Last week Ball State University's Board of Trustees voted to increase the maximum student wage to $8.50 an hour. The change, which raises the maximum wage a full dollar, has been implemented.
However, that doesn't mean all students will earn that much.
"If students are making $7.25 an hour, this won't affect them," Associate Vice President Randy Howard said. "It'll only make a difference to employees who are already at the ceiling and now have to opportunity to earn more."
Howard, who works in the Office of the Vice President of Business Affairs, said the maximum wages were intended for students doing jobs that require a special skill set, extra training or experience.
"The students who drive the buses are operating very expensive equipment, they're required to get their commercial license and they are subject to random drug and alcohol tests," he said. "It makes sense that they would make more."
Howard said the general fund budget where the student wages come from won't increase in light of the maximum wage increase.
"It won't be as hard to fit it into the budget because it isn't going to be raised that high for every student," he said. "But the ones whose wages have been increased because of longevity now have to opportunity to earn more."
Other establishments such as Dining are responsible for their own income so it's up to them whether they increase their employee pay to the new ceiling.
"Minimum wage went up so the ceiling had to be raised, and it's going to continue to go up," Director of Dining Jon Lewis said.
For the first time since 2002, enough trustees voted to increase the maximum student wage. Although not all student employees will see the increase, for some it's a welcome change.
"I am much more inclined to look for a job now that I know I could potentially earn more, because it's hard enough to juggle school and work, but when you make more there's more incentive," freshman journalism major Alicia Shaw said.
Others couldn't care less about the increase.
"I'm not really excited about the increase because my wage is already set, so I won't see it, and I just got my hours cut," freshman athletic training major Portia Rubaker said.
Regardless, Howard said he didn't think the raise would affect the number of students getting hired or the number of hours they work.
"If it does, the effect is going to be incredibly small," Howard said.
Howard said more positions are still available than students looking for work, especially in Dining.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
