College student aides, assistants and specialists earning minimum wage will get a 75-cent-per-hour raise next year due to the increase of the California minimum wage.
The statewide increase from $6.75 to $7.50 an hour was approved by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September. The minimum wage increases again to $8 in January 2008.
The Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees approved the increase for its college students at its meeting Oct. 10.
“I think it’s awesome,” said VC Transfer and Career Center student assistant Matil Touma. “I could really use the money. Books are expensive and I still have to pay for classes. I think the raise will help me a lot.”
VC Tutoring Center student assistant Maria Sanchez shares the same feelings about the raise in minimum wage, but thinks inflation will even things out. The current rate of inflation in California is 4.8 percent, according to the California Franchise Tax Board. It is up from 2.8 percent last year.
“If the economy stayed the same it would help, but because everything is going up it’s not going to make a difference,” Sanchez said.
The minimum wage increase impacts students, but there is some concern how the increase will impact the student salary budget this fiscal year. At the VCCCD Board of Trustees meeting Oct. 10, the board approved the same student salary budget as last year. Dr. Tom Kimberling, the VC vice president of business services, said that it might have an impact on some departments that hire student workers, but he said there is almost always money left over at the end of the year.
“We need student workers,” Kimberling said. “We appreciate their contributions. Without students we’d be at a big loss.”
Students employed by the VCCCD are full-time college students. Student workers are allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week. After Jan. 1, student aides will start at $7.50 an hour, student assistants at $8, and student specialists, similar to tutors, start at $8.50. Workers receive a 25-cent raise after completing 500 hours.
Students interested in employment on campus should contact the Career Center on their campus. In Ventura call (805) 654-6411, in Oxnard call (805) 986-5800 ext. 5838, and in Moorpark call (805) 378-1536.
