Research

Work and Educational Opportunity
Dennis Jacobs, Director/ Work Colleges Consortium

High school seniors looking for an educational environment where their contribution matters, both inside and outside the classroom, will want to know more about the nation’s work colleges. Work colleges combine quality liberal arts education with respect and understanding for the educational value of work that is real. At the work colleges, each individual’s work is seen as active participation in the life of the campus.

College education expands our horizons and increases our capacity for participation in the world. Education, however, does not exist in isolation. It is the integration of that education into the world of civic involvement, of work, of responsibility, and of family that determines the quality and character of our lives.

For all of us, work is a necessary part of life. The health and vitality of families and individuals rests largely on the ability of family members to obtain employment sufficient to meet basic needs and provides opportunities. College students are an important part of this world of work. While college opportunities have increased, so have costs. In order to meet basic needs, such as laundry, food, and other living expenses, and to reduce future debt for tuition and room and board, students from every background seek jobs to supplement their resources. Additionally, college students understand that work experience is valued by future employers. To a great extent, these are the factors that determine where students will seek work and what work they will choose. Consequently, success depends on whether the right job is available and whether the student can get that job.

These criteria for job hunting limit possibilities. Students who fail to obtain the right job by these standards may find themselves on the outside or even unable to continue in school. It is not surprising, then, that students, parents, and educators often fail to realize the tremendous educational potential that student work experience offers. This potential goes well beyond financial aid and career development.

Some studies demonstrate that students who work a limited number of hours on campus are more successful. Unfortunately, some jobs impede academic and personal progress. Rigid work schedules can interfere with study. Decisions about majors and courses may be unduly influenced by work priorities. Overly optimistic income expectations and the commitments that result can force a choice between work and school. Commitment to employers can result in undue pressure during high volume work periods in which academic demands are also high. In all of these instances, students who work face challenges not shared by their peers who do not work, creating a disadvantage.

Student work can be an important tool for the development of civic involvement and community participation. At the work colleges, work and academics are partners in one educational experience. In order to help create this unique learning environment, each student is asked to be responsible and mature both as a student and as an employee. Students at the work colleges see themselves as integral to all areas of operation. As well as providing work in traditional college operations, work college programs engage students in jobs typically reserved for professionals and in campus based industries whose proceeds benefit the colleges. These programs are created to assure that there is adequate and real work to engage all students and to provide benefits to students by reducing costs.

All work has value. All workers, however, are not adequately valued. The work colleges consciously strive to teach appreciation for the value of all workers. While all work program jobs help students to move toward leadership and management opportunities, initial assignments in basic services allow students to become a part of a community of service and to learn appreciation for the contributions of others and for the challenges they face.

Student work serves as a link between the knowledge, skills, and talents that students bring to the college community and the new knowledge they hope to acquire. Many students have worked in positions of responsibility prior to coming to the work colleges. Both skilled and unskilled students with enthusiasm and an appreciation for work can contribute to the work programs at the work colleges. But just as students who have better academic preparation have an advantage in the classroom, experienced workers benefit from their prior experience in the work program.

Training is a constant part of the work experience. Those with developed skills are asked to share them. Everyone is asked to learn more and to become more self-sufficient. Whether building on prior experience or starting at the beginning, students develop their skills as leaders and as team members. Students may work as grounds-keepers, tutors, carpenters, electricians, farmers, animal handlers, computer programmers, and more. Almost all faculty and staff at the work colleges are involved in the supervision and training of students. These professionals bring experience both in their particular jobs as and in helping students to learn and grow from participation in the work program.

Serving the broader community is a value at the work colleges. For that reason, each of the colleges provides opportunities to serve the community while fulfilling your work commitment. The work colleges also collaborate to serve, bringing together students, faculty and staff from our seven campuses to improve the lives of others through service partnerships and events. Some of the campuses ask students to engage in service beyond their required work commitment.

Work colleges offer opportunities to develop independence and self-reliance. Rather than complaining about how well someone else takes care of facilities and equipment, students at the work colleges deal with the problem. Student monitors assure that buildings are clean. Student troubleshooters assist in the repair and installation of computer equipment. Students go beyond the articulation of problems to active participation in problem solving.