A key reason the poor college student is a familiar sketch: American colleges do not come cheap. Some Kansas State students may be looking to part-time jobs to stay afloat, and many think they have found the solution.
K-State offers many on-campus jobs, which offer the convenience of location and the flexibility to work around class schedules.
Tiffany Bowers, junior in anthropology, works at both Hale Library and Holton Hall. She said she feels like a lot of students do not realize just how many on-campus jobs there are.
“Getting to stay on campus so I can go from class to work, it’s really nice,” Bowers said. “It’s opened my eyes to [how] students do a lot on campus. I think it’s nice to get help from somebody that’s your same age, too.”
During the 2016-2017 year, the average student spent $16,931 on in-state tuition and the cheapest residence plan alone, according to the university’s website. Add the additional costs of books, supplies, course fees and last-minute expenses and multiply that figure by four or five years, and the total cost of a degree quickly adds up to be a burden for most students.
A number of on-campus employers have plenty of employment opportunities for students. For instance, Housing and Dining Services employs around 800 students annually—the most of any employer on campus—who work as custodians, receptionists, painters and in staffing and food service, according to “Part-Time Job Tips” on the K-State Career Center’s website.
Bill Smriga, the executive director of the K-State Student Union, said holding a part-time job while taking classes can be an advantage for many students after graduation.
“Typically students have many hours of out of class time each that is not spent studying,” Smriga said. “Having a part-time job could mean that students learn or improve on their time management skills. Students may find that they waste less time as they schedule their hours and their responsibilities more precisely instead of procrastinating and waiting until the last minute.”
Kerri Keller, executive director of the Career Center, said students should limit their part-time work to between 12 and 15 hours a week so that their academic performance does not suffer.
“Many students develop lifelong relationships with the faculty [and] staff they work with on campus,” Keller said. “It’s another great way to experience being part of the K-State family.”
Students can look for on-campus opportunities with on K-State’s Career and Employment Services website.