At Union College, if a student qualifies for need-based financial aid through the FAFSA and CSS Profile, they are eligible to apply for a work-study position on campus. This is a great opportunity for students to earn money while still having time to focus on their studies. The pay rate for all work-study positions, according to Union’s financial aid department, is $9.70 per hour. From filing paperwork to conducting research and planning large-scale projects, students are compensated equally, raising the question: is this system fair?
This is not a criticism of the opportunity of work-study positions, as everyone who participates in work-study is immensely appreciative of the program. With this being said, some of the work-study positions include working at the front desk for different offices, assisting professors with research projects, community service, and more. These are great ways for students to be paid for work and participate in topics they find interesting, but some positions are glaringly more tedious than others. Is $9.70 per hour really enough?
As a student-staff member at the Kenney Center of Community Engagement and Outreach, some tasks I do include making social media content, promoting literacy for children, and planning and running events for the greater Schenectady community. Other work-studies, specifically those that have students working the front desk or maintaining an office, allow more flexibility with their time. Students may even have time to get course work done while clocked in on the job. However, with a work-study like the Kenney Center that requires a more intense amount of work, the pay should compensate for more.
I believe that the amount of money earned should vary from work-study to work-study. If one job demands more, it only makes sense to raise the pay. Some students are in more need than others, and that money is crucial to costs like tuition, housing, books, and more. Considering how difficult and time-consuming working an outside job can be while focusing on college classes, work-study may be the only job they can have throughout the school year. So, having more positions with higher pay can benefit students and help them gain additional financial stability. It is only fair to pay more if the job requires a heavier workload.
