Whether it is driving a shuttle or tutoring, handling campus mail or shelving books, the variety of on-campus jobs is as colorful as student interests. There are those who value their jobs for the money and others who are more interested in flexible hours or work that is relevant to their career goals. A survey of students employed on campus conducted by the Guardian found that students are generally pleased with the their on-campus jobs. The survey also found that students are unhappy about low salaries, while interest in job duties varies by department.
The survey asked student workers from top on-campus employers about overall satisfaction with their jobs relating to work environment, supervisor management, scheduling flexibility, adequate pay and the perceived importance of their positions.
About 300 students replied to the survey. While the “adequate pay” category received lower scores for all departments, the overall satisfaction of on-campus jobs is evenly high throughout the sample pool.
According to Career Services Center Director Andy Rabitoy, the high scores were not surprising, since on-campus jobs have always had high levels of job satisfaction.
UCSD Bookstore, Business and Financial Services and UCSD Libraries received high scores for management treatment and work flexibility. However, respondents were less enthusiastic when asked whether their job is important or challenging.
At UCSD Libraries, scores were lower for questions regarding the importance of the job and whether it is challenging or relates to their interests. Student worker positions at the library include shelving books or assisting in book, video or audio checkout. UCSD Libraries respondents also gave lower scores for pay satisfaction, with an average of 3.4 out of a possible five, and a 3.6 average response for the question “my job is the best job for students.”
Earl Warren College senior Clara Robles said that because her job at the music, film and video reserves does not require much work, lower pay is acceptable. She was also surprised that respondents said that they do not have enough time to study. Robles checks out audio files in the reserves and is allowed to read or study while on duty.
“Where I work, I can study for classes,” Robles said. “The job doesn’t take up much time. The pay could be better with all the student jobs, but for the work that we do, it’s pretty OK.”
UCSD Bookstore also received lower scores in pay and importance, but received the highest score of five in the work environment category. Bookstore employees who participated in the survey work as cashiers, stock shelves and assist customers. Revelle College senior Joshua Kim, a cashier, said that the flexible hours are mostly why he applied.
“The people here are friendly and understanding when it comes to scheduling,” Kim said. “I would recommend this job to people who want some extra cash. It’s an easy job, but if you really need money, you’re not going to get paid enough to cover your expenses.”
Student workers at Business and Financial Services find their jobs less challenging. Most of the respondents from this department were from Mail Services. Warren junior and Mail Services worker Priscilla So said the lower scores for her position do not surprise her. So works at the parcel pick-up window underneath Sierra Summit in Muir College.
“It’s a pretty boring job,” So said. “But it’s comfortable and it’s close to the cafeteria.”
The Guardian received the highest number of responses from the recreation department and Transportation & Parking Services. These students echoed others’ concerns — their jobs are not challenging, and pay is low, but students were drawn in by flexible hours.
Eleanor Roosevelt College senior Miranda Bowersox, who has been working at RIMAC since her freshman year, is not surprised by the survey results for recreation.
“It’s definitely not high-paying, but there’s enough time to study, it’s on campus and was one of the positions that I looked at as a freshman,” said Bowersox, a supervisor at the equipment rental window.
While respondents from RIMAC and Transportation & Parking Services are not as challenged by their jobs, they are also not complaining about them.
Revelle College senior Brian Daniel works as a campus-loop shuttle driver and recommends it despite the long driving hours.
“Driving for six hours gets kind of mundane, but you get used to it,” Daniel said. “It works out really nice because you can shift your schedule around with other drivers.”
Despite lower scores for all departments in the “adequate pay” category, Rabitoy said that many students still see the overall benefits of working at on-campus jobs. Additionally, he points out that there was a raise in the salary range for student wages on campus starting in February. Other raises were also approved for the next two years.
“The reasons that many students opt for on-campus jobs include making contact with professors for graduate school, or future graduate school recommendations, convenience with class schedule, lack of transportation and cost of gas,” Rabitoy stated. “There are a variety of positions on campus that teach different skills and levels to our students.”
Respondents from the Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services, Academic Computing Services, Early Academic Outreach Program and the biology department said that they saw their work as important, challenging and interesting. These departments also scored high in the work environment category.
O.A.S.I.S. Student Coordinator Colleen Roy, who directs the student mentors of the Academic Transition Program, said the pay was “decent” and the working environment very relaxed. Most of all, Roy cherishes the tight-knit group that she and her fellow student employees maintain.
“It’s a family type of environment,” Roy said. “Everybody who works here are friends.”
According to Roy, many of the students who work at O.A.S.I.S. have been part of various O.A.S.I.S. programs such as Summer Bridge and continue to work as tutors or mentors.
“It’s like contributing back to what was given to us,” Roy said.
Roy, a biochemistry major, also noted that though she enjoys her job, it does not necessarily indicate her career path.
Earl Warren College junior Carlo Alvear, an aerospace engineering major who works as an academic transition coordinator in O.A.S.I.S., agrees.
“[The job] drew me because it was a way for me to help students,” Alvear said. “It’s helping me find a space on-campus to do work but enjoy what I’m doing.”
— Additional reporting by Christine Pae
Focus Editor
