Gabrielle Yenewine panicked earlier this semester when her boss at her work study job in Loyola’s library told her she couldn’t work there anymore. It was because she was told she didn’t qualify for work study this school year, and the graphic design sophomore left disappointed and nervous; she had loved her position there.

Like most students who are a part of the work study program, Yenawine relied on her on-campus job to help her pay for college, she said. So in order to move forward, she said she had to contact financial aid in order to appeal the decision. And though she contacted the office right away, she said it was no surprise they did not answer her. Instead, she had to go to the office in order to figure out what was going on.

When Yenewine got to the financial aid office, they told her there was nothing wrong and that she could go back to working through the work study program.

“I missed like, two days of work, because they never told me I had it already,” she said.

Yenewine is not the only student at Loyola who had miscommunications and issues concerning their work study jobs this year so far. Work study is a federal aid based program that Loyola participates in to allow students who have financial needs to work and help pay tuition and other expenses in on-campus jobs, according to Loyola’s website.

Despite concerns, Anna Daigle, director of financial aid, said that the office is working to accommodate students.

“As of last week, all returning students eligible for work study had received their previous work study assignments if they have been approved for eligibility,” she said.

Daniela Martinez, a sophomore journalism major, said that they received work study last year in the equipment room on the fourth floor of the communications building. Like Yenewine, they were told by their boss earlier this semester that they could not get scheduled for their work study because they weren’t eligible this coming school year. Martinez said that it was frustrating to hear that, because they need the job in order to afford school.

Martinez was out of work for two months until very recently when the office approved their appeal so they could return to their job.

“It just sucks because I was depending on having a job, and I haven’t been able to work for two months,” Martinez said.

Daigle encouraged students eligible for work study to get their paperwork done before leaving for summer break. She said that this gives the office time to process all the information. She said that there was a Google Form sent out to students who received work study in previous years making sure they don’t miss out on their eligibility.
“99% of students at Loyola receive some form of financial aid. We provide work study positions to both incoming and returning students. Any continuing student who has questions about their eligibility status may contact the office of financial aid,” she said.