Student Jobs
A lawnmower without blades would still run—but it wouldn’t do its job very well. The Student Work Program at Bob Jones University provides approximately 2000 students with jobs that ensure efficiency in BJU’s daily operations.
Student workers answer phones, fix air conditioners, clean restrooms, run food lines, welcome campus guests, re-shelve books, ring up customers, grill burgers, weigh packages, lay mulch, wash pots, vacuum floors, sort mail …
Serving Students
The Office of Student Services manages the Student Work Program and provides students an easy means of finding jobs.
“Our purpose is to serve students while providing for their employment needs,” says Mr. Mark McKenney, the manager of Student Services.
BJU has always made student needs—especially financial ones—a priority. When the school was in Tennessee, Dr. Bob Jones Sr. was determined to keep the cost of education affordable. He asked local businesses for available work for struggling students so they could earn some money to help pay their bills. He even researched the possibility of building a textile factory on campus to provide student jobs.
Great Benefits
Having a job on campus provides more than just financial aid. Jacob Powell, a freshman financial management major, is on one of the clean-up crews at the Dining Common. He likes his job for the dent it makes in his school bill, but he also enjoys the break from academics.
“There could be a day where I have a lot of school work to get done, and I can go to work and forget about it all for a little while,” Jacob said.
An on-campus job also provides a valuable outlet for workers to meet other students that they might not come in contact with otherwise. Bryan Horner, a senior mass media major, is a student manager at the library. He loves the job experience, but he says it’s the people that are his favorite part.
“I have great memories of the people I have worked with,” he said. “They are always an encouragement, and they make the job easier.”
Chris Ball, a senior youth ministries major and head of the Usher Crew, says, “The guys on the usher crew have a strong bond, and I have made many of my closest college friends through the time spent on the crew.”
With the relationships student workers establish with each other comes mutual spiritual encouragement. “My favorite aspect of the Usher Crew is our usher Sunday school,” says Chris. In order to be on time and prepared for the morning service every Sunday, the Usher Crew holds its own Sunday school half an hour earlier than other students. “Each week a different usher preaches God's Word. This time of singing and listening to God's Word is always so refreshing.”
Managers Who Care
The faculty and staff who oversee student crews also play a role in their workers’ spiritual encouragement. Whether it’s to a crew or a one-on-one basis, faculty and staff managers make themselves available for encouragement and counsel.
“The staff for the hostess crew is concerned for you not only physically but also spiritually,” said Meredith Fallon, a freshman English major and beverage wall worker in the Dining Common. “Much time is spent talking and laughing as well as praying for each other.”
…Organize files, wax floors, deliver equipment, run a scoreboard, wash pots, clean fryers, supervise children, give tours, direct traffic, iron clothing, fix computers, write scripts, fill the salad bar, organize props, accompany soloists …
Student workers do a lot and get more than money in return. BJU continues to operate efficiently, and student workers are rewarded with quality relationships and spiritual encouragement that will continue long after they’ve clocked out.
