University of Central Oklahoma
THURSDAY February 19, 1998
The Student Voice Since 1903
Federal Work Study funding increase unlikely to benefit UCO students By Mark A. Schneberger StaffWriter
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Business with pleasure... UCO sophomore Erich Olds practices lacrosse off of the west side of the Business Building Friday. (Staff photo by Bryan Terry)
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)0, NEWS Nobel Laureate to speak at UCO math conference this week. 5
INSIDE
CO was granted thousands of additional dollars in Federal Work-Study monies this year, but students are unlikely to benefit from the increase, said Blanche Washington, Human Resources director. She said so many_ Work-Study jobs went unclaimed this spring that her office has had little reason to add positions to the postings, which often include assistants ; secretaries, receptionists and food service workers. The job opportunities help students fund their education while borrowing less money. "We always seem to have more jobs than students who want them," Washington said. "So there's no need to create more." UCO was allocated $306,296 last year in Work-Study funds. This year, however, the university has tentatively been awarded $400,000— nearly a 25 percent increase. The additional funds are part of a $70 million expansion of the Federal WorkStudy program recently approved by President Bill Clinton. Washington said no figures exist to show how many student jobs went unclaimed by qualified students this year. However, she said she felt the number was sizable. "We don't track any of those numbers," she said. "But I can say that it's not an issue of there being too few jobs. Students are just not availing themselves of the opportunities." The Work-Study Program, which annually employes more than 940,000 students nationally, provided employment for roughly 125 UCO
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students working on- and off-campus this year, according to Sheila Fugett, Student Financial Aid director. She said the program allows many students the opportunity to gain valuable experience while making a substantial contribution to UCO. "For many students, by the time they graduate doing work-study may be the only experience they have. So it's great experience and highly respected," Fugett said. "Personally, I know we couldn't do without (student workers) in our offices." Students should not fear that the money will be sent back, if no new We always seem to jobs are created. have more jobs than Fugett said UCO will find other students who want ways in which to them. So there's no use it. "We never send need to create more. it back," she said. Fugett said it's possible much of Blanche Washington the extra money UCO's Director will be funneled of Human Resources into creating an innovative tutoring program called America Reads, in which education majors work off- campus with at-risk children to help them learn to read. "It's still in the development stage, but that is a possibility," Fugett said. That news excited Kristen Perkins, Student Oklahoma Education Association president, who said she loved the idea of giving future educators the opportunity to help the community while paying for their educations. "I think it's a fantastic idea," she said. "UCO should definitely look into those plans."
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)0- COLUMN Steven Wedel discusses his views on regulating sports organizations. 7
ON CAMPUS Check out what's happening on campus in the coming weeks.10
INDEX