By Khnuma Simmonds and Kendall Gray
Resident Safety discontinued their Tuition Assistance Grant Program to increase the hourly pay rates for Resident Safety staff members, officials reported.
“The grant was discontinued for the fall 2006 semester because it was under-utilized,” said Mercedes Ravelo, Resident Safety senior assistant director. “We wanted to use the money allocated for the grant where it could benefit all Resident Safety staff.”
During the spring 2006 semester, three students were on the 24-hour grant and five students were on the 12-hour grant. Recipients were required to work on the midnight to 10 a.m. shifts either during weekdays and weekends.
In addition to the eight grant recipients, the University Web site reported that Resident Safety employed over 350 Resident Safety Representatives (RSR).
Ravelo said RSRs were $6.15 over the summer. However, N.Y. State minimum wage is $6.75 and will increase to $7.15 in Jan. 2007, according to the New York State Department of Labor.
“All Resident Safety staff members, including team leaders and supervisors, received a pay rate increase,” Ravelo said. These rates differ based on shifts with the maximum pay rate being $8.45 for RSRs working at Twin Oaks between 4 and 8 a.m. on weekends.
Despite the raises, some grant recipients who were accepted for fall 2006, had issues with its discontinuation.
“The grant being dropped was irritating because it was so sudden,” one RSR, who was on the grant last year and applied this year said. “Having a scholarship of $2,000 towards my tuition is a lot more helpful than getting paid every two weeks!” The source chose to remain anonymous because he feared that his job would be jeopardized.
On the contrary, most RSRs expressed in a general survey that they were not affected by the grant’s discontinuation and never signed up for the grant because, “Resident Safety never really gave a clear description of the program.”
“We had two students who had been offered the grant for the fall,” Ravelo said about the rewards for former grant recipients. “These students can actually earn more money now working the same number of hours than what they would have received if they were on the grant.”
Ravelo said that finding RSRs for the current semester has not presented any more difficulties than usual.
“It is always difficult at the beginning of the semester because many RSRs have not made a commitment to work until after the fall semester has begun,” she said.
In the meantime, the Department of Public Safety is focused on finding coverage forall swipe booths at the residence halls.
