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Student Employment Services Blog

What is the LCS Program?

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Leaders in Community Services, better known as the LCS program is a registered student organization dedicated to serving the Springfield community that is headquartered within the Student Employment Office. Today we’ll talk about what LCS is, How to apply, and why it’s such a great program. 

Quick View:

  • LCS runs through the Student Employment Office.
  • LCS members work 10-12 hours per week at non-profit organizations within the Springfield Community earning $12.80 per hour.
  • Applications close March 11th, 2022!

Apply Today!

Watch this informational video about the LCS program!

For more information, Keep reading…
What is LCS? 

Leaders in community service is a registered student organization run by the Student Employment Office that is dedicated to serving the Springfield community. It was established in 1994 as a complement to the Federal Work-Study program. LCS is a unique program that allows students to serve an average of 10-12 hours a week with an area non-profit agency for the fall and spring semesters of the academic year as their work-study assignment. Through their participation, LCS members broaden their educational experience and awareness of community needs along with providing valuable services, insights, and energy to the Springfield community. In addition to serving a non-profit agency, the students also participate in at least one service project in the community each semester. Overall the LCS program is a great opportunity for students looking for meaningful work. 

If I became a part of LCS, what would I do?

LCS students work with an area non-profit agency for the academic year, August-May, as their work-study assignment. LCS members are paid by Missouri State through the Federal Work-Study program. LCS students will earn $12.80 per hour for approximately 10-12 hours per week (excluding University holidays). This includes service in the community, participation in all training sessions, attendance at all scheduled meetings, and other planned events.

How do I apply to be a part of the LCS program? 

If you’re looking to be a part of the LCS program, we have great news! At the time of this being posted, the application to join the program (2022-2023) is now open! Hurry and apply because applications close on March 11th, 2022! Listed below are a few reminders to determine your eligibility for the program. Keep in mind that LCS members are a select group of Missouri State University work-study students who are chosen through a comprehensive application and interview process.

Leaders in Community Services Qualifications:
  • Must complete the application and interview process
  • Must maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA
  • Be enrolled in and complete 12 credit hours per semester
  • Must be eligible for the amount of Federal Work-Study needed for the LCS year.
Is LCS Worth it?

While of course, we think the LCS program is awesome, we’re not the only ones! Watch this testimonial video to hear past LCS members talk about their experiences. Many LCS members feel that they are doing meaningful work that is helping prepare them for their future careers. For more information about the LCS program, visit our Leaders in Community Service webpage, and feel free to contact our LCS Advisor Graduate Assistant, Robert Toma.

 

Learn more about LCS:
Leaders in Community Service
Apply to the 2022-2023 LCS Program:
2022-2023 LCS Application

 

Looking for a job? 

Visit our website to find the right job for you, and apply today!

 

3 Tips for Managing your Finances as a College Student

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How are things going for you financially? Don’t worry, we won’t judge, we know it’s not easy! Are you doing well with your finances? That’s great! This blog post probably isn’t for you. However, if you think you could use some extra help with managing your money or are just interested in the topic, keep reading! Today we’ll be discussing 3 ways to better manage your finances as a college student.

Quick View:

  • Set a budget & track your spending
  • Open a savings account
  • Get a part-time job
For more information, Keep reading…
Set a Budget & Track your Spending

This is the easiest step any college student can take to help manage their finances. Setting a budget can help you to avoid those tough decisions between a Saturday night out or whether you get to eat dinner on Wednesday night. While it may seem like a pointless thing to do when you have exams, homework, extracurriculars, and Tik Tok to focus on, setting a budget is a great skill to develop early on in your college career. The fact of the matter is, there aren’t classes that teach you how to set a budget and yet it’s likely something you will do in some capacity for the majority of the rest of your life. It may sound scary, but setting a budget can be really simple with a couple of tools. What tools your ask? A computer with Excel and a calculator (or phone) will work perfectly! Open up an excel workbook and begin listing out all of your monthly expenses. Rent, tuition, books, utilities, groceries, car payments, gas, or anything else you spend your money on each month. 

Once you’ve listed out these items, it’s a good idea to organize your excel sheet as best as you can. Depending on your skills with excel, you can get pretty creative with this or you can keep it as a simple list. Then, in a separate area, input your monthly income and see how the numbers equate out. How much money do you have leftover? Are you in the red for this month? If so, take a look at your spending and see where you can make adjustments. Having your spending laid out in an excel sheet allows you to track your spending and make adjustments accordingly so that you can go out on that Saturday night and not feel guilty about it! We recommend doing this each month to see the change over time. 

Open a Savings Account

I know that this may seem scary, but it’s a good idea to start a savings account early. While we may want to use our hard-earned cash on ourselves first, then our bills, and lastly, maybe save a little bit, that’s not a great strategy! It’s a good habit to get into, to pay your bills, contribute to your savings, and then use what’s leftover on yourself. Building these habits now will only benefit you further after graduation. Now that you have a budget in place, you can easily use it as a guide to see where you can limit your spending to contribute more to your savings. Spending a lot on gas? Try using a bike, public transportation, or the Bearline to get to class instead. Computer busted and need a new one? Look into refurbished ones rather than brand new ones. Grocery shopping? Try to avoid the higher-priced, name-brand items and opt for the cheaper ones. There are a lot of different ways to help contribute more money to your savings while attending college. 

Get a Part-Time Job

This is our personal favorite way to better manage your finances! There are so many benefits to working while attending college. Check out our blog post about The Top 5 Benefits of Working While in College to learn more about this! Having a part-time job while in school is not only a great boost to your wallet, but it can be a great resume builder. If you are able to find a job that pertains to your career, you can gain relevant work experience and some extra cash at the same time! What’s better than that? Over the summer months, it’s also a great idea to take advantage of that time (assuming you aren’t taking classes through the summer.) If you can land a paid internship opportunity that great! If not, any part-time or full-time job will be a great way to return to school with some extra cash. If you need assistance applying to or looking for jobs, visit our website or give a call! The Student Employment Office is here to assist you in any way we can in regards to employment while you are attending Missouri State University.