Our Opinion:
By allowing students, who are studying the computer science field, to work for OIT it could provide them with valuable job-related skill. This type of experience could be effective if spread throughout various corporation around campus to provide students relatable experience.
In response to budget cuts, OIT has increased the number of students it hires. These short-term talents would be useful in providing OIT with extra help on various special projects. And this experience will be invaluable to students as well. Along with various special projects within OIT, students could find employment through internships and part-time work, making them more appealing to the job market.
Students working for OIT are typically there for a semester, or for one project. This new flexibility will allow students to take on more responsibilities to compensate for the loss of full-time positions. OIT also receives new, innovative ideas from the fresh student minds they employ. This gives them a chance to expand their business to better fit the needs of the students.
Administrators of various campus enterprises should take note from OIT’s latest initiative. If these divisions could find ways to incorporate students into their day to day business activities, they could lessen the blow of their own economic struggles. From mere clerical work of the Registration Office to physical labor on job sites like Centennial Campus, the University could provide student employees with the know-how needed for future jobs.
Students from across every college have some skill that directly relates every type of service the University provides. If these hired professionals could share their insight with students studying their crafts. This would offer not only a different perspective than the typical classroom education, but also an incorporation of cross-curricula training.
The University claims it focuses on preparing their upperclassman to enter into the work force. OIT’s solution to the budget cuts provides an ideal solution to fulfill the needs of employment and student involvement. The value of a college degree can only go so far, so we should provide more experiences to sharpen our student’s skills for when they enter the work-force. If other services around campus could follow OIT’s lead, then university businesses could actually provide the necessary experience for students and the ideal solution to the monetary constraints.