SMUWorks: A Sudden Goodbye to Saint Mary’s Employment Program

By Samarth Behl

Thumbnail & Banner Photo by SMU.CA

In addition to its reputation for academic brilliance, Saint Mary’s University has earned respect and recognition for its commitment and actions toward increasing student employment opportunities. This commitment was shown through SMUWorks, a testament to Saint Mary’s dedication to improving the student experience by bridging the gap between academic learning and meaningful employment for over two decades! From facilitating research under faculty members, to roles in essential campus services like opportunities within EIT, Residence Life, Student Affairs and Services, etc., SMUWorks provided numerous opportunities on campus, including personal, professional and financial growth. Through SMUWorks, any faculty within the university could apply for funding to employ students. Then, a committee reviewed these applications for funding requests, and allocations were made accordingly. The primary goal was to provide students with meaningful and relevant work to support them financially. However, in a move that has taken the SMU community by surprise, this program is unfortunately being discontinued.

While the exact reasons for the program's discontinuation remain officially unconfirmed, the financial challenges that SMU now faces, according to the latest Annual Financial Report, offer a plausible explanation for understanding this decision. In 2023, SMU's expendable resources drastically declined by 48.5%, to $13.8 million from $26.8 million, clearly showing the university's reduced financial flexibility. This also comes at a time when the university's debt has risen to $69 million from last year's $47.3 million. Consequently, ratios show that the percentages of resources that can be disposed of in terms of debt fell from 56.7% to 20%. This downturn has led to a deficit of $9.8 million. 

Reflecting on this decision, the VP of Advocacy of SMUSA, Anubhav Gupta expressed his concern, highlighting the lack of consultation with key stakeholders before making this decision. “Neither of the two (SMUSA and SMUFU) were included when this decision was made, and we just found out about this decision after the people who facilitated this program sent out emails to professors, departments, and students that this program is discontinued. We found out after the decision was made and communicated,” he added, highlighting a disconnect between the university administration and the student and faculty bodies.

This was the first time that SMUSA and SMUFU (Saint Mary’s University Faculty Union) released a joint statement articulating a solid stance against the discontinuation of SMUWorks. The statement reads:

“Recently, we have learned that the SMUWorks program has been paused. For over 20 years, SMUWorks has funded students' on-campus jobs, enabling them to gain research and work experience during their education. It supports student employment and out-of-classroom learning. Removing SMUWorks will deprive our students of opportunities, especially when they are already grappling with high rent, food inflation, and rising tuition costs. This decision also contradicts SMU's Strategic Plan, which aims to deliver a student-focused experiential and academic service-learning strategy, as well as increase the percentage of undergraduate students with research experience. In light of these concerns, we urge Saint Mary's University to take the following actions:

1. Reinstate SMUWorks to ensure the continuous support and development of students through on-campus employment opportunities.

 2. Ensure that the reinstatement of the program does not, under any circumstances, impact existing scholarships, bursaries, and other forms of financial aid.

3. Engage in a collaborative discussion with faculty and students to explore solutions aligning with the institution's strategic goals and the well-being of its student body."

Additionally, SMUFU has also started a petition urging the reinstatement of SMUWorks. The petition can be found at https://form.jotform.com/240556890638265.

Photo by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash

It is essential to know that this is not the end of the on-campus jobs, as many other opportunities still exist. However, the discontinuation of SMUWorks impacts certain types of work opportunities and the students who benefit from them.

Financial Impact: The program was fit within 22 weeks of contractual employment within a 15-hour week workload, which offered students a manageable time balance between work and study. The program could provide students with an hourly wage between $17 and $18.50. This income helped students cover various costs like living, food and tuition. Due to the discontinuation, students may face increased financial stress, which would also force them to rely on off-campus work that may be less flexible to their academic schedules.

Professional Development: SMUWorks also provided jobs often directly related to students’ fields of study, offering valuable hands-on experience. Therefore, its discontinuation may potentially have a negative impact on student’s professional development opportunities.

Campus Engagement: The program fostered a sense of belonging among students working together on campus. It allowed students to contribute meaningfully to the university environment through research opportunities, student life activities or essential campus services. This engagement created a vibrant community of students, enhancing their overall university experience. The absence of SMUWorks would lead to fewer opportunities for students to engage and contribute to our SMU community.

Despite the discontinuation of SMUWorks, Saint Mary’s University offers other forms of on-campus employment. The focus now is on how the university can adapt its employment offerings to ensure students have valuable work opportunities. While the decision has definitely raised concerns among students and faculties, it is also important to understand the potential financial challenges that may have prompted this move. By working together, we can ensure that the essence of what SMUWorks represents continues to thrive in new forms at Saint Mary’s.