Student employees of the Ohio State department of public safety will receive ongoing priority scheduling, said David Rose, captain of University Police. The University Senate Council on Enrollment and Student Progress voted and the decision went into effect Feb. 5, Rose said.
Student Safety and Escort Services sought to give these students priority scheduling because their work shifts makes scheduling classes a difficulty.
“Nearly all of the services provided by these students are during the late evening and early morning hours, which creates scheduling challenges for the department,” Rose said in an e-mail.
Attempts to reach University Senate CESP were unsuccessful by deadline.
Rose said priority scheduling was considered for these students because the duties these students perform are valuable to University Police.
“These members, about 40 in all, are responsible for providing escorts for other students on campus, patrolling to help report criminal activity to the police, providing security at a wide variety of events and for dispatching police and security personnel during times of emergency,” Rose said in an e-mail.
Kate Christobek, president of the Undergraduate Student Government, confirmed University Senate was considering this request but was unaware when the decision would go into effect.
“I think we’re very lucky to have these students be student escorts, because they could have any other job and they choose to have a job that’s helping so many students return home safely,” Christobek said.
“I think (priority scheduling for these students) is a great idea,” Christobek said. “These students are working until 2 or 3 a.m. on the weekdays. The least the university can do is pay these students back by helping them find classes that are more in tune with their lifestyle.”
Ingrid Rivera can be reached at [email protected].
