The University and the Living Wage How Higher Education Institutions Can Meet the Needs of Its Employees

Abstract

In her paper “Universities and a Living Wage: Much More than a Minimum Wage,” Joan Oguntimein sought to define and discuss the resources that constitute a living wage, and discuss how Harvard University, University of Virginia, and University of Miami have dealt with the issue of providing a living wage to their workers. This paper seeks to supplement and continue Oguntimein’s work. The first section seeks to define the Living Wage and define the University as an agent for social change. The next section focuses on how the University, with the help of the federal government, can meet the different components of the living wage, focusing particularly on wages, healthcare benefits, childcare, family leave benefits, and on campus support, providing examples already used by current universities. The final section of this paper will make direct recommendations to universities seeking to provide a living wage to their employees. [From Introduction]