By Misty Barron
UNIVERSITY CENTER – A 2016 study found that students who work on campus completed degrees at a higher rate than students with other employment. Yet students from lower-income families and other underserved groups are less likely to hold on-campus jobs.
Delta College is doing nothing to help this gap by paying student workers the bare minimum.
“But isn’t the minimum wage for students?” This is a question asked by many when the subject of higher wages comes up. I can not help but wonder which students they are talking about.
Does this take into account students like me? I am nearly 50 and returned to school after life took me down an unexpected path. Does it consider the single mother of three who is trying to make a better life for herself and kids? Or the recent high school graduate whose parents can not afford to pay for his education?
I would venture to say that these students are those who attend college while still being financially supported by their family. This traditional student barely exists anymore, especially in community college.
The average age of students at Delta College is 25. That statistic alone shows that this is not a college full of kids who have the luxury of living at home for free while attending class. By 25, most students are on their own and trying to make ends meet. Some have families to support and often face hard choices when trying to continue their education.
No matter their age, many students fight to manage a 40 hour job while taking full credits. From personal experience and watching my peers struggle, I understand what a monumental feat this can be. There are only so many hours in a day to attend class, work, study, finish homework, and try to balance all that life throws our way.
Other students have to cut their school down to part-time and work 40 hours or more a week. This means a two-year degree will take the average student four years to finish. Once again, forcing them to choose between paying bills and education.
Sadly, even more face the impossible decision between work and attending school at all.
These choices are made even more difficult when on-campus jobs that pertain to their degree and career do not pay a wage that’s even comparable to what McDonald’s offers.
“It’ll look great on your resume.” While this sentiment is true, it is also out of touch with the reality students face. It is tantamount to the many influencers we see on social media who ask professionals to work cheap “for the exposure.” That resume means nothing when the electric bill is due during finals.
When it comes down to it, students are stressed, they are in debt and working on-campus is not a viable solution for many. Delta needs to consider what sort of future they are setting students up for when paying workers below a livable wage.
