Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412130010
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
After two decades in school, Gwen Daley could earn her Ph.D. within 18 months. Or so she thought.
Like hundreds of other students, Daley's financial aid is tied up with on-campus employment - from graduate teaching assistants to freshman dining hall help. And this week hasn't been easy for people with those kinds of jobs on Virginia campuses.
"It's been incredible," said the paleontologist, who taught four undergraduate labs this past semester to earn her assistantship. "Every day we get an e-mail message saying something different. We don't know what's going on. We'd like to. It's important."
That's how many people feel at Virginia Tech, where the effects of Gov. George Allen's cost-cutting hiring freeze, and Secretary of Education Beverly Sgro's program of providing exemptions, still are being sorted out. By next week, the university hopes to know a lot more.
Last week, Allen announced the freeze and his five-year, $2.1 billion tax cut package. This week, Sgro unveiled a plan that allows universities to apply for exemptions for essential jobs, saying "we understand fully that this time of the cycle of the year is a very important one for them for hiring."
Not only is it the start of the faculty hiring season on campus, but it's also exam week: time to prepare for the flood of new second-semester student workers who essentially keep the dining halls and dormitories running. Tech offers 3,500 student-wage jobs, many of which help put through school undergraduates and the 2,100 graduate assistants who help teach classes.
"We're not exactly sure what [the state is] considering emergency hires," said Larry Hincker, Tech spokesman.
"It's the uncertainty of it," Ann Spencer, associate vice president for personnel, said. School officials don't know "what it means, with already reduced [financial] resources. That's a big part of why people are so very concerned."
Under Sgro's plan, schools can apply for two kinds of exemptions: one blanket exemption for groups of jobs, and the other for critical, individual positions. Robert Lauterberg, the state's director of planning and budget, also grants his approval.
Tech administrators are trying to set up an internal criteria system to evaluate job requests. Next week, the university will have a better idea of what jobs it will advance to the secretary's office, said Minnis Ridenour, the school's executive vice president.
Sgro spokeswoman Kari Walter, noting that the process is new for the secretary's office, too, emphasized that all requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If justified, Sgro likely will grant the request, she said.
"It's not any harder, necessarily, to get a job. ... It just has to be a worthy job. That's the whole purpose [of the freeze]: To cut out waste and excess," Walter said.
"I can't say anything to take away the doubt. I suppose if they're doubting if we'll give them a decision, do they themselves feel [the jobs] are not worthy?'' she said.
Walter did shed some light on one question that has arisen on campuses: Positions funded solely by nonstate grants, be they federal, foundation or private, cannot be touched by the state. However, many campus research jobs are funded through a patchwork of state or grant funding. To those folks: Send in request forms.
"I think a few [assistantships] may be at risk, but most of our assistantship appointments run through the year," said Ernie Stout, the associate provost for research. Yearlong appointments, such as Daley's, are good through the second semester. Assistantships that start in January could be in question.
Stout and other Tech administrators acknowledged that the confusion surrounding the exemption program now may be clearer this time next week.
"I'm pretty confident that these kinds of things will be allowed," said Stout. "Right now, it would be difficult to make an offer to a student to start in August. I hope that faculty members and department heads who are attempting to recruit graduate students will reassure them and hold them at bay a few more days."
Hincker also noted the potentially chilling effect on student recruitment.
"We have to wonder if the emergency hiring process will become part of our graduate admissions process," he said.
As for Daley: "I'm advising people on whether they should come here for graduate school, and right now, I have to say no."
"If there is a danger they're not going to keep funding, it would be really irresponsible for me to suggest somebody come here," she said. "If they can't get a teaching assistantship - funding - how are they going to pay for their graduate education?
"Take out another $20,000 in student loans on top of what they [borrowed] in college?"
by CNB