MONDAY, MAY 5, 2003
GRADUATION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 9B
Low salaries don't sway students
By Erica Wolfe
correspondence@kansan.com
Kansan correspondent
As if choosing a major isn't hard enough, undergraduate students are often discouraged from majors of interest because of the predicted income upon graduation for jobs in that field.
For Elsa Willems, Lawrence sophomore, her decision to pursue a job in social services was initially swayed by people who tried to make low income a negative factor.
"A lot of people tried to use the idea that I may not make very much money to discourage me. But in the end, that's what I wanted to do, and it was too bad for everyone else." Willems said.
The 2001 National Occupation Employee Wage Estimates said Social Welfare graduates earned an average of $34,190 a year.
James Kreider, social welfare lecturer, said that it didn't look like there would be a pay increase anytime soon.
Students entering the School of Education are yet another group often faced with the discouraging words about the low income teachers earn today.
Larry Buchanan, Peola freshman in the School of Education, said money didn't matter if he was doing something he liked.
Graduates from the School of Education who want to pursue teaching careers can expect an income cap at about $30,000, said Fred Rodriguez, associate dean for academic programs.
"I really don't hear students complaining about, 'Why am I
here? I am only going to earn twenty to thirty thousand a year when I get out," Rodriguez said. "Most students have other reasons for wanting to teach."
Erica Edwards Wichita sophomore in biochemistry,said she was partially persuaded into her major because of the possible income she could earn. The 2001 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates averaged that salary at $61,680 a year.
"I kind of couldn't justify spending $40,000 on my education if I couldn't make any return on that tenfold," Edwards said. "It's more than just the financial side, too. It's about my time."
money, he didn't think it drove students to go into the major.
"Students interested in pharmacy are usually wanting a professional career where
Gene Hotehkiss, assistant to the dean of pharmacy, said pharmacists could expect to earn $75,000 to $85,000 a year.
"They have been compensated very well over the years." Hotchkiss said. "I don't see any reason why that would change in the future. The demand is strong."
Hotchkiss said even though pharmacy students made more
they can help people live better
lives
and have better health care," Hotchkiss said. "If they come for money, they're here for the wrong reasons."
Edited by Anne Mantey
tions about jobs that don't earn a great deal of money."
Rodriguez said parents provided more discouraging thoughts for their children about entering low-income careers than peers did.
Whether students are entering high or low income careers, money is not always the dominant influencing factor in their decisions.
"Parents will discourage their sons and daughters," Rodriguez said. "They have social percep-
"I'm going to spend at lot of
n going to spend at lot of time working in my field of study. I better like my job," Staci Nicholas, Zenda sophomore in psychology said."But it does help me pursue it because I know I'll be making tons of money."
Photo illustration by John Nowak
By Emily Howard
By Emily Howard correspondence@kansan.com Kansan correspondent
Some people keep coming back to Jayhawk Boulevard.
Janet Murguia, executive vice chancellor, Timothy Miller, professor of religious studies and Robert Rowland, professor and chairman for communications studies, are three KU alumni who have returned to their alma mater.
Murguia received her graduate degree from the KU School of Law in 1985 and her journalism and Spanish bachelor's degrees from here in 1982.
She said seeing the vision of other people as she walked down the hill was an awesome feeling.
Alumni-turned-staff offer advice to grads
"I felt a sense of accomplishment and was proud to be a part of the University experience," she said.
Rowland, who received his bachelor's degrees in communication studies and history in 1977 said, "I walked down the hill and realized what a great education I had received."
After graduating, Murguia worked in the White House and served as deputy campaign manager for the Gore/Lieberman presidential campaign.
"The KU degree will serve you well," Murguia said.
KU degrees have a national reputation of helping graduates compete with Ivy League universities, she said.
For example, her brother, a KU graduate, was accepted to Harvard School of Law.
Rowland said as part of the University's 1976 National Debate champion team, he competed against universities like Harvard.
Competing against these teams made him realize his education was as good as theirs.
Miller said he thought earning four degrees at the University helped him earn his teaching position here.
"I've been here a long time, as a student and teacher, and I know a lot of people and think I have a pretty good understanding of the institution," he said.
Aaron Baruch, Minneapolis Minn., senior, plans to go to law school after he graduates. Baruch, a communications major, said he doesn't plan to work at the University.
"Once I leave Lawrence, I'm never coming back," he said.
Miller recommends going to graduate school for the sake of education and not as job training.
"Go to school first and foremost to expand your knowledge, to understand yourself and the world better, to learn all you can for the pure joy of it," he said.
Murguia also had advice for graduates.
"Choose a career you are curious and passionate for — what you want to do," she said.
And like Murguia, Rowland and Miller, that path could lead students back to the University of Kansas.
— Edited by Anne Mantey
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