CADY HERRING | The Daily Mississippian
Blake Weiss, a community assistant, discusses the changes to the position’s pay.
Compensation for community assistants at The University of Mississippi will undergo changes in the 2014-15 school year as a result of the Affordable Care Act.
Community assistants, formerly known as resident assistants, are responsible for supervising specific floors within residential halls or apartment communities.
According to Blake Weiss, junior psychology major and vice president of community assistant development for the UM Community Assistant Association, CAs were recently notified that they will no longer be able to work their six required desk hours in residence hall lobbies, starting in the 2014-15 school year.
According to Weiss, the CAs were informed on short notice, but he does not believe this was the intention of the housing department.
“The professional staff said they knew when we knew, and I believe them,” Weiss said. “It was poor timing, and there’s a lot of change we can’t manage.”
A meeting was supposed to be held for all CAs to discuss the new plans on April 7, but it was postponed and held April 14.
“We are pausing to work with (the UM Community Assistant Association) to work with (the CAs) and find some creative ways to allow to have a better work balance,” said Lionel Maten, director of student housing.
According to Weiss’ own calculations, in the upcoming year the pay for CAs will decrease by 45 percent. Weiss said he has been compensated more this year for working desk hours as compared to last year. He said being a CA has not been the easiest job, but the increase in pay has made it easier for him to live on campus.
Weiss said the CAs are working closely with the professionals and staying optimistic about the possible change.
“I think there is a lot of transparency with the department,” Weiss said. “It’s very easy for us to work closely with them.”
Sophomore history major Alicia Bacon said she has enjoyed her first year as a CA and is reasonably concerned about the change.
She said she believes the upcoming year will be tough but worth it.
“I am very disheartened by these changes, as the added compensation from working the desk is extremely helpful, but I am optimistic that a compromise will be met that will help soften the blow,” Bacon said.
The change in the payment plan has not changed Bacon’s mind regarding returning as a CA. In her opinion, serving as a CA has made her a better person.
“Furthermore, it allows me to live on campus in a leadership capacity and sustain myself independently for the most part,” Bacon said.
Maten wants to make sure that the CAs have a good experience.
“At the end of the day, we want to make sure the CA experience is of value,” Maten said.
