Cathy Patella Director of Financial Aid Wells College EASFAA President

 The Past – How Student Employment was administered by the FAO.  Why the Change – Factors that caused the College to review its current program  The Present – How Student Employment is administered today.  The Future – What future developments are in progress.

Student Employment was considered a financial aid program where students could earn money on campus to help pay for their educational costs. Employ as many students as possible. Wells is in a rural location with few outside job opportunities.

 Budget – Consultation between FAO and VP & Treasurer.  FAO determined how many positions they had to assign.  Students paid minimum wage. Standard job 8hrs/wk for a total of $1600. Only Resident Advisors earned more.

 Developed two work-study programs: FWS and Wells College Student Employment (WSE) Program.  Model the WSE program to shadow the FWS program with the exception of no need students can work under the WSE program.

 FAO assign students to all jobs on campus.  Exceptions: RAs and Tutors  Departments were given the opportunity in the spring to request their current employees back for the upcoming year.  Departments requested new positions through the FAO Office.  Students completed a job application request form.

 FAO assigned jobs to students based on financial need.  Students received job assignments in their mailbox upon their return to campus.

 Job Application  W-4 Form  NYS Payroll Disclosure Form LS59 (Notice and Acknowledgement of Pay and Pay Day)  I-9 Citizenship Form  Accept/Decline Response

 FAO processed student payroll every two weeks.  Paychex is the college employment payroll system.  Main job of our student workers and one 10 month employee. Timesheets calculated manually, no electronic service.  Maintain direct deposit forms.

 Monitoring of over earnings done by the FAO.  Students notified of job earnings used at the end of the fall semester.  In the spring supervisors notified of all potential over earners.  Increases in job awards depended on budget limitations.

 Very few new on-campus jobs were created due to time constraint of the FAO.  Exception: Community Service Jobs created to comply with federal regulations.  25% of our time spent on student employment.

 2008 saw the beginning of our economic downturn or great recession.  College began to review all programs for cost-saving measures.

 President’s Obama’s 2013 budget plan was laced with proposals important for college students, including doubling the number of federal work-study jobs over the next five years.  The current administration finds value in expanding the current FWS program.

 22% of first yr undergraduate students plan to work 1-10 hrs/wk  30% expect to work hrs/wk  25% plan to work 20 hrs/wk  Rates even higher among first generation students and among Hispanic and African- American students (Noel-Levitz, 2008)

 Studies dating from the 1970s to today, have indicated that student interaction with the campus community in peer relationships and in activities that create a sense of belonging – have the effect of increasing student retention. (Jacoby and Garland, 2004; Tinto, 1975)

 College employed 78% of its enrolled full-time students.  FAO would literally “beg” offices to take students to fulfill the mission of employing as many students as possible on campus.  Students were coming into the office and requesting, “I want a job where I can do my homework.” Isn’t that’s why its called work study.  FWS funds covered only 20% of the total student employment budget.  Students under earning on average 20%.

 Program did not reinforce retention efforts.  Viewed as an entitlement program.  Did not emphasis helping students build their skill set or develop strong work ethics.  Supervisors indicated the difficulty in providing valuable work experience w/ the # of students assigned to them.  Very little feedback given to students.  Very little student participation in the program.

 The Wells College Student Employment Program is to provide quality jobs where students are fully engaged and learning while on the job.  The Student Employment Program should reflect a more realistic life experience meaning jobs are not guaranteed, but are competitive and must be earned.

 Emphasize the role student employment has in building and retaining enrollment.  Demonstrate how student employment can better prepare students for the post collegiate working world.

 Financial Aid Office – determines who is eligible and informs all related parties of federal compliance regulations.  Office of Career Services and Experiential Learning – maintains student employment center web page, works w/ supervisors, assigns student workers, training and assessment.  Payroll Office – process bi- monthly timesheets and payroll and maintains direct deposit information. Career Services Payroll Financial Aid

 Supervisors and Career Services work together on budgetary needs. Career Services report to the Academic Dean.  Supervisors still have the ability to request in the spring returning students employed in their departments.  Job Fair – supervisors advertise their openings, schedule job interviews.  Notify career services of new student workers.  Returning students notified of next year’s job decisions before they leave campus in the spring.

 New students sent a job application in early June.  Attend a Job Fair at one of the Wells College Warm-Ups.  Receive their job assignment in the first week of August before they arrive.

 Job Development. Eliminated some jobs, defined current jobs and skills more clearly, and created tier jobs of advancement.  Orientation. Communicate expectations and explain how student jobs contribute to the larger goals of the institution.  Feedback. Supervisors are asked to evaluate workers annually. Evaluations sent to Career Services Office.

 Training. Attend summer orientation workshops developed by the Career Services Office i.e. interviewing and evaluation techniques.  Monitor Job Earnings. Over/Under earnings report available on the web.

 Help students find campus jobs that relate to their interests and skills.  Demonstrate to students how their campus job can best be incorporated into their resume.  From campus jobs to internships. Expand student options that will benefit them upon graduation.

 Maintain the Student Employment Center on the Web.  Design training programs for students such as “My First Office Job.”  Design training programs for supervisors related to interviewing and evaluating techniques.  Main administrator for the Student Employment Program.

Career Services Student Employment Experiential Learning

 Receive job assignments on returning students before renewed packages sent out in June.  Career Services collects the necessary documents, we are recorders only.  Work with Career Services on complying with federal regulations for the FWS program.  Does not do a bi-monthly payroll anymore. Payroll Office now responsible.

% of students enrolled fulltime were employed FWS funds covered 25% of overall student employment budget. 20% under earned their job award % of students enrolled fulltime were employed FWS funds covered 20% of overall student employment budget. 20% under earned their job award.

 Students begin a relationship with the Career Services Office in their first year of college.  Students learn no matter how small or insignificant their task may seem, campus jobs exist and contribute to the larger goals of the department and the college as a whole.  Students and supervisors learn better interview skills.  Students learn that hard work and commitment can grow into job advancement.

 Staff and faculty become supportive mentors and often are seen in the role of “the surrogate parent.” Relationships continue beyond graduation.  Students connect with other students working in their departments. Some departments have T-shirts. Help form an identity on campus.  Student Employment Program that complements the college’s academic program.

 Timesheets recorded electronically  Career Services developing a document tracking model  Students can review job earnings at any time  Expand the budget for more off-campus job opportunities