Why are Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) appointments and fellowship funding treated differently when determining financial need?
The GSI stipend is considered regular income, whereas a fellowship stipend is considered financial aid, so the two are treated differently in the formula. Earnings are reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and used to calculate a student contribution, allowing certain offsets for living expenses based on federally established standards. Financial aid, such as GSI tuition waivers and fellowships, reduce financial need on a dollar-for-dollar basis.