Introduction:
Fifty students in Dr. Anibel Ferus-Comelo’s spring 2023 undergraduate course “Labor Research for Action and Policy” (LRAP) undertook a semester-long research project through which they were introduced to social science research methods in a “learning by doing” environment. The course provided students the opportunity to explore the real-world issues facing young student-workers who are trying to focus on their education within a context of personal and family economic insecurity.
The course was part of the Berkeley Changemaker program, a campus-wide initiative of courses, workshops, research, and entrepreneurship that incorporates a clear and consistent focus on the core pillars of critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.
The Study:
The class explored different aspects of the experience of student-workers. They surveyed 221 student-workers in Alameda County who attend public colleges and universities. The student researchers also conducted semi-structured interviews with 40 student-workers to explore their experiences in greater depth.
Student researchers explored student-workers’ financial status and (in)security, their housing situation, the effect of work on their academic life, their experiences of discrimination, and their knowledge of and attitudes about unions in the workplace.
One-on-one interviews reinforce the human element that we aim to uphold in our research. We gained a deeper understanding of the workplace challenges faced by people from diverse backgrounds. It can be challenging to understand another person's needs if we lack sufficient knowledge about their particular situation.” – Student researchers
The Methods:
Through the semester-long study, students learned to conduct research with human subjects as well as other research methods. They were trained through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) and received the Group 2 Social and Behavioral Researchers Certificate. This ensured that they understood the ethics and politics of social science research. The study was approved by the UC Berkeley Institutional Review Board (IRB).
The student researchers used multiple sampling methods for the survey and in-depth interviews. Many of the student researchers were themselves interviewed as student-workers for the project.
By leveraging both quantitative and qualitative data from our survey and interviews, we were given a holistic view of the ways in which professional aspirations of college students are impacted by participating in paid work.” – Student researchers
The LRAP student researchers centered their investigation on young marginalized workers to explore challenges they faced and to develop data-driven policy solutions and strategies for effecting change.
The class co-designed the research tools and collaboratively did the data collection and data analysis. The student researchers were divided into eight groups, each conducting their own in-depth interviews, pursuing different lines of inquiry, and performing their own analyses along different subject themes.
Many students in the classroom fit the research subject criteria as study-workers. ‘This is research that affects us all!’” – Student researchers
The Research:
One line of inquiry sought to uncover the main causes of economic insecurity for student-workers. Another looked at the ways in which economic insecurity and working life affected student-workers’ ability to successfully pursue their professional aspirations. A third explored the presence and effects of discrimination in the workplace on student-workers. And a final line of inquiry focused on student-workers’ knowledge and perception of unions.
Higher education's ability to promote social mobility is compromised when individuals are unable to obtain adequate financial resources and succeed in their academics.… Various research has focused on the challenges faced by full-time employees, workplace issues encountered by student workers have been comparatively under-researched and under-discussed.” Student researchers in memo to Asm. Kalra.
Research Questions: Slides from Student Presentations
The Findings:
The student-workers in the study are struggling economically. Fully 75% of survey respondents meet the criteria for CalFresh and a main cause of economic insecurity for student-workers is the high cost of rent in the Bay Area.
Finding 1. Economic insecurity disrupts academic success
- Some have to choose between getting a full night’s sleep or fulfilling their work or school responsibilities.
- Students who spend more time doing paid work are more likely to report their grades suffering.
- Unpredictable work schedules–the norm for service workers–can negatively impact student- workers’ academic performance and overall well-being.
- Students of color are more likely to struggle economically, and are more likely to suffer academically as a result of their work commitments than average for the group as a whole.
- Many student-workers feel unsupported by their professors as they try to balance competing responsibilities.
- Students who do have access to support and flexible work environments are better able to navigate their responsibilities.
Finding 2. Unaddressed discrimination undermines students at work
- Around 10% of survey respondents reported facing explicit discrimination in the workplace, while larger numbers reported experiencing microaggressions.
- Many workers are unable to recognize when they are victims of discrimination and do not know how to report it when it is recognized.
- Over one-quarter of subjects were not aware of their workplace’s discrimination policy and 35% were dissatisfied or indifferent to their policy.
Finding 3. Students support unions, face obstacles to organizing
- Support for and positive feelings toward unions are generally high, but student-workers overall had low levels of knowledge about unions.
- Around 21% of student-workers reported having been exposed to anti-union propaganda in the workplace.
The Findings: Student Slide Presentations
The Recommendations:
Based on the challenges uncovered in the survey, the student researchers developed several specific policy recommendations.
Federal Policy:
- Reform of the federal work-study program to raise the maximum number of hours that students can work both weekly and overall and/or to mandate a wage that matches the area living wage.
- Align the CalFresh minimum work requirement of 20 hours per week with the federal work-study maximum hourly requirement of 19.5 hours per week.
State Policy:
- Restore state funding for UCs and CSUs to 2000 levels to provide greater pay for student-workers, lower the cost of college attendance, and provide rental assistance for low-income student-workers.
- Create a mandatory course to teach undergraduates about working conditions and union rights and/or passage of AB 800 for a “Workplace Readiness Week.”
University Policy:
- Universities and corporations should work together to provide housing subsidies based on the number of hours a student spends working and studying.
- DEI training for professors to encourage more accommodations for student-workers, as well as adoption of an academic study-workers’ policy to the same end.
The housing affordability crisis for student workers is a significant issue that impacts various different elements of their lives, including their mental health, their ability to complete their education, and their battle to achieve economic stability.”—Student researchers
The Recommendations: Student Slide Presentations
The Actions:
A final step in the semester-long project was to compose research briefs and memos that disseminate the research findings and articulate data-driven policy recommendations. Many of the groups composed detailed policy memos that were sent to public officials, including California State Senator Nancy Skinner, Assembly Member Liz Ortega, Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, and Assembly Member Ash Kalra. Another group published a “Special to the Daily Cal” article on food insecurity among students. Two groups sent research memos to unions detailing their findings on student-workers’ attitudes toward unions and their recommendations for promoting greater awareness.
We hope to supply policymakers, including Asm. Kalra, with information shared directly by student-workers to better inform their decision-making processes and impact the legislation they champion.”—Student researchers in memo to Asm. Kalra
The LRAP project highlights the capabilities of undergraduates in labor policy research while building knowledge and skills among students from diverse backgrounds for graduate studies and social justice professions.
Student Groups
Group 1: Economic In/Security of Student Workers: Examining the Effects of Work on Economic Security
Apple Cuneo, Raffi Grigoryan, Jake Gutterman, Katie Klym, Dulce Lopez Cruz, Natraj Vairavan
Group 2: Economic Insecurities of the Modern Student Worker
Madeline Bosley, Suyen Dominguez, Vanessa Perez, Lorie Reyes, Cameron Sotoodeh
Group 3: Professional Aspirations: Barriers to Success Faced by Undergraduate Student-Workers
Rohan Bhargava, Krisna Esquivel Rodriguez, Ariyana Tavakoli, Danielle Wong, Lucero Sanchez Zamora
Group 4: Professional Aspirations
Jaelyn November Callejas, Caroline Dority, Eleanor Kim, Ayal Meyers, Emily Ramirez, Samantha Staples
Group 5: Experiences of Discrimination
Shanzay Awan, Kayla Cabrera, Nicole Gaspar, Kate McSwain, Scott Nagatoshi, Cinthia Sanchez
Group 6: Union Knowledge and Attitudes Amongst Student-Workers in Alameda County
Kulsoom Hasan, Veronica Lopez, Joanna Castillo Meza, Lia Mimun, Daisy Oram, Leslie Reider
Group 7: Alameda County’s Undergraduate Workers: Attitudes Towards and Perceptions of Labor Unions
Luca Dhagat, Alejandra Gil, Spencer Merritt, Carlos Ruiz, Olivia Tai, Celeste Tehranchi
Group 8: Work-Related Issues
Edgar Camacho, Ian Gardizi, Nora Gong, Jonah Gottlieb, Esmeralda López Flores, Yvette Hernandez
Teaching Team:
Dr. Anibel Ferus-Comelo, Labor Center Director of Community-Engaged Academic Initiatives, Goldman School of Public Policy Lecturer
Rio Morales, Graduate Student Instructor
Troy Neves, Reader