COVID-19 brings new on-campus jobs
Photo by Rhianna Barrow.
With required temperature checks to enter any building on campus, health screenings and hybrid classes, the new normal for campus this semester ensures the safety of students and staff while providing new opportunities for student employment.
Kevin Collins, a sophomore theatre education major, holds one of these new positions. As a part of the Thrive Team, he works with other students and staff to check everyone’s temperatures or green screens.
“I’ve always heard that in 20-30 years, jobs will exist that we could never have imagined now, which is interesting,” said Collins. “And right now, I’m doing a job that I didn’t know would exist until recently.”
In addition to the Thrive Team, technology assistants help with hybrid and online-only classes. “Tier one” technology assistants are enrolled in a specific class and can help with basic troubleshooting problems.
“Tier two” assistants are not enrolled in the class and can be more involved in the overall running of the class by helping the instructor monitor the chat.
These new student positions are funded by federal grant dollars distributed by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to all colleges and universities in Tennessee.
Director of Grants and Foundation Relations Vanessa Hammond submitted the application for the grant in early August for social distance expenses and online transitions. Lee received $309,500, an amount based on the number of students enrolled with financial aid.
“I don’t know what other institutions are doing with their grant money, but we really like the way Lee is using our funds to pay students to do some of the work and meet the needs of being in-person,” said Hammond. “I think it’s a creative way, especially because it helps students at the same time.”
Assistant Vice President for Operations Cole Strong believes effective use of this grant money is a large part of why Lee currently has a low number of COVID-19 cases.
“We have 115 people that have been hired to work for the Thrive Team alone,” said Strong. “This is a big initiative, and it takes a lot of manpower and long hours to make it work. This whole process helps us mitigate potential exposure, and I think in some way this Thrive Team and the check stations have helped in that process, just reminding people not to come to campus when they are sick.”
Collins said his role on the Thrive Team is a small contribution to the overall wellness of campus.
“I’m pleased to just do my little part to help keep campus as safe as possible,” said Collins. “For the most part, everyone is patient with the system and working together to figure it out.”
Grant funding for these specific job opportunities lasts until Nov. 15. The decision to continue these jobs into the next semester will be determined at a later date.
