EDITORIAL: Work Study Solution is Problematic

As work study students let out a sigh of relief that their funds have been restored, departments are left holding their breath as they figure out how to pay them.  Although the University swiftly responded to students’ grievances about the work study program getting slashed, the solution required minimal action and effort on the Financial Aid Office’s part.

The University typically receives between $300,000 and $750,000 for work study funds. Because of federal funding cuts for the program this year, the University was given only $135,000.

To prevent the potentially detrimental outcome of students not receiving vital work study funds that they had depended upon, the Financial Aid Office concluded that departments will have to pay 18 percent from their individual department budgets to compensate for the funds that were overestimated.

This solution is problematic for several reasons: it burdens departments, deflects responsibility, and does not encourage accountability for ensuring this mistake does not happen again. Furthermore, having the departments revamp and modify their already existing budget to compensate for an overestimation is not a solution; it is a passing of the buck and a passing of the responsibility to compensate and be accountable for their mistake.

In an interview with Student Media, Francisco Valines, director of Financial Aid, responded to the claim that department heads are being inconvenienced.

“We understand that they’re not happy. We’re appreciative that they’re willing to do what they can to help students continue to work.”  The office’s response showcases a lack of understanding of the problem; it is not that department heads are willing to do what they can, but that they are left with no other choice.

The Financial Aid Office overestimated the number of students accepting the offered work study positions.  According to Valines, they had no way of knowing how many students were going to be working and what their actual payroll would be because students don’t start working until school begins.

This lack of accountability is a glaring error in basic infrastructure; estimates on such a crucial issue are careless. Valines also stated that estimates are made through history and “this didn’t follow history this Fall.”

The total deficit for work study funds amounts to $165,000, this is a huge expense for departments but not a huge expense for our University funds.  The Beacon thinks the proper solution does not lie in dumping responsibility on department heads, but instead should utilize already existing resources and a comprehensive plan to ensure this never happens again.

About Post Author