New Student Minimum Wage
$10/hour wage-Adjusting to the Times
Student employment wages have historically been rather low compared to the standard minimum wage across the country for all other jobs. But that is changing, and for the better. Over the past academic year, the St. Lawrence University administration and student government have made substantial strides forward when it comes to the improvement of student wages.
Referencing an email from SLU Vice President for Student Life Jon Duraj from August 26, 2024, he announced, “As of today, I am pleased to announce that the minimum wage for all student employment positions will increase to $10 per hour”. This marks a success on a project that has been long requested and worked on by students and administration alike.
What should be noted is that current student workers with a wage rate higher than $10 per hour will not be impacted by this change. This is all in an effort to make SLU wages for student employment more equitable and more competitive among similar student wages with universities around the country. In addition to this, there will be an effort over the fall semester to post all student employment positions on Handshake through the Center for Career Excellence in order to better streamline the process of accessing available jobs and allow for a more universal application process for all open roles.
The $10 minimum wage increase brings SLU student employment opportunities closer to the level of many similar colleges across New York. For one, according to Hamilton College’s Student Employment Guidelines, they start their wages at $15 and progressively increase them for positions that require more technical skills. Ithaca College, on the other hand, has a more similar wage to that of SLU. According to their guidelines, the minimum wage is $10.84 per hour. Still, both of these are higher than that of SLU.
That said, it does appear that we are moving in the right direction. Student employment not only provides college students with some needed additional funds, but it also provides the University itself with assistance in positions that otherwise may be difficult to fill. Because of that, student employment is a valuable piece of campus life, and as Duraj mentioned in his email, “The role of student employment at St. Lawrence enhances student experiences, learning opportunities, and supports campus operations.” The lifeblood of this campus is students first and foremost, but those who choose to work for the University, support daily operations and keep the university moving forward.