Student Employee Week kicks off Monday

Enter any office on campus, and there is guaranteed to be students inside, working along side our staff members. Our campus is filled with almost 2,200 student employees who fill multitudes of positions across campus.

Next week is National Student Employee Appreciation Week, when Portland State will celebrate the contributions that all of its student employees have made to the campus.

“Without our student employees, this place wouldn’t be as rich as it is,” said J.R. Tarabocchia, coordinator of commencement and Student Affairs Outreach.

“Each year colleges and universities around the country acknowledge the significant role that student employees play on campus,” Tarabocchia said. “These students enable faculty and staff to concentrate additional time and efforts on countless other endeavors that make Portland State University a rich learning environment. Many departments would find it difficult to offer services to the Portland State community without student employees.”

Working while attending the university also creates an opportunity for students to supplement and enrich their academic experience. Students earn income, but more importantly, learn to network and communicate, develop skills, work habits and how to juggle their time and schedules.

Students can work part time or be part of the federal work study program, which allows qualified undergraduate and graduate students to pay off tuition costs by working on campus or with eligible outside agencies.

By working any of the variety of positions available, students gain invaluable experience for future careers. The jobs allow for students to “develop some of the most important skill sets that employers are looking for,” said Dee Thompson, director of the Career Center.

The center runs the career connect program, an online service designed to help students find jobs, both on campus and off. There is a wide range of jobs available, from tutoring, working with computers, management, security and office work.

“It’s a great two-way street,” Tarabocchia said. “Students can get job experience, like learning how to function in an office and the skills that go with it.”

Some jobs are restricted by major, while others, such as tutoring, require upper-class standing.

“I don’t think that there are enough opportunities,” Daniel Navarro-Gomez, a current freshman, said when asked about the employment options on campus. “I check every week and still haven’t found anything. I want to work on campus for the convenience and the flexibility of the schedules.”

The majority of the jobs require some type of experience, as any job would. The more specialized jobs, such as Student Events Coordinator, require more experience than many students have. However, these jobs can often be worked up to by starting at a lower level position.

One of the best things about working on campus is the importance that is placed on the student’s studies, Tarabocchia said.
“They are students first, and employees second,” he added.

Tarabocchia is currently heading a committee that aims to improve conditions for student employees. Students are invited to voice their opinions regarding any changes that they think should be made.

In honor of all the hard work that these employees have put into our campus, an event will be held at 3 p.m. on April 15 for all employees, students and their managers. Twenty-eight students from different departments have been nominated as Employee of the Year, and one student will be chosen based on reliability, initiative, quality, professionalism, commitment to campus service and the uniqueness of their contribution.

The winner will be revealed at the celebration.