State College Borough Council looks at classification of doctoral students under housing rules

They research, they teach, they assist. And most importantly, they get paid for the work.

For all intents and purposes, Penn State doctoral students are young professionals, Councilwoman Sarah Klinetob argued Monday before the Borough Council, yet still fall under the borough’s zoning restrictions regarding students renting certain homes and apartments.

“Under the current zoning all part- and full-time undergraduate and graduate students are defined as students in the borough and are subject to zoning regulations in R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential zoning districts,” she said.

She proposed that people enrolled in part- or full-time doctoral programs be exempt from borough student home zoning regulations, saying they are likened to young professionals and young families as seen through their maturity, longevity and income.

An attempt several years ago to remove graduate students from the definition of “student” failed, she said, which would have removed master’s, MBA and doctoral students from this definition. She cited the board at the time’s belief that “graduate students did not meet the neighborhoods’ need for long-term residents.”

Klinetob said her observation of doctoral programs began in 2014, and in September, she invited these students to participate in an online questionnaire. Her figures were derived from the results of that questionnaire.

About 4,200 Penn State students are enrolled in doctoral programs of philosophy, musical arts or education, she said. The average age of these students is 25 to 29 years old, with a five-year average time span in their respective programs.

Students performing assistantships, such as research or teaching, also receive a stipend from the university, she said. Most are receiving either a 10-month stipend, totaling $18,500, or a 12-month stipend, totaling $22,450.

Because of the wages earned in their work, doctoral students pay an amount of taxes to the borough closer to the scale of professionals than undergraduate students, she said. Those with a 10-month stipend pay 43 percent more taxes than an undergraduate, while those with a 12-month stipend pay 53 percent more.

The largest percentage of doctoral students are living without a significant other, she said, while the second highest percentage are living with a spouse. This follows national trends, which show people are getting married later in life and having children later.

“As such,” Klinetob said, “persons enrolled in doctoral programs at Penn State are in line with modern young families with high levels of education — people who would be expected to be found in college towns.”

More than three-quarters of these students rent living spaces, she said, and those that do own homes primarily purchased single-family detached homes. The students looking for single-family homes are the types of people the borough is looking to have in the neighborhoods, she said.

Councilman Peter Morris requested that law students also be included in this new definition, as they should fit into the category of young professionals as well.

Councilwoman Theresa Lafer said it seems as if married students, by definition, aren’t covered by the regulations, and the rule of “no more than three unrelated people” has become a trap in catching anyone with student in their title.

“I do think we need some adjustment,” she said, “and I do think you’ve proven many doctoral candidates are independent, income-earning adults who should be treated that way.”

Council unanimously approved Morris’ request to include law students in the definition and to forward the proposal to the borough Planning Commission for further review and recommendation to council.

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 7:06 PM with the headline "State College Borough Council looks at classification of doctoral students under housing rules."