Kaila White

The Republic | azcentral.com

While many are applauding or criticizing Arizona's new minimum wage, one group has been largely left out of the conversation: thousands of students at the three state universities.

About 11,200 students from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and University of Arizona are now making less money to work for their schools than if they got a job right off campus.

That's because when Proposition 206 raised the Arizona minimum wage from $8.05 an hour to $10 on Jan. 1, benefiting an estimated 800,000 people, it exempted employees who work for the state, including universities.

The vast majority of those left behind are public-university students. Less than 200 state-agency employees were affected. Community colleges were also required to comply.

It means a student who works 10 hours a week for minimum wage is missing out on $312 this semester. One who works 20 hours a week for two semesters will sacrifice $1,250 this year.

"I'm being paid $2 less than a McDonald’s worker for performing absolutely essential tasks for everyday campus upkeep," said Lucas Dickey, an NAU junior in political science who works for the grounds crew.

"I can’t believe this doesn’t apply to us. We all assumed it would," said Megan Sopa, an ASU junior who works as a grader for the math department and a community ambassador in her off-campus apartment.

"It wouldn’t have been a massive increase in my wages but every little bit counts," she said. "The thing that’s most bothersome is that it doesn’t seem fair."

So far, the inequality has sparked varied responses from the universities.

UA plans to spend about $6.6 million to raise all employees to $10 an hour in July. That same month, a Flagstaff law takes effect that will leave some NAU employees making almost $4 less per hour than their off-campus equals.

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Students hit hardest at NAU

The most dramatic wage discrepancy is in Flagstaff, where a second voter-approved proposition is raising the minimum wage even faster than in the rest of the state.

Proposition 414 set the city's minimum wage to $10 an hour — or at least $2 above the state minimum wage — starting in July, increasing to $15 an hour by 2021.

The change has been divisive for much of Flagstaff, but especially NAU's 2,622 student workers and 15 temporary workers who now earn $1.95 below minimum wage and will earn $3.95 below come July if the university doesn't plan for raises.

"I did not vote for or against the law because of this," Dickey said. "When the raise hit but we didn't see the effects, we felt like we were left out to dry by our school."

Many students understood the university was exempt from the change but assumed it would grant raises anyway, Dickey said, noting that NAU President Rita Cheng is eligible for a six-figure bonus this year.

NAU spokeswoman Kimberly Ott said the university is analyzing its budget and pay strategy and will later decide whether to budget for raises in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Similarly, ASU has not announced plans to increase minimum wages. About 4,060 of ASU's 7,400 student workers were making less than $10 an hour as of mid-December, according to ASU spokesman Bret Hovell.

More than a $1.95 problem for universities

UA will voluntarily raise its minimum wage to $10 an hour beginning July 1, according to Helena Rodrigues, UA's assistant vice president of human resources.

"That comes out of our desire to be competitive as an employer in our community and to do what’s right for our employees," she said.

It will impact 4,544 student workers who currently make less than $10 an hour, as well as 480 non-student employees. Making up the difference will cost the university about $6.6 million.

UA has traditionally matched new state minimum wages, Rodrigues said, but in the past 10 years, those increases were between just 10 and 35 cents.

The $1.95 change is expensive not only because of the cost difference, but the university must also adjust wages for skilled employees now earning the same as entry-level workers, she said.

Also, "it’s not just meeting the $10 an hour in 2017 but getting to 2020," when the statewide minimum wage rises again to $12, she said.

"Do we have all the answers, do we know how it’s all going to work?" Rodrigues said. "No, not yet, but we remain committed to doing what’s right for the employee and ensure we’re communicating how valuable they are to what we do here."

When getting experience outweighs money

While one answer is simply to get a job off campus, several students said on-campus employment makes more sense because of scheduling convenience or the work experience, among other reasons.

In Flagstaff, Dickey said he feels trapped in his school job because, while there are opportunities off campus, "every single one is more competitive and demanding than normal because of the oversaturation in the job market."

Meanwhile, Maggie Wright, an NAU senior and graphic design major, is working in their chosen field. Wright makes $8.05 an hour to create NAU brochures, banners and even a bus wrap for the school.

"I really love my job, which is the worst part about it," Wright said. "If it was just me being a janitor, I would leave and work somewhere else."

A raise would have added up to about $500, or a month of rent, this semester.

"I feel like it’s the university is telling me that my education isn’t worth minimum wage," Wright said. "If I got my education here, they should think I’ve gotten a good education and pay me what I deserve."