College eliminates leadership stipends

Author: Brian Fung

Middlebury College will eliminate the stipends that traditionally have been awarded to students serving in positions of leadership beginning next fall, an attempt to reconcile its policy of compensation for student leaders with strict federal and state minimum wage laws.

The current stipend system awards minor compensation to students responsible for directing and managing major student organizations, including student government representatives and the head of the Middlebury College Activities Board.

In addition, the College is looking into reconciling its compensation to positions such as Commons Council co-chairs and residential advisors in order to align with federal and state regulations regarding the minimum wage.

"The creation of the current list of posts meriting stipend payments was decided democratically," said Finance Committee Chair Amanda Goodwin '07. Five years ago a series of interviews and surveys were conducted which yielded "a list of positions that were seen as requiring substantial time commitments and therefore deserving of compensation," said Goodwin. The Finance Committee used these lists to assign a cash value to each position in the hopes of drawing more student volunteers.

Despite the dilemma now posed by the policy's inconsistency with government regulations, both Goodwin and Student Government Association (SGA) President Alex Stanton '07 insist that the program was created with good intentions and with a clear objective.

"It was felt that students on financial aid would not be able to accept and commit to these positions of leadership while also holding a campus job," said Goodwin.

In response, the College approved the distribution of monetary compensation that allowed students to satisfy work-study requirements while simultaneously enabling them to serve in the community.

The program grew rapidly in its first years of existence. At the height of the system's application in 2001, the average stipend totaled nearly $900. That year, The College appropriated over $20,000 to the overall fund, which is supported by the Student Activities Fee paid by all College students.

Five years later, problems have arisen with the program. Available capital for the fund has fallen to less than $14,000, the level at which it initially began over a decade ago. Awards for students holding high profile posts now rarely exceed $1,000, while less-prominent positions receive even less. The cuts come as a result of annual policy reevaluations conducted by school officials, some of whom view the fund as a peculiarity on college campuses.

"I think we are very unusual that we pay student leaders," said Ann Hanson, dean of student affairs. "Most people, when they hear that someone holds a major leadership position on campus, do not assume that that person will be paid."

The College's decision to remove the stipend program altogether, however, is also rooted in graver reasons. "Student stipends must be cut to comply with federal and state minimum wage laws," said Stanton. "The College is currently in violation of those laws."

As of Jan. 1, 2006, the federal minimum wage rate was $5.15 per hour worked. In Vermont, the minimum wage stands considerably higher, at $7.25 per hour. Meanwhile, student leaders at Middlebury are getting short changed - for some, barely even earning one dollar an hour.

"I can tell you from personal experience," said Goodwin, "I work around 25 hours a week on average. If you break it down, it is way below minimum wage."

Other students seemed unphazed by the coming change. Cordelia Ross '09, Co-chair of Brainerd Commons, sees her stipend merely as an additional bonus to a fulfilling extracurricular activity.

"Those who are elected or selected into [their] position truly enjoy what they do and do not even acknowledge the stipend," said Ross.

But there are those who lack that liberty. The Finance Committee did not consult with current student leaders or survey students before making its decision, according to Goodwin. With the return to pre-stipend conditions, cash-strapped individuals may be forced to choose between leading the College community and taking a paying job.

"The real problem comes from students with financial need who will be discouraged from running for student leadership," said Stanton, admitting in the process that little headway has been made in remedying the situation.

Nevertheless, both Stanton and Goodwin seemed optimistic about one proposed initiative. Under the fledgling SGA plan, the stipend system would be resurrected and devoted entirely to financial aid students. A "student leadership fund" would supplement aid packages such that student leaders on financial aid would be able to continue serving without being obliged to apply for jobs elsewhere. The fund would be administered by a joint student-staff committee, and would be paid for by a portion of the money currently allocated to student stipends. Furthermore, the actual number of positions receiving compensation would be reduced dramatically.

Goodwin stressed patience. "The details are not hammered out, and the proposal will face a long review period," she said.

Nevertheless, Stanton pledged to cooperate with the College on the matter, and urged other organizations to do the same. "The SGA and other student groups will be in close contact with the administration throughout the year as we search for a viable solution," he said.