Daily Egyptian
Innovative. Enterprising.
These two words describe the sum of Chancellor Walter Wendler's idea to take assistantships and apply them to the undergraduate level. Students will be able to work in positions related to their major; the result will be a product that benefits both the student and the University.
What's more, the University will be paying good money for these assistantships, for college students that is. For a 10-hour position a student will receive $400 per month, a 15-hour position will receive $600 per month and a 20-hour position will receive $800 per month.
A little quick math shows that students lucky enough to tag an assistantship will receive $10 an hour. It sure beats the measly $5.15 an hour many students are getting paid now.
With that kind of money, college kids can probably afford to buy three packs of Ramen noodles instead of one. OK, OK. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. They can probably only get two.
Ramen noodles aside, the undergraduate assistantship program is an administrative decision that shows the University values its students. And not only does it value the students, but it also trusts them.
According to the policy, students will be placed in positions related to their major, and they are not to be student-work jobs that currently exist. Under the direction of a faculty member, they will be involved in University work that is vital and challenging.
The assistantships should not ever get to the point where students are doing nominal work that could qualify as a typical student-work position. That's not to say those jobs aren't important. In fact, every employee on campus should learn there is as much dignity in being a janitor as in being a chancellor.
All parts work equally to make a great University.
That being said, however, undergraduate assistantships will provide opportunities to students who seek an extra challenge, and they will be rewarded for their hard work. Our University leaders recognize that it is not enough to just give students a college degree. If SIUC students are to be competitive in the job market upon graduation, they need experience to back that flimsy piece of paper.
The program is also a direct payback to the students and a visible effect of the fall tuition increase. Chancellor Walter Wendler promised that the half of the tuition increase would go right back to students and that it would not be used to fill the budget hole caused by the state's financial mess. This program suggests that the chancellor is willing to get creative when it comes to student satisfaction and that he is going to hold true to his promise.
Undergraduate assistantships are a new idea, however, and administrators are not modeling it after another program. For this reason, the program should be flexible and strenuously reviewed at various points throughout the semester. The program will be offered to only 100 students because of budget constraints, which is only a very small percent of the population. This number should be increased as soon as funds are available.
In addition, the whirlwind rate at which the program is being established is both positive and problematic. From a student standpoint, we support Wendler's decision to have it in place by early September. The bureaucracy of the program, however, is a little thick for the time allotted. The deans, directors and department heads must fill out the required paperwork by Aug. 9. Then a committee will review the applications and approve the positions. Students then have to apply for the positions and go through a selection process. All this is to be done by early September.
Though Wendler has been talking about this program for a long time, only recently have details been finalized. University officials need to get out the word so that students know the program exits. Otherwise, don't be surprised when fall comes around and students forget to apply because they are busy doing college stuff such as moving, buying books and trying to find their class on the third floor of Faner.
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
