Work study funds cut for Summer jobs

May 31 will mark a temporary end of the federal work study program that will resume in the Fall. The program won't be available to students for the Summer semester because funds won't be available. . To protect funds for the 2008-09 year, the suspension is being implemented.

At LBCC, the program had about 250 to 260 students for the current school year, a decrease from the 2005-06 school year, where 400 worked.

"Our primary concern is the academic year and awarding as many students as we can during and giving them the opportunity to work," said Richard Yentch, deputy director of financial aid.

A primary reason for suspending the program is a reduction of federal funding over the past years.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's fiscal year 2009 budget summary, funding available for work study at participating colleges is almost $1.8 billion for 2007-08 and requested for 2009. That's for 792,000 students or an average of $1,478 to awarded students.

State minimum wage is also playing a role. With California having one of the highest minimum wages, second only to Washington, it cuts into the funds.