Graphic by Karri Fox

Students express mixed views on pay rates for on-campus jobs.

Students have expressed mixed views on pay rates for on-campus jobs, and faculty have reflected on their inability to retain student workers. 

Sarah Will, executive director of Human Resources, said the compensation of student workers is based on the university’s available resources. 

“USI Human Resources reviews compensation for all positions, including student workers, with the availability of resources being the primary driver in those decisions,” Will said.

Thomas Smith, sophomore history major, works as a history tutor for Academic Skills. Smith said he receives adequate pay for tutoring.

“For my particular position as a tutor in academic skills, I think the pay is adequate,” Smith said. 

“Going into the job, I knew I was not going to be raking in the dough,” he said. “And that is not really the point of most student jobs on campus.”

Smith said between rising inflation and the cost of tuition, it would “behoove” the university to raise student wages to make up for the increased cost of living.

“I guarantee your SubCo sandwich costs more this year than it did last year,” Smith said. 

“I wish we did get paid a little more, but I do understand why we’re being paid so little,” Smith said.

Henry Lackey, freshman undecided major, is a welcome greeter for the Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center. Lackey said he understands why the university pays students close to minimum wage but said pay could improve. 

“Our responsibilities aren’t that hard,” Lackey said. “I don’t like our pay a lot because it’s basically minimum wage.”

Lackey said it is unlikely he will continue working at the RFWC, as he will need to make more money in the future. 

“Eventually, I’ll need more money,” he said. “I really only make enough to go home and maybe do a couple things during the week.”

MonteLee Norton, sophomore creative writing major, is a peer mentor with student services. Norton said her campus job is her only income while in school. 

“This is my only income, so it would be nice to be able to make a little bit more so I could support myself more comfortably,” Norton said. “Otherwise, I have to rely on savings that I accumulate over breaks.”

Students have many reasons for working on campus. 

“The on-campus jobs accommodate my class schedule more,” Norton said.

Norton said her classes are her priority, and on-campus jobs understand that.

“I want to work somewhere that respects that and is easy to get to,” Norton said.

Denise McKenzie, senior English major, is a library assistant. McKenzie said she works on campus because of the scheduling flexibility. 

“I already have to travel across Evansville for classes, and it makes the most sense to work in between them,” McKenzie said. 

McKenzie said despite the flexibility, campus positions pay students a pitiful wage.  

“When I was a student worker, I was paid $7.25/hour at the library and about $7.65/hour as a writing consultant,” McKenzie said. 

McKenzie said low wages and limited working hours mean student workers are unable to make enough money to break an annual income of $14,580. This income puts students below the federal poverty line in earnings. 

“To rise above the poverty line, students would need to earn a minimum of $11.40 hourly while working the maximum amount of hours during the academic year and over the summer months,” McKenzie said. “However, no student worker position pays this amount. Therefore, all student workers are earning below the poverty line.”

McKenzie said the university should consider increasing student pay to $12 an hour. 

“USI endorses poverty wages because that’s what they’re paying students,” McKenzie said. “I think the wage should increase to $12/hour, which would raise students’ monthly earnings to $960 gross.”

Deanna Odney, writing specialist for Academic Skills, said she has a problem finding and retaining workers for the Writers’ Room.  

“I have a bigger problem right now, with even finding them in the first place, even more so retaining them,” Odney said. “Retaining is becoming more of a problem as well because of other opportunities they have working off campus.”

Odney said Academic Skills has been asking about increasing student pay for some time. She does not foresee changes in the immediate future, as it is difficult to raise student pay without raising the pay of the rest of the faculty. 

“I would love it if they could, but I don’t think it’s very realistic that that’s going to happen anytime soon,” Odney said.