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Work Program - Common Questions

  • What Are the Benefits of the Work Program?
                                                         “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. Upon graduation you will possess not only a diploma attesting to your academic preparation, but also a resume’ documenting practical work experience, skills, and competencies valued by employers and graduate schools.

                                                  “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?
All resident students participate in the Work Program as a condition of enrollment. Non-resident 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?
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. Many 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?
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?
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.

  • How will my work schedule be set?
Will I have to work weekends, early mornings, or late nights? 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.

  • What are the tuition benefits from the Work Program?
Full-time Blackburn-registered students participating in the Work Program will receive a Work Credit of $2560 per year during their first year of participation; the credit increases to $2880 in 2nd year and $3200 in following years.