In order to combat the current economic hardships facing Portland State, the Office of Student Financial Aid is working to extend current work-study employees into the upcoming 2010–11 academic year.
On May 17, Scot Turner, the work-study coordinator for the Office of Student Financial Aid, sent out an e-mail to all departments informing them that the office was offering help to retain federal work-study employees for the 2010–11 year.
“It is vital, especially in the current economic climate, to retain experienced staff,” Turner said in the e-mail. “To assist with this, the Office of Student Financial Aid is committed to helping campus employers retain student employees who provide valuable services.”
Though all departments are eligible to hire work-study and student employees, it depends on staffing needs and budget, as pay scales vary according to different job descriptions. Human Resources has a suggested wage scale for employers to follow.
Work-study positions typically end each year on June 15. To work during the 2010 summer term, work-study employees must have a work-study award for the 2010¬–¬¬11 academic year, as well as a submitted summer work-study request form. This form is currently available in the financial aid office.
The Office of Student Financial Aid is reaching out to departments that have current student employees in work-study positions for 2009–10, but who did not receive a work-study award for the next academic year.
According to Turner’s e-mail, departments can submit a “Request for Work Study Retention” form to the Office of Student Financial Aid so that they may evaluate each student’s eligibility per federal guidelines. If funds are available, “these students will receive priority consideration.”
The Office of Student Financial Aid started this process last summer, after requests from campus departments to retain and keep vital student employees.
During the school year, work-study students work a maximum of 20 hours a week so that they can concentrate on their academics, Turner said. In the summer work-study students are allowed to work 40 hours a week. However, no overtime is allowed.
“Work study is in demand [for students],” he said. “Students tend to utilize those jobs when funded.”
According to Turner, studies have proven that students perform better academically when they work 10 to 20 hours a week on campus, versus not working at all or working full-time off campus.
Students gain valuable work experience when working on campus, he said. In addition, they become better integrated into campus life and get to know students and faculty better.
Turner said that there are a number of student employees that work at the Office of Student Financial Aid, and they are “great to work with.”
In addition, there are benefits for students to find jobs on campus, as departments are required to work with students’ school and final exam schedules.
“There are a lot of good jobs on campus,” Turner said.
In order to find a job on or off campus, Turner recommended that students visit the Career Center, located in the University Services Building, room 402.
For more information, visit www.pdx.edu/careers.