Sep 24, 2014 2 min read

Money makes the world go round – a saying that’s completely true in college environments. Books are expensive, stress-relieving trips to a restaurant in town cost money for both food and gas, and therapeutic online shopping endeavors aren’t cheap, even if you qualify for free shipping.

It’s becoming more common that college students work part-time jobs to find money to make ends meet. In fact, a 2013 survey by Market Watch found that nearly 80 percent of high school and college students work an average of 19 hours per week while maintaining their studies.

At Waynesburg, students have opportunities to find part-time work on campus in the form of federal work-studies. These types of positions are great for students who qualify and don’t have cars but still have expenses to pay.

But that’s the catch: students must qualify for these positions based on financial need, not their skills in a specific department. Furthermore, these positions are granted based on a filed Free Application for Federal Student Aid – meaning work-studies are granted based on a family’s financial status, not necessarily the individual student’s need for an income.

Students who qualify for work-study and take advantage of it are fortunate; for those who aren’t, some adjustments should be made.

Though the university itself can’t make changes to federal law, perhaps it could find ways to offer more true part-time work to students, aside from working in the dining hall or bookstore. These students would not be limited to working 14 hours per week, and would be hired based on true qualifications.

While work-study rules are there for a reason, students with need could greatly benefit from part-time work on campus.