I Love my Job!Maximizing Profit for the Honors Program Student Worker

PresentersJessica Waldschmidt

Honors Program Coordinator

Laura WangHonors Student Admin Assistant

Shan XiaoHonors Student Admin Assistant

IntroductionWhat are we talking about today?

● employee profit● honors student employment programs● benefits

Take-away:● Expand your concept of what profit is● How to maximize profit

Profile: Honors at Iowa

● ~4,000 members (18%)

● 8 Honors Professional Staff

● 6-7 Honors Student Admin Assistants

● 10-12 Honors Student Event Programmers

● 1-2 Professional Student Assistants

● 22,354 undergraduates

● 5 undergraduate colleges(Business, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Nursing)

● Research university; 42% of undergraduates participate in research

● Member of the Big Ten and ranked one of the top 30 public institutions in the US (US News & Report 2014)

Honors at Iowa University of Iowa

Working in Honors VS. on Campus

● Work with all levels of the program

● High level of involvement, sense of pride

● Strong connection

● Centralization

● Resistance to change

● Limited loyalty

Honors Program on Campus

Student Employee Responsibilities• Reception/Admin• Outreach

• Marketing• Design

• Peer Advising & Mentorship• Networking• Career Development

• Event Planning• Discourse• Housing Groups

• Audio/Visual• Interest Groups

• Community• International

Honors Student Admin Assistant Virginia Davis at the Honors reception desk

Honors ITC Monitor, Gallery Coordinator and Admin Assistant Noreen Jeglumstaffing the desk in the Honors Student Center

Apple OrchardPumpkin Carving

Iowa City Foreign Relations Council Honors Student Staff

Student Perspective: Benefits• Hourly pay, academic credit, internship• Learn more about the Honors Program• Professional work environment• Skill-building and professional development• Network with potential employers, professionals, faculty• Advancement opportunities• Work with your peers• Develop student-side of Honors Program

Employer Perspective: Benefits● Delegation● Collaboration● Mentorship● Save money by offering non-monetary incentive● Access to the student’s perspective● Skills, interests, and ideas

Employer Challenges & Solutions• Time commitment

• A large investment now will pay off long-term

• Cost• Can be offset with other incentives

• Possible performance issues• Implementing an evaluation process allows for performance issue

resolution

Tips for Students• Just like academics, excelling at what you do

means more opportunities• You will be asked for your input a lot, be ready

to give it• Look past the daily tasks and see what you are

doing long-term for the program and your professional development

Tips for Employers• Treat student positions like permanent ones• Document processes and write up instructions on

everything you can; have the students keep them up-to-date

• Meet regularly as a group, provide continuous training

• Personal recognition goes a long way

Thank You