Two days ago, Dean Butler announced a stipend increase, a move to five years of 12-month funding for PhD students in the humanities and social sciences, and full-family healthcare coverage for graduate parents.  Here is Dean Butler's email announcement: 

Date:  February 13, 2008
To:  Ph.D. students and Graduate School faculty
From:  Jon Butler, Dean of the Graduate School
Re:  Stipends for Ph.D. Students for 2008-2009

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce major improvements in financial aid for Ph.D. students in 2008-2009.  Among other enhancements, this additional assistance for the first time brings 5 years of 12-month stipend funding to Ph.D. students in the humanities and social sciences so students may better achieve their research and scholarship goals across the entire year.

Entering and continuing students in the humanities and social sciences will receive a 5-year 12-month stipend of $25,000 for the 2008-2009 academic year beginning in September 2008. Continuing students in the humanities and social sciences will receive this funding for the remaining years of their 5-year funding package.   In addition, stipends for entering and continuing students in the sciences, which vary somewhat by field of study and which have provided 12 months of support for some time, will generally increase by around 3.5%.  For 2008-2009, the TF4 rate will be $9,512 and the PTAI rate will be $9,612.  Finally, beginning in fall 2008 the Graduate School will fund the full health award for families with children and will continue to fund the full health award for single students and 50% of the two-person plan for spouses or domestic partners.

The Graduate School is particularly grateful to the Graduate Student Assembly Steering Committee, Provost Andrew Hamilton, and President Richard Levin for their support.  These substantial increases significantly benefit our students and strengthen the superb Ph.D. programs that bring national and international renown to Yale.