Saint Marys University under fire for pausing on-campus employment program – Halifax [Video]

The student association at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax is calling on the school to reinstate a 20-year-old job program that has provided students with on-campus employment.

Earlier this week, the university announced it won’t be offering the SMUWorks program to students for the 2024-25 academic year. In a statement released by the Saint Mary’s University Student Association (SMUSA), it was said that the initiative allowed students to gain experience in their respective fields while assisting with living costs.

“The removal of SMUworks will deprive our students of opportunities, especially when they are already grappling with high rent, food inflation, and rising tuition costs,” the student-led group’s statement read.

The release went on to say the program’s pause contradicts the university’s “strategic plan” which aims to increase the number of undergraduate students with research experience.

Along with calling for the return of on-campus employment, the SMUSA added that it wants …