Areas on campus that pay student workers from their operating budget such as Housing and Dining are expected to continue to pay student workers until the end of the semester.

The university will not pay the students out of its operating budget.

Paul McCann, the interim Vice President for business affairs, confirmed Friday that students will be paid through whatever department or area they work in, such as Housing and Dining.

“It’s already in the departments’ (operating) budget. Every single group that employs students has student help in their budget,” McCann said.

On Wednesday, Eastern President David Glassman sent an email to the campus community outlining updates in response to the ongoing changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of those updates was the decision to continue to pay student workers, including graduate assistants and those on federal work study, for the remainder of the semester.

All other student workers who were working prior to spring break and were scheduled to return to work after break will continue to be paid, beginning from March 23 until the end of the semester.

Students on federal work-study funds will continue to be paid up to the amount allocated in federal funding. For instance, if a student was allocated $1,000 in federal work-study at the start of the year, then they are expected to work up to that. The email said that those students should still work on campus if they returned or work remotely if they can.

Glassman said in his email that students’ pay will be based on the average hours worked per week prior to spring break or based on their supervisors’ intended scheduling of the students’ hours for the rest of the semester.

All students will be paid the regular hourly rate through direct deposits, which are made according to the university’s payroll schedule (every two weeks).

For students currently still working on campus or remotely, they should turn in their work hours as they normally do.  These students may consult with their supervisor to work additional hours if it is within budget and doesn’t exceed 42 hours per pay period.

For all other students, pay-period hours will be handled automatically through the Payroll Office.

The story will be updated as soon as more information becomes available.

Analicia Haynes can be reached at 581-2812 or achaynes@eiu.edu.