NIU President John La Tourette approved a 40-cent minimum wage increase for student employees in late July.

The long-awaited increase will be implemented this semester, and includes the pay period that began Aug. 16. The approved plan will increase student wage rates across the board within all groups of classified student employees by 40 cents per hour.

A memo from Student Financial Aid Director Jerry Augsburger states that those departments dependent on general revenue funding will receive increased funding to cover the student wage increases.

“Hopefully, this general student wage increase will not only result in compensating students more fairly for their labors, but will also increase the number of students opting for on-campus work, thereby significantly increasing the student labor pool which is so vital in carrying out the business of the university,” the memo states.