MEDILL NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL REPORT
Montana: Fifth Nationwide in Community Service for Work-Study Students
By ERIKA COHEN
MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - Montana colleges and universities ranked fifth in the nation for statewide participation in community service work-study jobs.

On average, Montana's 19 institutions contributed 15.8 percent of their federal work- study dollars to community service jobs, according to U.S. Department of Education data for the 1999-2000 school year. That placed Montana 25 percent above the national average of 11.8 percent.

The states ranking ahead of Montana were Nevada, West Virginia, North Dakota and Delaware; 3,091 institutions reported data.

"We're very proud of this ranking," said Dick Crofts, commissioner of higher education for Montana. "We think it's very important for students as part of their learning. They are making money to contribute to their education and contributing to their community at the same time. It's better than sitting around and answering the phone."

Great Falls' schools had notably high participation. Montana State University College of Technology and the University of Great Falls both contributed approximately 20 percent of their work-study funds to community work-study jobs.

At Montana State University College of Technology, participation in community service jumped from six students during the 1999-2000 school year to 12 students during the 2000-2001 school year.

Brenda Sebastian, director of financial aid, said one of the reasons the community service percentage was high both years is because of participation in America Reads, a federal program that pays college and university students to tutor elementary school children. The federal government pays 100 percent of the wages for America Reads tutors.

"It's been a conscious effort on the university's part to increase funding," Sebastian said. "Recently when I had increased funding I approached the Boys and Girls Club. I hope our funding will continue to grow."

Community service work-study jobs include literacy training, child-care services, helping individuals with disabilities, and mentoring programs.

While the government pays all of the cost of campus federal work-study jobs, schools must contribute 25 percent of student wages for community service work-study programs. America Reads is an exception.

A 1998 rule change raised the proportion of federal dollars to be spent on community service from 5 percent to 7 percent of the total federal allocation. The increase took effect during the last academic year.

Only one Montana school, Dull Knife Memorial College in Glendive, was not at the required 5 percent level during the 1999-2000 school year. Financial Aid Director Donna Small said that was the first year the small community college received any federal work-study money, and it used the money for campus jobs. She said jobs at the library and day-care center serve the community, but she did not report them as community service work-study jobs.

A bill proposed by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Evan Bayh, D-Ind., would further raise the percentage of federal dollars for community work-study from 7 percent to 25 percent by 2010. The proposed law would establish a 2-percent increase each year and would enforce compliance. There is no enforcement under the current law.

Montana State University in Bozeman ranks below the state and national average for community service work-study jobs. Of their federal funds, 10.9 percent are used for these jobs. While the school had no problem with last year's increase to 7 percent, the new legislation would be difficult to follow, said Andre Altans, assistant director of financial aid.

"If they continue to increase the required compensation to community service work-study jobs, it will be difficult for us," he said. "Montana State University can't afford to cover the additional costs and neither can most community organizations."

At Carroll College in Helena, Financial Aid Director Dick Franz said community work-study jobs take money away from necessary on-campus jobs.

"Folks call all the time saying they'd love to have more students" Franz said. "But since our allocation stays about the same each year, it means taking away funds for campus jobs."

When the required community service share of work-study increased last year, Carroll College increased its percentage from 5.6 percent to 8 percent. Of the 35 students involved in the program last school year, 21 participated in America Reads. Franz said this increase was not a problem, but that further increases would be "problematic."

Despite concerns raised by Altans and Franz, education commissioner Crofts said he would support a further increase for federal work-study community service expenditures.

"I would not think that the 25 percent would be a serious problem," he said. "I think that's a reasonable goal."

Graphics
Graphic of Best/Worst Schools

Graphic of Top 20 U.S. Schools and Their work-study percentage spent on community service

Graphic of Best States

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