Syracuse University is in talks with the city about including employment opportunities in its Federal Work-Study Program.

The proposal was discussed during Wednesday’s Common Council meeting and will be voted on during Monday’s voting session.

If passed, the city would place SU students in part-time city positions. The city would pay the students, while the university  would reimburse the city at 50%.

The proposal sparked concerns from several councilors who questioned the city’s need for the program.

Councilor Chad Ryan, of the 2nd district, told The Daily Orange that Syracuse would be “handing away money for no reason” if the agreement passes. He said he would rather spend the money on city residents who are looking for jobs than on students.

“We don’t have trouble getting interns now, not paying them,” Ryan said after the meeting. “We’re just offering up free money.”

The Federal Work-Study Program assists students with financial need in finding jobs. Backed by the U.S. Department of Education, the program partially reimburses nonprofit and community service organizations for student wages. Work study is awarded to students as part of SU’s financial aid package.

Ruthnie Angrand, the city’s director of communications and marketing, presented the agreement in front of the council during the listening session. The city is also in communication with Le Moyne College and is attempting to communicate with Onondaga Community College about the agreement, she said.

The city approached SU around the start of the academic year with the agreement, before reaching out to Le Moyne College and OCC a month later, Angrand said.

Students would work “just like interns” and perform tasks including clerical work, administrative work and special projects, Angrand said. If passed, there would be room for five work-study students in the spring semester, she said.

Angrand said the Mayor’s Office, the city’s communications office and departments like the Bureau of Information Technology have expressed interest in bringing in a Federal Work-Study student.

“These students are not taking over jobs that already exist,” Angrand said. Students would only be able to work a maximum of 20 hours a week.

Councilor At-Large Khalid Bey remained skeptical of the agreement, particularly because SU students are less likely to be from the area.

“(Onondaga Community College) students are more likely to be students working in the inner-city,” he said during the meeting.

Angrand declined to comment on the proposed agreement directly after the meeting. She has been in contact with SU’s Office of Student Employment Services, she said in an email to The Daily Orange on Wednesday. The office is currently reviewing a draft of the agreement.

“There are so many Syracuse City School District scholars who graduate from our city schools and attend area universities,” Angrand said. “When possible, we want these opportunities to be available to them as well.”

Published on October 16, 2019 at 9:52 pm

Contact Gabe: gkstern@syr.edu | @gabestern326