Chapter 245

STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT
SURVEY RESULTSNTEU 245
Link to Survey Results
PDF Link to Results

NTEU 245 recently conducted an online survey of its unit to determine interest in a student loan repayment program.  Other federal agencies are making good use of their ability to repay employees’ student loans as a recruitment and retention tool. 

Two hundred twenty one members of the bargaining unit responded to NTEU 245’s survey on student loans.  Of those respondents, 28.5% (63 respondents) were at the GS-11 level; 10% (22 respondents) were at the GS-12 level; 3.6% (8 respondents) were at the GS-13 level; and 57.9% (128 respondents) were at the GS-14 level. The average number of years that all respondents had been out of law school was 8.4 years and a majority of respondents, 53.8%, has been working at the PTO for more than 4 years.  

Two hundred and nineteen respondents noted their average student loan indebtedness.  73.5% of these respondents had student loan debt.  A staggering 51.6% of those with student loan debts had debts in excess of $45,000.  In addition, of the 51.6% who had student loan debt in excess of $45,000, more than half of these individuals (53.9%) carried a debt burden greater than $75,000.   Approximately 61% of respondents with student loans had a loan term of 21-30 years, with the average interest rate being approximately 5.5%. 

While 72% of respondents plan to remain in the position of examining attorney for three or more years, 74% of respondents said they would be more likely to remain in the position if a student loan repayment program was offered, with 60% indicating that they strongly agreed with this statement.  39% of respondents indicated they would be less likely to remain in the position of an examining attorney if a student loan repayment program was not offered. 

For individuals who have student loans greater than $60, 000, 99% indicated that they would be more likely to remain an examining attorney if a student loan repayment program was offered, with 89% strongly agreeing with this statement and 10% agreeing with the statement.  For those with student loans in excess of $60,000, 68% indicated they planned on remaining in the position of an examining attorney for three years or more; however, 59% indicated they would be less likely to remain in that position if a student loan reduction program was not offered. 

In conclusion, NTEU 245 survey results indicate that a number of examining attorneys in the Trademark office have a great amount of student loan debt and they would be more likely to remain in the position of an examining attorney if a student loan repayment program was offered. 

The survey results are attached in graphic and spreadsheet form.  If you have any comments or questions about the survey, please contact Howard Friedman. 

NTEU 245