It is the policy of the IBGP that all doctoral students actively studying in the Program should be provided with financial support in the form of a Graduate Research Associate (GRA) or from a sponsored Fellowship. GRA support will be provided by the IBGP or the student’s research advisor. Fellowships will be awarded by the IBGP, the OSU Graduate School or from sources external to Ohio State University. Consequently, admission to the Program is dependent upon availability of financial support for the incoming student. In keeping with NIH guidelines for support from Training Programs of Graduate and Postgraduate trainees, the IBGP will consider only those applicants who are citizens of the U. S. A. or registered aliens for support directly from Program funds.

Most incoming IBGP students will be supported by Graduate Research Associateships (GRAs) through the Program. GRAs funded directly by the IBGP are usually for the first year only, and will not exceed two years. Financial support will become the responsibility of the student and his/her dissertation advisor following year one. It is expected that in most cases financial support after the student’s first year in the Program will be from research or training program grants. A GRA for domestic students carries a stipend of $1,750 per month ($21,000 annually) for the 2005-06 academic year, and is also accompanied by tuition and fee authorizations. GRA appointments are for 50% time, which is considered to represent 20 hours per week of service fulfilled in part through laboratory rotations during the student’s first year in the Program. Students are generally not permitted to hold other jobs while on Associateship appointment. Renewal of the appointment after the first year in the Program is dependent upon satisfactory performance, and will be evaluated by the student’s Advisory Committee and the IBGP Graduate Studies Committee

University fellowships are awarded to outstanding academic students and fund in part the pre-general and post-general exam years depending upon the specific fellowship. Students must be nominated by the IBGP for these fellowships and the Program will process the student’s application. To be considered for a University Fellowship, students must have all application materials submitted no later than January 15th. However, students are strongly encouraged to submit the completed application during the Autumn quarter before admission. The student must also check the appropriate "Fellowship" box under FINANCIAL AID on the bottom, right-hand side of the first page of the graduate application form. The IBGP will supplement University Fellowship awards up to an amount equal to $1,000.00 more than the IBGP standard stipend. Periods of training in the Program not funded by a Fellowship will be funded by GRAs provided by the IBGP or faculty research advisor as described above.

Students that do not qualify for support from the IBGP or through Fellowships can be admitted into the Ph.D. program if funded by a faculty member, or if the student has privately arranged financial support and this arrangement is approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. Stipends, in the form of GRAs, must be at least equivalent to those provided by the Program to GRAs.

The OSU Student Health Insurance Plan offers excellent coverage at an economical cost. The benefits have been approved by the Student Subcommittee on Health Insurance with endorsements by both the Council on Student Affairs and the Board of Trustees. The Comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan covers inpatient and outpatient medical and mental health care, some preventative/well care, pharmacy, dental, and vision. Exclusions and limitations apply. Coverage is worldwide and available year-round. If a student purchases the Plan by the deadlines each term, then there is no break in coverage.

The Plan uses a PPO model (Preferred Provider Organization) with Ohio State network providers/facilities throughout Ohio . Use of network providers results in better benefits for the insured. Non-network services are subject to deductibles and higher coinsurance. There is also an enhanced tier of benefits available to the insured student only (no dependents) through Student Health Services and Counseling and Consultation Service(CCS) on campus.

CCS services are free to all currently enrolled OSU students up to ten sessions per academic year.  The professional staff is composed of independently licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, and graduate students and trainees in these disciplines who are supervised by the professional staff.  Enrolled students covered by OSU Student Health Insurance may be eligible for additional services with the payment of a modest co-payment.  Also, dependents covered by Student Health Insurance are eligible for services with a co-payment.  Eligibility and costs, if any, will be discussed at the initial appointment.

Graduate Associates have two health plan options - each offers a comprehensive benefit plan via a network of providers. Both Student Health Insurance and University Prime Care (UPC) offer benefits that include medical coverage, prescription drug coverage, and the WholeHealth Discount Program. Student Health Insurance also has a medical plan that includes dental and vision coverage. University Prime Care includes Adoption Assistance and the GlobalCare Emergency Medical Referral Service.

WilceCare Supplement Student Health Insurance Plan

The Wilce Student Health Center (Student Health Services) at The Ohio State University is a JCAHO accredited, outpatient facility providing a variety of health care services to the student population. All students enrolled at OSU are eligible to use the health service, regardless of health insurance coverage.

WilceCare has been designed to meet the needs of students with other health insurance plans that only provide regional coverage for basic care services, or provide coverage subject to high deductibles and/or co-pays. With WilceCare and the services of the Wilce Student Health Center , a student's minor medical needs may be taken care of without the need to find a covered provider or pay any deductibles.

Graduate Associates (as a student employee of the University) have the option to either elect to participate in the applicable state retirement system or to exempt from retirement withholding. This election must occur within 30 days of becoming a new student employee. Additional information, including details of the benefits provided by the state retirement system and election form(s), can be found in the Student Retirement Handbook (http://hr.osu.edu/hrpubs/ben/retirestudents.pdf).

Option 1:
Elect participation in the applicable state retirement system (i.e. PERS or STRS). This plan is a defined benefits plan, which means that a formula is used to determine the benefits amount payable at retirement to vested participants. Vesting means being eligible for pension benefits upon retirement. You must have five full years of service credit in order to be vested in the state retirement systems; your time as a Graduate Associate may count toward the 5-year requirement. In addition to pension benefits, participants may be eligible for disability benefits, health insurance coverage and survivor benefits.

Option 2:
Elect to be exempt for this retirement withholding. You may only elect this option if you meet certain criteria which include being enrolled for a minimum of 9 hours during autumn, winter and spring quarters and 7 hours during summer quarter AND have paid your General & Instructional Fees. Note that this election is irrevocable once made, and by doing so, you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in Option 1.

It is important to note that Ohio public institutions do not participate in the federal Social Security system, other than contributions to the Medicare Hospital insurance fund (Medicare Part A). The Medicare contribution rate is currently 1.45% of earnings.