While the state’s budget crisis has played a role in various cuts around campus, students seeking employment within the university haven’t felt the impact – for the most part.

Career Services chose not to fill a position vacated by a student worker at the conclusion of the fall semester, in part because of budget concerns, according to Jan Stevens, supervisor of student employment.

Additionally, the Student Recreation Center won’t be hiring as many students outside of the Federal Work-Study program as in past years, said Sarah Daugherty, program director for campus recreation.

Jerry Donna, director of financial aid, explained where funding for the Federal Work-Study program is derived.

“As far as the Federal Work-Study programs go, that’s really a unique kind of the thing because the money comes from what’s called campus based funding, and that comes from the federal government,” Donna said.

The federal government allocates funds to Eastern each year to be distributed among three campus-based programs, the Federal Work-Study program, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and Perkins loans, Donna said.

The financial aid office sends in a report each year to notify the federal government of how funds for these programs were distributed during the current year. From that report the federal government determines the amount of funding Eastern will receive for these programs the next year.

During the 2008-2009 academic year, 489 Eastern students received funding through the Federal Work-Study program and Eastern distributed $541,909 to students through the Federal Work-Study program.

Students who receive aid though Federal Work-Study represent less than 5 percent of the Eastern student population.

Donna said students who receive aid through Federal Work-Study must demonstrate financial need.

“If you are awarded less than $10,000 through your FAFSA, then you will be offered Federal Work-Study,” he said.

Donna said the one component of the Federal Work-Study that could be affected is the matching requirement. The federal government provides 75 percent of the funds for the Federal Work-Study program, but the university is required to provide the remaining 25 percent.

Donna said if the state fails to deliver appropriations, Eastern would have to match the federal funds on it’s own.

“One effect of a decreased allocation from the federal government would be that not as many students would be able to get work study,” Donna said.

Donna said he didn’t see that happening.

“I think as far as student-work this year goes, we’re probably pretty solid,” Donna said. “Going forward, as long as there is no big change in the way that the federal government allocates funds for these three programs – Federal Work-Study being one of them – there should not be a significant change in the work study that’s offered to students on this campus,” Donna said.

Donna said he believes working benefits students.

“We encourage people to work if they can, because they can gain some valuable experience, they can begin to build a decent resume and all the while earn some money for school,” Donna said.

Jason Hardimon can be reached at 581-7942 or

jrhardimon2@eiu.edu