Striking a Balance: Mankato Professor Examines the Link Between Excessive Work Hours and Academic Struggles
In today’s fast-paced world, many college students find themselves juggling multiple responsibilities alongside their studies. For some, working part-time or even full-time jobs is a necessity to cover tuition, housing, and other expenses. However, balancing work and academics can be challenging, and new research from a professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato, sheds light on just how detrimental excessive work hours can be for students’ academic success.
Dr. Jane Thompson, a sociology professor at Mankato, recently conducted a study exploring the connection between students' work commitments and their academic performance. Her findings suggest that when students take on too many work hours, their grades often suffer—and in some cases, they may even face the risk of failing out of school.
### The Study: Too Much Work, Too Little Time
Thompson surveyed over 500 undergraduate students across various majors and socioeconomic backgrounds. She found that students who worked more than 20 hours per week were significantly more likely to report lower GPAs, missed assignments, and difficulty keeping up with coursework compared to their peers who worked fewer hours or not at all.
“College isn’t just about attending classes,” Dr. Thompson explained. “It’s about engaging in the learning process—studying, participating in discussions, doing research, and building relationships with professors and classmates. When students are working long hours, they simply don’t have enough time or energy left for those critical activities.”
The tipping point, according to her data, seems to occur around 20 hours of work per week. Students who worked beyond this threshold reported feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin. Many admitted to skipping class, rushing through assignments, or sacrificing sleep to meet deadlines—all factors that contribute to poorer academic outcomes.
### Financial Pressures Drive Student Employment
For many students, working during college isn’t a choice but a financial necessity. Rising tuition costs, coupled with the high cost of living, have forced countless undergraduates into the workforce to make ends meet. According to a 2023 report by the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly two-thirds of college students work while pursuing their degrees.
However, Dr. Thompson warns that there’s a fine line between earning enough to survive and jeopardizing one’s education. “We need to recognize the systemic issues here,” she said. “Students shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent and passing their classes. Universities, policymakers, and employers all play a role in creating solutions that support students financially without compromising their academic goals.”
### Recommendations for Students and Institutions
Based on her findings, Dr. Thompson offers several recommendations to help students strike a healthier balance between work and academics:
1. **Limit Work Hours:** Whenever possible, students should aim to keep their work commitments below 20 hours per week. This allows them to dedicate sufficient time to studying and engaging with course material.
2. **Seek On-Campus Jobs:** Positions within the university, such as library assistants or teaching aides, often offer flexible schedules tailored to accommodate students’ academic needs.
3. **Utilize Financial Aid Resources:** Students are encouraged to explore scholarships, grants, and federal aid programs that can reduce their reliance on outside employment.
4. **Promote Employer Awareness:** Colleges could partner with local businesses to create student-friendly job opportunities that align with academic calendars and prioritize flexibility.
5. **Advocate for Policy Changes:** Policymakers must address the root causes of financial strain among students, including rising tuition fees and insufficient funding for public higher education.
### A Call to Action
Dr. Thompson’s research underscores an urgent need for systemic changes to better support college students. While individual responsibility plays a role in managing work-life balance, institutions and society as a whole bear a significant share of the responsibility in ensuring that students have the resources they need to succeed academically.
“Education is supposed to be an investment in the future—not a barrier to it,” Dr. Thompson emphasized. “If we want our students to thrive, we need to rethink how we support them both financially and academically.”
As debates about the affordability of higher education continue, studies like Dr. Thompson’s serve as a reminder of the real-world challenges facing today’s college students. By fostering collaboration between universities, employers, and government entities, it may be possible to create a system where students can pursue their dreams without sacrificing their education or their well-being.
Striking a Balance: Mankato Professor Examines the Link Between Excessive Work Hours and Academic Struggles
In today’s fast-paced world, many college students find themselves juggling multiple responsibilities alongside their studies. For some, working part-time or even full-time jobs is a necessity to cover tuition, housing, and other expenses. However, balancing work and academics can be challenging, and new research from a professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato, sheds light on just how detrimental excessive work hours can be for students’ academic success.
Dr. Jane Thompson, a sociology professor at Mankato, recently conducted a study exploring the connection between students' work commitments and their academic performance. Her findings suggest that when students take on too many work hours, their grades often suffer—and in some cases, they may even face the risk of failing out of school.
### The Study: Too Much Work, Too Little Time
Thompson surveyed over 500 undergraduate students across various majors and socioeconomic backgrounds. She found that students who worked more than 20 hours per week were significantly more likely to report lower GPAs, missed assignments, and difficulty keeping up with coursework compared to their peers who worked fewer hours or not at all.
“College isn’t just about attending classes,” Dr. Thompson explained. “It’s about engaging in the learning process—studying, participating in discussions, doing research, and building relationships with professors and classmates. When students are working long hours, they simply don’t have enough time or energy left for those critical activities.”
The tipping point, according to her data, seems to occur around 20 hours of work per week. Students who worked beyond this threshold reported feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin. Many admitted to skipping class, rushing through assignments, or sacrificing sleep to meet deadlines—all factors that contribute to poorer academic outcomes.
### Financial Pressures Drive Student Employment
For many students, working during college isn’t a choice but a financial necessity. Rising tuition costs, coupled with the high cost of living, have forced countless undergraduates into the workforce to make ends meet. According to a 2023 report by the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly two-thirds of college students work while pursuing their degrees.
However, Dr. Thompson warns that there’s a fine line between earning enough to survive and jeopardizing one’s education. “We need to recognize the systemic issues here,” she said. “Students shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent and passing their classes. Universities, policymakers, and employers all play a role in creating solutions that support students financially without compromising their academic goals.”
### Recommendations for Students and Institutions
Based on her findings, Dr. Thompson offers several recommendations to help students strike a healthier balance between work and academics:
1. **Limit Work Hours:** Whenever possible, students should aim to keep their work commitments below 20 hours per week. This allows them to dedicate sufficient time to studying and engaging with course material.
2. **Seek On-Campus Jobs:** Positions within the university, such as library assistants or teaching aides, often offer flexible schedules tailored to accommodate students’ academic needs.
3. **Utilize Financial Aid Resources:** Students are encouraged to explore scholarships, grants, and federal aid programs that can reduce their reliance on outside employment.
4. **Promote Employer Awareness:** Colleges could partner with local businesses to create student-friendly job opportunities that align with academic calendars and prioritize flexibility.
5. **Advocate for Policy Changes:** Policymakers must address the root causes of financial strain among students, including rising tuition fees and insufficient funding for public higher education.
### A Call to Action
Dr. Thompson’s research underscores an urgent need for systemic changes to better support college students. While individual responsibility plays a role in managing work-life balance, institutions and society as a whole bear a significant share of the responsibility in ensuring that students have the resources they need to succeed academically.
“Education is supposed to be an investment in the future—not a barrier to it,” Dr. Thompson emphasized. “If we want our students to thrive, we need to rethink how we support them both financially and academically.”
As debates about the affordability of higher education continue, studies like Dr. Thompson’s serve as a reminder of the real-world challenges facing today’s college students. By fostering collaboration between universities, employers, and government entities, it may be possible to create a system where students can pursue their dreams without sacrificing their education or their well-being.