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| November
19 - 25, 2003 Number 276 ParentNET
According to the Financial Aid office, 84 percent of the students at Michigan Tech are on some kind of financial aid. Usually the grants, loans, and scholarships pay for tuition and boarding charges. If your student is looking for some extra money to save for expensive textbooks, a car, or a nice warm Spring Break in Mexico, then campus employment is a good option. There are various opportunities available on campus. Along with some extra cash, some of these opportunities might help students develop leadership abilities, make new contacts, and improve academics. Federal and Michigan Work-Study Programs provide funds for part-time student employment on campus. Accepted students are automatically considered for work-study if their Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) results are released to MTU and they indicated on the FAFSA that they wish to be considered for student employment. Students must reapply for work-study each year and must meet the Satisfactory Progress Policy requirements. The Financial Aid Office makes specific departmental work-study assigments. The Financial Aid office picks up half the tab for these work-study programs. It does help the university especially at this time when there are talks of further cuts in government funding. Residence halls are a huge source of campus employment. From the cafeteria to the Resident Assistants (RA), students fill up all these positions. While cafeteria shifts are worked around the student’s schedule, the RA positions come with some serious leadership skills development. Most of the parents must have met their student’s RA at some point during move-in. An RA is well trained in interpersonal skills. Moreover, the responsibilities and experiences of RAs play an integral role in their self-development. They are compensated by a room-board scholarship. The RA selection process is held during the fall and spring and is advertised well on campus. Orientation is another time when students are hired for a short term. First-year parents probably remember the bright yellow shirts on campus during the Orientation week worn by students who were always ready to help. Every year, during the beginning of spring semester, Orientation Team Leaders (OTLs) are selected. OTLs are high-energy Tech enthusiasts who are also leaders. They help the new students settle down in college. OTLs go through weeklong leadership training before they are assigned to their job. The best part of all is that they are paid to do something that they would do even without any compensation! OTLs and RAs play a very important role during the first few defining weeks for first-year students. Leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and lots of friends are just a few perks of the job. Learning centers are staffed mostly by upper-classmen who help others having problems on a particular subject. Learning centers not only help the student learn but also the tutors who teach there. No matter how learned one is, there is always something to learn from others. Academically, this is the most rewarding job on campus. Other jobs on campus include hires by the various departments and the library for clerical work and departmental research, Michigan Tech Fund for telemarketing, and the campus newspaper (and ParentNet too!) for writing. Some departments also hire students as undergraduate teaching and research assistants. These positions are usually reserved for upper-classmen, but students might be eligible as early as their sophomore year! Lastly, co-ops and internships are always great opportunities to explore a major, gain some experience, and establish a decent bank balance. A detailed listing of all on and off campus jobs is available from the Financial Aid office. The Career Center also posts campus/local jobs. Almost all positions available on campus allow students to develop themselves in the process. While Michigan Tech gets great talent from its diverse student body, campus employment gives students an opportunity to try something different or to gain practical experience in their own major. Working part-time on campus might also prepare students to gear up for full-time jobs post-graduation. While being a student is a full-time job in itself, some work experience does add spice to the life of a college student. Nothing learned ever goes to waste. Also, it’s proven by research that students who keep busy also stay away from trouble! Until next week, Thought of the
Week: “Basically,
I no longer work for anything but the sensation I have while working."
—Alberto Giacomettis Join ParentNET's discussion list! That's all there is to it!
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