By: Juanita Sampson
Note from the Editor: This article is senior social work major Juanita Sampson’s passion project, meant to bring awareness to the impact of the rise in tuition, meal plans and residential housing on student workers.
Due to the State of Tennessee’s adherence to the federal minimum wage, an incoming freshman at Southern Adventist University is paid $7.25 per hour. This amount increases by 50 cents each time a student’s class standing advances.
This school year, tuition for residence hall students increased by 5.8%, and for community students by 5.9%. For the 2026–2027 academic year, overall tuition will increase by 5.2% for both groups. Despite these tuition increases, there is no corresponding increase in student wages.
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I have noticed, however, that student worker wages have remained the same. Since my arrival at Southern from the Caribbean, my mother has worked two jobs as a registered nurse and has been unable to support both my sister and me at a four-year institution, simultaneously.
While I have worked on campus and received scholarships, for which I am extremely grateful, I have not been able to turn a blind eye to the struggles of my fellow students and classmates.
I have presented my findings to Amy Steele and Kaylie Ackerman, both of whom are part of our Human Resources Department. They understand the challenges student workers face and support raising wages; however, it is important to note that increasing student wages does not fall within the HR department’s authority.
I also presented my findings to Tom Verill, senior vice president of Financial Administration, who was very receptive to the information. He informed me that student wages have not been formally discussed in some time and that he will bring the matter back to senior administrators for review.
This meeting is scheduled for this week. My request to senior administrators is to increase student worker wages for the next academic year. However, I have learned that there are many fiscal considerations involved, so I have also requested that, if wages cannot be increased, the student body be informed of the reasons why.
My first step in advocacy involved creating and administering a survey to undergraduate students at Southern. The survey was open for roughly four weeks and received 117 responses.
Most respondents had worked on campus for four to six semesters and reported that their primary reasons for working were to cover personal expenses, gain work experience and contribute toward tuition. Most students reported that current wages are insufficient to fully cover tuition costs (including meal plans and campus housing) and discretionary spending (entertainment, dining out, hobbies). At the same time, wages were viewed as only slightly sufficient to cover food (excluding meal plans) and personal expenses (gas, books, hygiene, phone bills, etc.).
From personal experience, I have noticed that wages are closely tied to the stress students experience. Of the 117 respondents, 62 reported frequently experiencing wage-related stress, 35 sometimes, 13 rarely and 7 never.
These responses indicate that financial strain is a consistent issue for many students, with a majority reporting frequent stress related to wages. Moreover, financial stress is affecting students in multiple ways. Many students (64) reported working more hours than they would prefer. In the survey, 58 reported taking on multiple on-campus jobs, which can interfere with academic priorities.
This strain is reflected in 78 students reducing their study time and 39 considering taking fewer classes altogether. Additionally, 28 students have taken out more loans to manage their financial situation. Beyond academics, financial stress is also impacting student well-being. A total of 64 students reported a lack of sleep, and 54 indicated that their mental health has been negatively affected.
Despite these challenges, many students remain at Southern because they have built a strong community, feel called by God and value the education they are receiving.
As part of my research, I interviewed four students. I would like to highlight one interview with an international student, who shared several financial challenges related to tuition, work limits and living expenses.
At one point, the student needed to pay $54 to file taxes but only had $45 available, so he had to delay filing until payday. He explained that this contributed to ongoing stress while balancing 16–18 work hours per week alongside an above-average courseload.
Because extending his time at Southern would increase costs for tuition, housing and meals, he is currently taking 20 credit hours. He also noted that, as an international student, he is required to maintain at least 12 credit hours per semester, which limits his ability to spread coursework across terms.
The student shared that he has received only one wage increase since transferring to Southern 2.5 years ago. He also described budgeting challenges related to food and transportation, including limiting grocery trips due to time and cost constraints. A large portion of his income (75%) goes toward tuition, with about $600 contributed monthly.
Despite these challenges, the student remains committed to completing his degree. He expressed appreciation for the value of his work on campus, noting that full-time staff are often surprised by the level of responsibility he carries as a student worker. He also emphasized that financial constraints sometimes require strict budgeting, including using food pantry resources when necessary.
In my survey, I asked students to share, in their own words, how they are affected by stagnant wages while university costs continue to rise. With their permission, I have included direct quotes from some responses:
“Raising university costs have forced one of my parents to take out multiple [federal] parent PLUS loans, as paying tuition from my work wage would take out all of my personal funds to provide for my own needs.”
“It has made me more stressed about money, and I have had to face the idea that I may have to drop out of school due to not being able to afford it.”
“I haven’t been able to drive my car in weeks. I just don’t have the money to afford gas. It’s hard to get a job off campus, and most of my wages have been going toward my school bill, which has been slowly increasing over the course of the semester. Out of my entire paycheck, I see maybe $30 for myself.”
I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my advocacy journey.
To my fellow students, thank you for filling out my survey, sharing it with friends and being willing to share your experiences with honesty and courage.
Professor Kristy Wilder, thank you for being my guide throughout this project and for consistently believing in my strengths and passion.
To the office managers and supervisors I have interacted with, thank you for sharing my flyer with student workers and for providing valuable information and encouragement. I am sincerely grateful for all the support I have received along the way.