More Than Just a Job: Student Employee Success in Academic Libraries - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

More Than Just a Job: Student Employee Success in Academic Libraries

Overview: ● My story ● What helped me succeed ● Some other student perspectives ● The literature ● What this means for your library

Let me introduce myself: Holly Dolan ● University of North Texas Libraries ○ Library Specialist I-Access Services ○ Graduate Library Assistant (1/2014-10/2014) ○ Student Assistant (2/2012-10/2014) ● MLS, UNT (Expected 12/2015)

How I got here Enrolled at UNT, working part-time Began college Dropped out retail (2007) (2008) (2011) Major Became Graduated with improvement student an improved GPA in grades and assistant at and started MLS personal UNT Libraries (2014) relationships (2012)

Coming into my own ● Improved ability to cope with stress ● Took pride in my work ○ Supervisors noticed effort and rewarded it ● As my grades improved I began to set goals for myself ● Recognized that I could have a fulfilling career in libraries

What made the difference? ● The on-campus job experience ● Proximity and knowledge of student resources ● Having a campus “home base” ● Diverse hiring practices ● Seeing and participating in the academic community

What made the difference? ● Knowledgeable and understanding supervisors ○ A “glass-half-full” workplace ● Stressful situations become learning experiences ● Cross-training opportunities ● Informal mentoring ○ Combined service desk

Other student perspectives Thomas Glenn Major: Entrepreneurship Major: Political Science Time spent at UNT Libraries: 7 months Time spent at UNT Libraries: 2 years, 4 months Current Job: Student Assistant Current Job: Student Assistant “ [Working at the library] helped me practice my customer “I can't imagine what things might have been like if I'd service quite a bit. I’ve learned of a lot of useful worked elsewhere on campus. My library job has been things relating to the library , like good academic one of the best work experiences of my life.” sources, ILLs, course reserves, etc.” “I would recommend working as a student assistant in “Working on campus is a huge plus, especially because the library to any student. It's hard to imagine a better I don’t have a car to get around and live at an apartment college job. ” on a campus bus route. I’ve enjoyed meeting and working with everyone I’ve met so far while working here.”

Other student perspectives Tia AJ Major: English Major: Integrative Studies and Physics Time spent at UNT Libraries: 4 months Time spent at UNT Libraries: 2 years Current Job: Student Assistant Current Job: Student Assistant at The Pride Alliance and Supplemental Instructor for the “This job helps me balance all of my responsibilities Math department and has given me a warm and peaceful work environment that I cannot wait to go to.” “ The supervisors and staff at Willis eased my anxiety about coming out as trans in the workplace . “Working in the library has definitely increased my It is a very positive and queer friendly environment; they ability to handle stress from school and home.” have always been supportive of my transition and the activism I do on campus.” “The experience has taught me a lot about how to study, how others study, campus life and I got to see how “...I think working at the library made me want to many changes that the libraries have to go through in continue to work for the university and maybe even order to help us students get the most out of our stay working for different universities when I'm studies.” finished with school.”

Other student perspectives Sarah Therese Major: Library Science Major: Taxation Current Job: Graduate Library Assistant Time spent at UNT Libraries: 2 years, 10 months “My academic progress improved while I worked in the Current Job: Tax Associate - KPMG library because it forced me to manage my time better ”. “I actually met one of my roommates through working at the library! In that aspect, it helped my social life as she “Working at the library encouraged me to pursue a introduced me to our other roommates and we all career in library science, but I was also shown tools to formed a friendship .” research other fields that I was interested in as an undergraduate student.” “There were times when I didn't necessarily feel challenged in my job, so I wish there had been more “I wish the library was able to offer more opportunities hands-on training o n the different resources in the for advancement of undergraduate workers, with pay library.” increases.”

Michigan Technological University: “Students who participated [in on-campus employment] had grade point averages higher than many other students.” (Boost retention…, 2011) Purdue University: In terms of outcomes, on-campus employment during the first and/or second year is translated into substantially higher percentages of students graduating within four years" (Cermak & Filkins, 2004)

“Successful employment experiences on campus may well contribute to the retention of a diverse student population as it decreases the sense of alienation, provides for the development of useful skills, and gives the student another place in the campus community.” (Kathman & Kathman, 1998)

Study of 1,827 full-time undergraduates: Improved ability to deal with others 70% Improved communication skills 69% Increased self-confidence 69% Better ability to work on a team 58% Improved time management 52% (Study made no distinction between on and off-campus employment.) (New research…, 2013)

What this means ● Get feedback from students ● Assess your program, make necessary changes to enrich students ● Have students work in physical proximity to potential mentors ● Hire diversely ● Communicate with administration about the success of your students

Questions? Holly Dolan Holly.Dolan@unt.edu UNT Libraries: library.unt.edu

Bibliography Boost retention through on-campus employment programs. (2011).Enrollment Management Report, 15(6), 3. Retrieved from: https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=eue&AN=65920867&scope=site Cermak, K. (2004). On-Campus Employment as a Factor of Student Retention and Graduation. Retrieved December 17, 2014, from http://oipr.depaul.edu/open/gradereten/oce.asp Corso, J., & Devine, J. (2013). Student Technology Mentors: A Community College Success Story. Community College Enterprise, 19(2), 9-21. Retrieved from: https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=eue&AN=93739316&scope=site Cermak, K., &. Filkins, . (2004). On-campus employment as a factor of student retention and graduation. Retrieved from DePaul University, Institutional Research and Market Analytics website: http://oipr.depauLedu/open/gradereten/oce.asp Dundes, L., & Marx, J. (2006). Balancing Work and Academics in College: Why Do Students Working 10 to 19 Hours per Week Excel?. Journal Of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice , 8(1), 107-120. Retrieved from: http://www.metapress. com/content/7ucu8f9m94qg5wwq/?genre=article&issn=1521-0251&volume=8&issue=1&spage=107

Bibliography Empie, M. (2013). Three practices to enhance on-campus student employee experience. Bulletin Of The Association Of College Unions International, 81(2), 16-22. Retrieved from: https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=eue&AN=91535171&scope=site Ewers, J. (2002). Get to work. U.S. News & World Report, 132(14), 44. Retrieved from: https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http: //search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=6534817&scope=site Kathman, J. M., & Kathman, M. D. (1998). What difference does diversity make in managing student employees?. College & Research Libraries , 59(4), 378-389. Retrieved from: https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=eue&AN=502799154&scope=site Leonard, G. (2008, July 10). A Study on the Effects of Student Employment on Retention. Retrieved December 17, 2014, from http://uc.iupui. edu/Portals/155/uploadedFiles/Deans/StudEmpRetentionRprt.pdf New research on student employment. (2013). Bulletin of the Association of College Unions International, 81(1), 9. Retrieved from: https: //libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&AN=91532926&scope=site