6 CAMPUS NEWS
Red & Black
3 may 2022
W&J Experiences Delays In Student Payments Akansha Das Red & Black editor-in-chief W&J offers a multitude of jobs for students on campus. Work-study positions budgeted by the government and W&J are available for students to pay tuition. Stipends are offered to Resident Assistants and LINK Mentors serving as support systems to students on campus. Positions designed for students to gain experience are available in the Business Office, W&J Admissions Office, the Library, and other campus offices. Given the rising cost of tuition and growing burden of student loans, campus jobs can help students earn extra money and financially support themselves day-to-day. A 2018 Georgetown report found that 70% of college students hold a job with most college students working 1535 hours per week. While the number of students working full time has decreased over the years (from 40% in the 1980s to 26% in the early 2010s). Yet, data also shows that a decrease in working hours doesn’t indicate a more equitable playing field, as students who are low-income or identify as Black or Latinx are more likely to work longer hours than their peers while attending college. Despite these various opportunities to assist with cost, there have been observations regarding delays in payments
for W&J jobs among student workers and for Student Government Association (SGA)-funded events. A student who preferred to remain anonymous commented that while payment for their work study positions has been “reliable” if timesheets are turned in on time, the same cannot be said for all their campus jobs. “Link Mentors, for example, are not on a particular schedule, and it is at the discretion of our supervisor to submit payment information to the Business Office” they said over email correspondence. “On multiple occasions, we have been told that we would be paid by a certain time, but the actual check would be delivered significantly later than expected,” they said. Susan Smith from W&J’s Business Office’s Accounts Payable (AP) Department commented over email on reasons for such delays. She said these payments must be approved by a supervisor and sent to AP where it is then reviewed for correct account numbers and approval. An error in one of these processes may cause them to wait before processing and signing the check. “These are procedures we are required to follow by our auditing company,.” Smith said. Katie Hahn (‘22), The Red & Black’s manager of photography, also commented over email on receiving a delay in payment due
Courtesy Ava Smith
November 6th, 2021 - Ava Smith, featured right, helped to coordinate “the W&J Experience” event through her job with the Admissions Office.
to her manager of photography receive my last paycheck that position, especially over Spring was submitted on the 21st of break. March).” “...this semester my workstudy checks are almost always behind (it took 24 days to Story continues on page 7
