wfn.org | Africa University to implement work study program

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

May 4, 1999 News media contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-31-71B{246}

By United Methodist News Service

Students who receive scholarships and financial aid from Africa University
now have a formal way of giving back to the institution.

When the 1999-2000 academic year starts in July, all students who receive
scholarships or financial aid will participate in "work study."

Students will donate a specific number of hours of work to the university in
exchange for the scholarship or financial assistance they receive. Work
study will be a condition for receiving financial assistance. The students
will be assigned various supervised jobs by the administration. Students who
fail to work as required and provide no acceptable excuse will forfeit the
scholarship or financial aid.
 
The program will help the students appreciate the value of self-reliance and
community service, said Professor Rukudzo Murapa, vice chancellor of Africa
University.

"This is an opportunity for students to show that they appreciate the
assistance they are receiving," Murapa said. "Others have given of their
gifts and talents to enable our students to receive an education at Africa
University. This work program gives the individual student a chance to feel
a sense of ownership and pride that he or she is also making a contribution
to the building up of the institution."

The university's financial aid committee is working on an overall plan to
have the work study program assist the administration in slowing the pace of
staff growth. By deploying students in such units as food services, the
library and university farm, the administration believes it can stretch its
staff dollars further while at the same time give students a taste of work
life. 
# # #
Material for this story was provided by Andra Stevens, director of Africa
University's Office of Information.

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