Student employees left without work during campus shutdown

By Zoe Strozewski | Published by March 19, 2020

A state order forbidding in-person instruction at higher education facilities to restrict the further spread of COVID-19 has resulted in a loss of work for student employees at Kean University. 

Kean allows student employment in a variety of departments throughout the school, including the Office of Residential Student Services, the Center for Leadership and Service, Miron Student Center, and Recreation and Intramurals. All student employees are compensated on an hourly basis and must track their hours through a system called Kronos, according to Kean’s Office of Human Resources student employee guidelines.  

As the campus is shut down and closed except to a select few people, many of Kean’s student employees have been left wondering if and how they will be able to earn money during the virtual learning period. 

One student employee, who chose to remain anonymous, said that they are concerned that the campus is being shut down. 

“I was worried about making money because most of my income came from working at school,” the student said. “I understood that we needed to close the facilities because of the health concerns, but it was difficult to not have an income.” 

Kean’s Office of University Relations announced that the school is developing remote work methods for student workers and graduate assistants “wherever possible.”  

The student said the particular department where they work has not been able to make that possible yet. 

“So far we have not been given an option to earn money while not being there,” the student said.  

Kean employed nearly 700 people between all of the lecturer, assistant professor, office and administrative support, management and business operation positions, according to Data USA.  

This does not take into account many of the other types of positions Kean employs, such as adjunct professors and student employees 

Government officials from New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut have banned gatherings larger than 50 people in an attempt to curtail the spread of the outbreak, according to https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20200316c.shtml. Because of the number of people employed at the university, a vast majority of Kean’s workers, students or not, have recently become unable to be present at their place of work. 

In an email update sent to all of Kean’s students, faculty and staff on March 16, the Office of University Relations announced that university would be executing a temporary telecommuting period for employees who would be able to work from home. This period began March 18 and will continue until further notice, according to the email. 

“Supervisors will contact all employees to notify them if they are eligible for remote work or must report to campus because their presence is required for essential business operations or the health and safety of on-campus residents,” the email said. 

The email stated that because many of Kean’s services need to continue during the virtual learning period, the staff designated as “essential” would differ from other situations that would shut down the university, such as adverse weather conditions. Those who are approved to work from home have received or will be receiving instructions and arrangements from their supervisors.  

“Assigned duties may vary from employees’ typical job responsibilities to ensure we continue serving our students effectively during this time,” the email said. 

Kean announced on March 19 that they would extend the virtual learning period from March 30 to the end of the semester, making a temporary time without a paycheck from the school more longterm. The student workers, graduate assistants and other employees who weren’t offered remote work methods may not be able to earn paychecks until the school reopens. 

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