Common Questions
What is the purpose of the Work Program?
Answer: “Sweat Equity”
Your work will help pay for the cost of your education as
you attend college, instead of relying on excessive
borrowing and having a large debt to pay after college.
Student labor helps keep Blackburn’s comprehensive charges
the lowest of any private four-year college in Illinois.
“Learning by Doing”
You will have the opportunity to gain practical and
career related work experience, including opportunities for
leadership and off-campus internship or cooperative work
study experience.
“Community Involvement”
Blackburn offers the “community model” of everyone
belonging, contributing, and sharing in a daily experience
of living, working, and learning together.
Do all students work in the Work Program?
Answer: All resident students participate in the Work
Program as a condition of enrollment. Commuter students may
petition to participate in the Work Program. If their
petition is approved they must work a minimum of one
semester and are subject to all of the same conditions as a
resident.
How will my first job be assigned and when will I know
what it is?
Answer: As a new student, the student managers (work
committee) will assign you to a job for the academic year
based upon the needs of the campus community, your class
schedule, and your qualifications. Efforts are made to place
students in their area of preference; however, this is not
always possible. The majority of new students are assigned
to jobs in Food Service and Campus Services (janitorial).
Assignments are made a few days before classes begin.
What if I don’t like my job and want to change?
Answer:
Transfers may be made if job vacancies occur during the
semester and are approved to be refilled, or for documented
medical reasons or unresolved class/work conflicts. Most
students find that if they give the job a little time and
apply their
best efforts things will work out fine in the long run. Job
changes for the next academic year are very possible, as all
jobs come open and returning students apply directly to the
hiring
supervisor(s) for whatever job(s) they wish. Students who
have a good work record will find that changing jobs for the
next year is very achievable.
How many hours must I work?
Answer: Students work 160 hours per semester (10
hours/week average), for which tuition charges have been
discounted. Some students will have the opportunity to work
up to an extra 10 hours per week for which they will receive
a paycheck. Workers receive larger tuition discounts their
second and third year in the work program.
Tuition Discounts
| |
Semester |
Year |
| 1st Year |
$ 1240 |
$ 2480 |
| 2nd Year |
$ 1395 |
$ 2790 |
| 3rd Year |
$ 1550 |
$ 3100 |
How will my work schedule be set? Will I
have to work weekends, early mornings, or late nights?
Answer: Your work schedule will be set around your
classes, and whenever possible, around “fixed” sports
practices and games. Based on the nature of the work being
performed and in order to accommodate student class and
sports schedules some jobs may require early morning or late
night hours.
Many jobs on campus also require weekend work. When making
schedules, supervisors try to ensure that a student does not
have to work every weekend, or at least has either Saturday
or Sunday off. Also, most jobs that require weekend work
allow substitution, where one worker can sub for another.
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Student Work Stories |
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“My experience with the Work Program has allowed
me to gain effective written and verbal
communication skills,
management and leadership skills, and how
to work as part of a team. All of these have
allowed me to make my transition into the real
world.”
Tanya Jackson, 06
Full Story |
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