Traditionally known for its wealthy student body, SMU is gradually seeing more working students come through its doors.
With high expectations from professors and employers, striking the balance between being a “good student” and a “good employee” often forces students to make some decisions when it comes to dividing time between the two.
Whether students seek employment to pay tuition costs, cover living expenses or simply to make some extra spending money, having a job while attending classes offers its own unique set of challenges, as senior Adrian Hilliard knows all too well.
As a model with the Kim Dawson Agency located here in Dallas, Hilliard has neither a set schedule nor income. Working in a freelance profession, jobs come up sporadically and can last from a couple hours to a few days.
“Such short notice makes it difficult to speak to professors in advance and to gauge whether or not you can afford to miss a particular class,” she said.
In past semesters, Hilliard has attempted to plan classes so that she has at least one day off from school per week, but was unable to do so due to class availability.
She does not believe that work should count as an excused absence from school, as it is the student’s responsibility to determine whether he or she can miss a class.
“I think most professors want to support their students’ pursuits outside of school, but feel conflicted to make exceptions because of the school’s absence policy,” she said.
International relations professor Dr. Chelsea Brown agrees that while teachers are understanding of the occasional absence, she believes it is important for students to prioritize.
“I strongly feel that part of the university experience is learning to be self-motivated and self-disciplined,” she said. “If work is a higher priority than school, that’s fine, but there is still a consequence for that order of priorities.”
Although Dr. Brown does not adhere to a strict attendance policy herself, she notes that the students who succeed in her classes typically have better attendance.
“If students don’t want to participate, then they need to think about why they are enrolled at a university in the first place,” she said.
Junior Wendy Blackburn works both on and off campus. Blackburn regularly works at the Meadows Box Office and in the theater’s costume shop, but also works occasional shifts at a restaurant in Cedar Hill where she lives, which is 30 minutes away from campus.
Taking 18 hours this semester, she enjoys working on campus due to the flexibility it affords her already busy schedule as a double major in theater and creative advertising.
“I can work between classes for an hour or so and that is ok with my bosses,” she said.
Juggling school and work certainly presents obstacles, but just trying to find a job for students like Binit Jaiswal can prove equally as challenging at times.
A second-year graduate student from India, Jaiswal is already limited to working jobs solely on campus, due to his status as an international student in the United States.
“In the beginning, I found it difficult,” he said, referencing his job search.
After a year of pursuing job openings, Jaiswal finally found work in Fondren Library processing periodicals. A friend who previously held the position wrote his recommendation.
“It’s important to make your network here so that you can find a job,” he said.
Student Employment Coordinator Meredith Dawson frequently assists students with their on-campus job search.
Dawson reports that there are currently about 1,350 active student jobs held throughout the university, with roughly 130 students working more than one job.
She emphasizes the need for teamwork between students and the university, wanting to give students the opportunity to gain real job experience, but still focus on school as their number one priority.
“It’s kind of a balancing act. Encouraging students to work and participate, but not to over commit,” she said.
