Work-study: work your way through college

By Jesse Cortez
Pulse Staff Reporter

Adrianne Vallejo assists a student with his studies
Adrienne Vallejo assists a student with his studies.
Photo by Jesse Cortez

The campus Work-Study program is a way to commute from class to work without stress, gain professional experience and have fun.

This federal program allows students to work on campus while attending classes. It is granted to the Alamo Colleges and distributed to the campuses.

Katherine "Katie" Richardson, who works in Counseling Services in the Applied Technology Building, Room 214, said that Work-Study is a wonderful experience, especially if you have no previous work experience. "You learn a lot about yourself, and it’s a great growing experience," she said.

For a student to be eligible for the Work-Study program, he/she must first complete the free application for student aid (FAFSA). Students will be given an eligibility number, which will tell them if they are able to receive any grants and/or if they are able to work in the Work-Study program. Students must also demonstrate unmet financial needs, which is the total cost of attending college and the Expensed Family Contribution (EFC), which is the income that your family brings in.

The Center for Academic Transitions (CAT) is in charge of available jobs across campus. Nora Esparza, Education Support Specialist I, who works in the CAT refers students to the different departments with Work-Study positions and sets up interviews. Students in the Work-Study Program may work 15 to 19 hours per week at $7.25 per hour. The salary may also help defray educational expenses, like transportation or groceries.

Students may work in a total of 39 departments. Some of the departments on campus that Work-Study students may be placed are the Financial Aid Office, Admissions, the Welcome Enrollment Center, the library, and some of the labs.

"It allows the students to acquire work experience, so when a student leaves Palo Alto with an associate’s degree and work experience, they are going to have a good opportunity at getting a better job," said Lamar Duarte, director of Financial Aid.

Erica Wirth, a Work-Study student in the Student Activity Center, said that working helps you to become more organized, take precise notes and gain office skills.

"Definitely a good program to get involved in," she said.

Communications Major Leah Holmstrom got involved in the program at the beginning of the fall semester during the job fair, and she now works in The Library. Some of the skills that she has learned are how to use the card catalog, how to organize the books, how to locate where they go, and how to check books in and out.

She thinks it is a great program that really helps you make a connection with staff on campus. Holmstrom works 15 hours per week.

For more information on the Work-Study Program, visit Student Financial Services, temporarily located at the Applied Technology Building, Room 200.

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