New wage schedule and classification system for student employment released

The WWU Student Employment Center, Human Resources, and the University Budget Office are pleased to announce a new wage schedule and classification system for student employment on Western’s campus.  Based on the passage of Initiative 1433, which raised the minimum wage on January 1^st, 2017, and implements annual increases going forward, a task force reviewed the current student employment classification system and wage schedule. The President’s Council recently approve the task force recommendations of the task force.

Student Employment classifications are changing from five levels with narrow pay bands to three levels with wider pay bands.  This change allows employers more flexibility in determining wages within each classification.  Under the new classification system, roles and level of supervision are more clearly defined.

New Classification and Wage Schedule:

In the upcoming weeks, students will automatically be switched over to the new classification system. Current student employee wages will not be changed either up or down to reflect the new wage schedule. We recognize that not everyone will fit exactly into the new system in terms of their rate of pay or new classification. This problem will ultimately resolve itself as students move to new jobs or graduate.

In the next few days you will find a frequently asked questions section on the Student Employment Center web page as well as updated job classification descriptions. 

Many thanks to the task force participants:

Clara Capron, Assistant Vice President, Enrollment and Student Services

Cheryl Wolfe-Lee, Assistant Vice President, Human Resources,

Sarah Crawford, Assistant Director, Payroll & Information Services

Debby Cwalina, Classification/Compensation Manager, Human Resources

Jim DeWilde, Associate Director, Financial Aid Department

Kirk England, Assistant Director, Budget Office

Barbara Luton, Financial Aid Manager, Student Employment Center