Making Students Work for You

Terri AustinRoanoke College

Student Positions• Receptionist (POD) – Used as training position– Our department answers the general campus

switchboard

• Helpdesk Technician• Field Technician • Web Application Developer• Media Technician• Digitial Media Editor

Hiring• We hire in Spring for the next school year• Give current student employees incentives

if we hire someone they recommend• Solicit from faculty and staff to recruit• Advertise with Career Services• Use testimonials from “IT” alumni• Interview• Check references, academic integrity,

student conduct

Money!!!• Begin with minimum

wage

• Evaluations each semester, opportunity for pay raise

• Hierarchy of pay within student positions

Keeping Students Happy!

• Develop loyalty and commitment – make them feel part of your department

• Solicit and appreciate their input

• Fall/Spring Get together

• Summer outing• Lots of food• Senior Luncheon

IT Having Fun

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Enforcing Work Ethics•Expectations•Dependability• Responsibility• Promptness• Trustworthiness

•Three strikes rule•Academic Integrity•Dress Code•Academics

Communication• Setup of mailing list for all student

workers and staff• Monthly meetings• Weekly meetings in summer• Specialized meetings• Open door policy• Pro-Active

Budget• Your department must

see student expenditures as a priority

• Not restricted to work study students

• Staff need to see this as part of their job – mentoring to the students

Training – A Must• Students return a week early• Mandatory• Opportunity to see who fits where• Broad scope of topics• Bonding experience• Lots of effort from our staff to make this

happen

Internships and Fellows• Pilot program in Spring 2015– 5 IT “Team Leaders” participated in official internships– Paid internship and ½ academic credit per semester

• Fellow Program– Pending for fall of 2016– New incoming freshmen would “apply” to the

program

Challenges

• Constant turn-over, which means constant training

• Academics are their priority• Scheduling • Continuity

Benefits• To Students:– Exposure to new areas

of computing– Real Life job training for

future employment– Well-rounded student– Relationships built with

other faculty/staff

• To College:– Cost Effective– Students feel more a

part of the RC Community (retention)

– IT could not operate without our student workers

– Makes for better alums

Questions?

Thank you!Terri Austin (austin@roanoke.edu)