Student Employment

Student Employment

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Denver mayor proclaims National Student Employment Week


Denver Mayor Guillermo Vidal this week proclaimed April 10-16, 2011, National Student Employment Week. The University of Denver Office of Student Employment sought the proclamation to recognize the valuable contributions of student employees, on- and off-campus, and the important role of employers in education.

“We are so honored the mayor paused from his busy schedule to salute student employment. For hundreds of DU students, it is a vital part of the educational experience – providing real world experience, an alternative to student loans, and preparation for the job market,” said Joslyn Robich, Assistant Director of Student Employment at DU.

In the second week of April, DU will join universities and colleges across the nation in celebration of National Student Employment Week, an initiative launched through the National Student Employment Association. This year’s celebration at DU, “Essential Pieces,” will include various appreciation events and will culminate with an ice cream social awards ceremony at 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 13 spotlighting the University’s Student Employee of the Year. This year, 18 students, who excel in diverse positions on- and off-campus, have been nominated for the title.

This fiscal year, nearly 1,000 DU students are employed through the Federal Work-Study Program, which permits students to earn money for educational expenses through employment. More than 10 percent of those students work in community-service positions designed to improve the quality of life for Denver residents. Students who have gained off-campus employment through the Office of Student Employment’s online job board, at www.du.edu/studentemployment, care for children, serve as administrative assistants, tutor individuals, and contribute to the greater Denver area in many other ways.

According the editor of the National Student Employment Association Almanac, “Such employment reflects the democratic ideals of educational opportunity for all and emerges from the practical concept that gainful employment experiences are an essential part of learning. Through such work, students learn how to take care of themselves and develop a meaningful ethic.”[1]

The Office of Student Employment urges the DU community to participate in Student Employment Week in April. For participation ideas and more information, please e-mail stuemp@du.edu or call (303) 871-6795.


[1] Ramsey, B. (1999). National Student Employment Association Almanac.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Nomination Countdown

Five more days left to nominate an exceptional University of Denver student for the Student Employee of the Year contest. The winner will receive a personalized DU hockey jersey, recognition at our annual ice cream social, and the chance to compete in a national contest that carries a $1,000 reward.

Thank you to participants in today's Nomination Writing Workshop, held in partnership with the DU Writing Center. For nominators who couldn't make it to workshop, here are a few tips from the Writing Center's Eliana Schonberg and Geoffrey Bateman:
  • Think about why you are nominating this student. What sets him or her apart from present and past co-workers and peers?
  • Generate a list of specific examples that illustrate why this employee deserves recognition.
  • Explain how this employee has made your life easier.
  • Review the attributes of past Student Employee of the Year winners (here and here). 
Nomination forms for the competition can be accessed here and should be sent to stuemp@du.edu by Feb. 15. DU staff and faculty can schedule an individual appointment at the Writing Center for guidance during the nomination writing process.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

From DU to BU


For Ally Veneris, a lot has changed in a year. The University of Denver 2010 Student Employee of the Year graduated and accepted a position in 2011 as the operations coordinator at Boston University's Office of Orientation. "So far, moving to a new city and working at a new university has been a wonderful experience; the BU community has been extremely welcoming and I feel that I am getting valuable exposure to a different aspect of higher education," Ally recently told the Office of Student Employment. 

Ally was nominated for Student Employee of the Year for her work as a peer advisor at the DU Study Abroad office. She implemented a variety of new processes during the three years she worked there, including a “Study Abroad 101” session now required for all prospective study abroad students. Her Work-Study position prepared her for her role at BU. "Working in the Study Abroad office at DU taught me a lot about working at a university and providing programs for students, and it has been rewarding to transfer those skills into my new role, especially my role as the direct supervisor for the 15 student workers in our office," Ally told us. "Supervising students is very rewarding, but it is also challenging and I now appreciate the supervisors I had at DU even more than I did before."

The 2011 Student Employee of the Year contest is now underway. A workshop for supervisors who would like to nominate students will be held Thursday at Penrose Library. All nominations are due from supervisors by Feb. 15. The winner will be announced April 13 at our annual ice cream social.