UA News

Tough economic times are sending budget-conscious UA students to off-market outlets for books and clothes. Students also are seeking part-time jobs in larger numbers.

It's said that college students rely on an institution too big to fail – the Bank of Mom and Dad. But the effects of last year's economic crisis are hitting home, causing even the most dependable bank to run dry.

Buying, selling and trading used items have become popular options among University of Arizona students. Businesses like Bookmans are seeing a rise in customers, and the creation of the Student Exchange Store at the Park Student Union has been greeted with positive reception and steady traffic.

As the semester progresses, freshman Miki Jennings frequents shops like Goodwill more often than she did prior to beginning college. Jennings uses financial aid from the UA for tuition and books, but also works about 14 hours a week at McDonalds to afford clothing and recreation.

"If I were living on my own, [financial aid] wouldn't have been enough, but because I'm living with my family, it was satisfactory," said Jennings.

Sophomore Chris Kosters is supporting himself entirely through financial aid. The UA Office of Student Financial Aid has seen appeals for more aid go up by 28 percent for students paying in-state tuition. Requests from students from out of state have gone up by 35 percent.

Despite a job search that began early this summer and spans over at least twenty applications and three interviews, Kosters remains unemployed and dependent on student loans to pay the bills.

"In the end, [loans are] going to come back and bite me. It just seems impossible. I would take any job," said Kosters.

The Student Union Memorial Center's online job application was shut down earlier this semester because of the flood of students searching for on-campus employment. Last summer, the Union received 1,200 online applications. This summer, the Union sorted through over 2,100 applicants. Roughly 44 percent were eligible for work study. Only about 200 positions were open.

Freshman Andrew Alejandre also relies on financial aid provided by Arizona Assurance, a program by the University that gives students financial aid and academic support.

Alejandre has worked during the past three summers to help his mother, a single parent, make house payments and support his two younger siblings. The family was unable to save up enough money to cover Alejandre's tuition.

"Most all my purchases are food items since I don't have a lot of money to spend on other things. I would not be going to college without my financial aid," said Alejandre. "I would have had to take out loans and have a part-time job while in school. Financial aid relieves me of that huge financial burden."

Sophomore Justin Van Horne balances working full-time as a self-employed computer programmer with a full academic workload, football and peer mentoring for Arizona Assurance.

"It takes a lot out of me. It can be pretty demoralizing at times," said Van Horne. "Honestly, I'm sitting on $16 and something cents. But living paycheck to paycheck can be viewed as you know exactly where your spending is and when you'll get your next paycheck. It's a glass half-empty, half-full thing."

Budget-conscious students can count on specials offered on campus. These discounts can be found on the Ask Kyle feature of the Arizona Student Unions' Web site, in the Daily Wildcat and on Twitter. Junior Kyle Oman, the marketing assistant behind the Twitter feed and articles, alerts students about things like movie screenings or Savvy Student Wednesdays, when participating restaurants in the Union offer a meal option for just $3.

"The motivation for all this is to connect students to what we here are doing at the Unions. We're linking students together with great deals so being hungry isn't an option for the average student," said Oman.

Because job interest is expected to remain high into next year, the Unions are also collaborating with Campus Recreation and the UA BookStores to expand online job applications. Expansion will enable job seekers to reach all three departments.

"We want to be able to share the huge pool of applicants with other University employers to get some of these other students jobs," said Stephanie Cunningham, associate marketing specialist for Arizona Student Unions. "There is a huge untapped workforce out there that has really been highlighted with the economic problems of this term."

Credit-Wise Cats, a campus organization that strives to teach financial literacy, recommends students learn habits that will last long after college. Its recommendations include to:
1.    Learn to differentiate between needs and wants. A need is necessary for survival.
2.    Do not spend more than what you have. Consumers tend to spend under the assumption, not the guarantee, that more money is coming.
3.    Begin saving immediately. No amount is too small to set aside and benefit from compounding interest, especially when you want money to fall back on in case of emergency.

Credit-Wise Cats has seen a higher demand for workshops on creating a spending plan and selecting a credit card.

"Students want to learn how to manage their money and avoid going into unmanageable debt," said Juan Ciscomani, Credit-Wise Cats coordinator. "Students now see how financial decisions, at any level, can impact an individual's life."