St. Thomas University is offering STUworks, an on-campus employment program for underrepresented minorities, this year after what the university says was a successful first run.
Jeffrey Carleton, STU’s director of communications, said the university had under 20 students take part last year.
“We expect the same number of students this year,” he said.
Carleton said STUworks is funded with money dedicated specifically from the provincial Department of Employment, Labour and Training.
Students who qualify for jobs within the program are first and second years who are the first generation of their family to attend university, those who come from a less-privileged socio-economic background, First Nations students or students with a disability.
“It’s to provide work experience and financial support to students who may tend to be underrepresented in the student demographic,” Carleton said.
Third-year student Lisa Lawyer qualified for STUworks because she has a neurological disorder and multiple mental health issues. She worked as a research assistant for professor Clive Baldwin.
“It helped me gain just a little bit of extra money, but since I was working by myself a lot, it helped me with my time management,” Lawyer said.
Lawyer said the STUworks job led her to more opportunities, including landing a summer job with the Nature Trust of New Brunswick.
“I think it’s important because every student could use more money and working on campus is a really easy way to gain experience while also having it fit around your studies,” she said.
Lawyer also said that programs such as STUworks are also helpful to the minorities it targets and offers them the extra hand they may need.
“Anybody that has a disability or is a minority might unfortunately have a harder time finding a job,” she said. “STUworks is a perfect opportunity for these people to get their foot in the door.”
