Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

When I set out to apply for college four years ago, I didn’t think that my full credit schedule would be coupled with an equally full work schedule. And, while I love my job and value the education I’m getting, I find it interesting that higher education is one of the only places wherein you’re supposed to devote 100 percent of your time and energy on your education as well as to whatever job(s) you may have. Instead of focusing on their education, more and more students are having to decide what to prioritize: their grades or their livelihood.

The more I talk to my peers, the more I find students who are taking an upward of 15-20 credits per term and working 25-30 hours per week. These students are then committed to doing class or work for 40-50 hours per week, while still having to find the time to do the homework for each of their classes. It’s no wonder college students are known for anxiety and caffeine-addiction.

To an extent, taking on hours at work while managing school can be beneficial.

“I think the combination of work and school has impacted my role as a student in both positive and negative ways,” noted senior Amanda Owren, who has maintained an average of 16 credits per term, while working 25-30 hours per week. “Working so many hours alongside homework has forced to truly take responsibility for my time — but sometimes so much that my entire week consists only of work, school/homework and then what little sleep I can fit around the two.”

However, there’s also a question of whether the benefit outweighs the choices that students have to make in order to manage both their school and work schedules. As someone who, for the greater part of her higher education, took 20 credits while working 30 hours per week, I’d be lying if I said that I always prioritized my schoolwork over my professional work.

There is at least one system in place at Western to help students who may be struggling financially; the WOU Food Pantry is available to students as well as people in the community. However, students still have other necessary expenses that may not be aided by the food pantry or any financial aid they may receive.

“I know that a lot of students do needs jobs in order to pay rent, tuition and the cost of living,” said Matthew Ciraulo, a junior who averages 16 credits per term and works around 30 hours per week.

“(Working) changed my role as a student because suddenly I have to figure out whether it’s worth going to class, or having the money to get groceries,” said Linzy Griffin, and alumnae who took an average of 18 credits per term and worked 40 hours per week across multiple jobs. “When you are attending a university for a quality education that you already have to take loans for, it’s a very bitter pill to swallow when it comes down to choices like that. Or even calculating what assignments aren’t worth doing, to take some time for self care or even an extra shift.”

Even for students who love their jobs, the combination of working while in school can take its toll. If anything, it makes it more difficult to prioritize the things you have to do.

“I think that its impact is a little bittersweet because I do love what I do, and this is valuable experience that I can use for getting into grad school or a job,” explained Ciraulo. “On the other hand I struggle academically, because I have prioritized work over school … Learning for me is getting the work finished when I should actually be absorbing what I’m doing.”

While it’s not my personal belief that professors should give slack to students in these situations, I think it’s important to recognize student commitments in a holistic way. Though many students take on jobs as a way of paying their tuition, there are things besides lowering tuition — like lowering textbook prices, reevaluating if assignments are beneficial or just busy work and trying to develop a better understanding of the commitments that students have — that could be done as a way of aiding those students who have to devote time to their work.

Though it’s clear that stretching oneself thin can be a result from taking on a heavy workload, Owren has found that it’s also had an impact on her availability to explore new opportunities: “Working alongside classes has definitely forced me to pass on potential career development opportunities in my major, in favor of picking up hours to afford my necessities.”

Education at Western shouldn’t suffer because of student schedules, but there are things that the school can consider doing to help struggling students. After all, if a student has to forego class or an assignment to make ends meet, are they really getting the best out of their education?

In regard to some of the changes Western can consider making to help students who are balancing a busy work schedule with a busy class schedule, Griffin suggests: “More online classes, even hybrid classes. More options on times, it always seemed that I could only work nights because of classes … Being more frugal with textbook pricing … Shoot, even more (financial aid) for rent. That’s the real killer.”

The schedules of students aren’t going to change overnight, and neither is the way we handle students with busy schedules. The difference comes when we think critically about the busy schedules of our peers and try to address the causes.

“I wish teachers would take into account that many students in their classes don’t decide to work four jobs because they want extra spending cash, but is a necessity if they want to pay their bills or rent,” said Ciraulo.

Contact the author at zstrickland14@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis