Oberlin College recently announced an increase in the student minimum wage to $12 per hour, effective from the start of this fall semester. This new rate surpasses Ohio’s current minimum wage of $10.45.
Many students on campus have welcomed the wage increase, seeing it as a necessary adjustment to help them meet their financial obligations. College fourth-year Cecily Miles, who works at the Mary Church Terrell Main Library, views the increase optimistically and is excited for the opportunities that it opens up for students at Oberlin College.
“I’m excited on behalf of student workers for whom I hope this will make a significant and positive difference,” Miles said. “I’ve long prided Oberlin on its progressiveness as an educational institution in a state whose political atmosphere can be so hostile to uncensored and accessible education. As a matter of principle, I’m proud to see Oberlin literally rising above the policy of a state whose policies I think generally should be taken as no example. I’m glad to see Oberlin setting an example instead.”
Departments and student organizations that rely heavily on student workers will need to adjust their budgets to accommodate the higher wages. College third-year and Student Finance Committee Head Treasurer Lucas Daley addressed concerns about how the increase might affect the availability of campus jobs that are funded through SFC. SFC allocates funds from the Student Activity Fund to student organizations, many of which employ students.
“SFC is working diligently to find an equitable solution to the cost incurred by the minimum wage increase, but we are confident that it will have no direct impact on the availability of hours for student jobs funded by the SAF,” Daley said.
SFC did not play a role in the wage increase, according to Daley.
“The decision to increase the Oberlin College minimum wage to $12 per hour was made by the human resources department over the summer without consultation from SFC,” Daley explained. “SFC does not have direct input into the decision-making process regarding campus-wide policies. Nonetheless, we … believe that the new policy demonstrates the value of student workers to Oberlin College.”
Daley emphasized that the SFC supports the wage increase, noting that it aligns with the committee’s broader goals of enhancing student well-being.
“We believe that the new policy demonstrates the value of student workers to Oberlin College,” Daley said.
Miles said she hopes the decision will lead to future wage increases.
“I do also feel as if the need for greater financial support and compensation that is more proportionate to students’ labor is something that the College should be able to intuit, but as long as it listens when these things are spelled out, I’ll take it,” she said. “And if or while Oberlin’s student body has the College’s ear, I bet that there are many more voices out there who’d love to see even greater wage increases.”
Oberlin College Department of Communications was unable to provide comment by press time.
