Carnegie Mellon University issues one-time payment to faculty and staff due to rising costs

PITTSBURGH — Whether you are at the pump or in the grocery store, it’s evident costs are going up.

“I’m a father of a year-and-a-half-year-old daughter, so grocery store bills are going up, gas prices, trying to limit driving,” said Jacob Cohen, a CMU staff member.

So what can be done to help out the average family as it gets harder to survive?

“I would think a sustained monthly payment plan would be better,” said CMU graduate student Saptarshi Saha.

While it’s not a monthly plan, Carnegie Mellon University did announce it will do a one-time payment. The president of the university sent out a letter to faculty and staff saying that, due to rising inflation costs, everyone will receive $1500 at the end of the month.

“It does have a tangible impact and sends a message for solidarity and awareness that people are really feeling it,” Cohen said.

Like Cohen, staff members are excited for the assistance, but some students feel more needs to be done before the problem gets worse.

“It’s not just a one-time thing. It’s been a problem throughout the 2000s,” Saha said.

In that letter to staff, CMU cited increased costs to homes, food prices and global supply chain issues as reasons behind the one-time payment.

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