Working Hard for Our Money
   By Kalee Mourer

For over 90 years, students at Blackburn College have not only been attending classes but have been mowing the lawns, working in the cafeteria, fillings papers in offices, and checking out books in the library. Labor and learning is what Blackburn students know.

Some students want to know if they are earning what they deserve for their work, while some may say they may not be working hard enough.

“Although it may not do it all for the college, it does go along way” said junior, Jason Sallee, transcript clerk in the Records Office. 

As far as getting what is deserved out of the work program, Sallee, feels he is for the most part but it helps because he really likes and enjoys his position. 

This year’s general managers, Jake McWhorter and Jessie Koerkenmeier, feel the work program is definitely meeting the needs of the students.

“It is a great asset to lower tuition costs. In addition, every single job in the work program will give the students a taste of the “real world”. We believe it gives students the opportunity to meet and work together with many different students, faculty, and staff. It also teaches students valuable skills that will help them as they enter and grow in the work force.” stated McWhorter and Koerkenmeier.

What needs improved? What is being improved? Some students may have a list of things that need improved while others may be satisfied with the way the work program is run.

A sophomore who works in the athletic department says, "I think the work program does need improving. It does not fully reflect the real work world and it is still a ‘kiddy’ version in some areas such as the fact that the write-up policy is almost a joke in some departments.”

Fortunately, this year’s managers plan to be more visible in the Blackburn Community so the students know who they are and whom they can come to for questions, problems, and concerns.

Senior Jackie Bartlett, a teacher’s aid at the Macoupin Center for Developmentally Disabled, says, “Departments need to be restructured as far as numbers. If safety is our number one priority, we need to have more people working in security.”

This year the new general manger’s have taken over for former managers Travis Neel and Shannon Weibe. Their leadership styles have changed from previous years.

“In the past, some General Managers have split the duties. For example, one GM was in charge of time records and the other was in charge of discipline. However, we thought it would be best for the two of us to share all of the duties. We feel that this way, we both are available for all of the duties, and we both know what is going on in all aspects of the work program,” said general manager Jessie Koerkenmeier. 

This year brings a new incentive program for students that participate in the Work Program. In an effort to recognize and reward student’s hard work in the Work Program there is a new-tiered system of tuition credits.

Students working in their third year or more in the Work Program are now receiving a $3,000 tuition credit per year. Students in their second year receive a $2,650 credit and all first year workers receive $2,307 off their tuition. The hourly pay rate for students hired to work more than 10 hours per week remains at $7.00.

And how does that compare to past years? Blackburn College’s Work Program was started in 1913 by Dr. William M. Hudson. The initial program was taken after the program at Park College, Parkville, Missouri. 

It was initially run by two adult supervisors but several years later student supervisory positions were implemented with a substantial amount of responsibility given to them. Since that time, various departments have been added and the required amount of work hours has fluctuated between 10 and 20 hours per week. 

Will the Work Program pay off for students? What are they going to get out of it? Aluma Sarah Dicola (Class of 2005, Professional Communications Major) said, “The positions I undertook did prepare me for the responsibility and time management of the real world. However, I do wish there were positions available I could have taken on that had more of a focus on my major.” 

Sarah undertook many roles while at Blackburn including doing Interlibrary loans, working at the library desk, being an RA and RD, and working in Tech Services. 

“During interviews with employers, the first thing they would discuss was the Work Program. It looks great on a resume” said Dicola. 

Also, many students may know Jane Kelsey, Director of Financial Aid, also an alumna from the Class of 1977. When Mrs. Kelsey was enrolled at Blackburn all students even student teachers had to work fifteen paid hours a week. Resident assistant’s got $200 off of their bill and still had to hold another work program position for their 15 paid hours a week.

“I worked in the business office my last two years. I learned the importance of working with people and their accounts. This helped to prepare me to work in the banking industry for 20 years and now in the Financial Aid area,” Kelsey said.