) Chair and the TCDSU President to contact College and the Academic Registry to demand that the system of late payment penalties be adapted in compliance with the “reality” of post-graduate research funding.

The motion claims that the Academic Registry “is very commonly months late in payment of PhD stipends” and as a result PhD and postgraduate students “do not control their own funds” and “cannot issue payments upon request”. 

Despite this, the motion claims, the Academic Registry has “little to no flexibility for late tuition payments that are beyond any possible control of a PGR paid to work at Trinity.”

The passing of the motion will see that demands are made to College and to the Academic Registry to overturn the current system of late penalties.

Speaking in favour of the motion, Postgraduate Convenor Seathrún Sardina said that in “the current cost of living crisis” the current system “simply isn’t something we can  accept”.

The motion was proposed by Sardina and seconded by TCDSU President Jenny Maguire.