Federal work study money given to Associated Students, Inc. ran short last semester, resulting in less pay for students for the spring semester.

“They (ASI) didn?t keep tabs on money,” senior Hillary Gatlin said.

Gatlin was part of the federal work study program during the fall semester and is a student supervisor at Recreation Sports.

“I almost didn?t get paid to the end of fall semester,” Gatlin said.Jessica Stiles works at the Children?s Center. Last semester she received her paychecks through the federal work study program.

Both students said they were given little warning the money they received through the federal work study program would not be available for the spring semester.

Both said they received a lower hourly wage because the funds for the federal work study program ran out.

Employees of the Children?s Center and Recreational Sports are paid through the foundation under ASI.

Sherry Velte of the Children?s Center said 45 students were paid through the federal work study program. Financial Aid based their hourly wage of $9 upon the skill level needed for the job.

Director of Financial Aid Linda Clemons said the university allots a certain amount of work study positions to each business or organization on the campus based on how much money is received from the federal government.

ASI is just one organization on campus that is given federal work study money.

Everyone receiving federal money was warned last year not to hire more federal work study students than the university allotted them, Clemons said.

“What we have for work study has been used up,” ASI Press Secretary Erin Hicks said.

Hicks said in years past when the money has run out, ASI has always been able to get more.

Students that are paid through federal work study have 70 percent of their paychecks covered by the federal government, with the remaining 30 percent paid for by their employer on campus, Clemons said.

Because of the campus wide budget crunch, more of the employers on campus utilized this and extra money was not there, she said.

Each student employed by the federal work study program is allowed a total of $1400 in wages each semester, Clemons said.

After the money is used up for the semester, it is the employer?s job to either let the student go or pay his/her wages without the aid of the federal grant money, Clemons said.

“We don?t anticipate any change in staff,” ASI president Eric Guerra said. “We are pretty financially sound.”

In an interview last week about budget concerns, Hicks said the ASI budget was right on track.Guerra declined to comment on the pay cuts the students received.

The Children?s Center is one of the largest programs on campus and they needed staff, regardless of the federal work study limit, Guerra said.

ASI has an $8.2 million budget.

ASI is using its own resources and a campus work study program to pay their employees.

ASI officials could not say how many students are employed through ASI that receive work study money.

“I think that they thought there was more money,” Stiles said. “But it still affects me financially.”