Princeton University’s budget cuts are leaving student workers with reduced hours, consolidated roles, and heightened uncertainty at the start of the semester. From dining services to branch libraries, the fallout of financial tightening is being felt across campus. The disruptions are not limited to student jobs alone. Faculty hiring, departmental budgets, and even Wintersession programs have also been affected, according to The Daily Princetonian. What was once seen as reliable part-time work for students is now becoming unpredictable, with workloads rising even as opportunities shrink.

Roles collapse into one

At the Frist welcome desk, one student described to The Daily Princetonian how their job has absorbed ticketing responsibilities after the closure of the dedicated office. “They closed the ticketing office so the welcome desk is now also responsible for ticketing,” the student said, noting that staff from the ticketing desk were folded into the new arrangement.

For some, this has meant more responsibility without additional pay or hours. Another student working in Campus Recreation’s Sports Club department said that shifts once handled by two workers are now being covered by one.

Libraries slash hours

The cuts have also reached Princeton’s branch libraries. According to an email reviewed by The Daily Princetonian, student employees at the Architecture Library were informed that hours would be reduced by 50%. The directive applied across all branch libraries, leaving workers scrambling to adjust schedules and income expectations.

Reunions and dining take a hit

Earlier this year, student employment uncertainties stretched into Reunions, one of the University’s most labor-intensive traditions. A student coordinator in Campus Dining told The Daily Princetonian that the department hired fewer student workers than in past years, leaving remaining staff struggling to cover events.“Reunions — that got hit quite a bit,” the student said, adding that staffing quotas were lowered despite the heavy workload. Campus Dining later told The Daily Princetonian that the smaller student workforce was linked to a reduced number of events.

No clear picture yet

The University has acknowledged the strain but stressed that employment data remains in flux. “Some changes to available hours or positions may occur as units review their programming and services amid budget constraints,” spokesperson Jennifer Morrill told The Daily Princetonian. Because hiring continues through the start of the semester, she said, it is too early to present a full picture of student employment trends.

Departments retain discretion over staffing decisions, which has created uneven experiences across campus. While some jobs have been cut back, others, including event staff positions in Athletics and even the University mascot role, remain open.

Waiting for clarity

For now, many student workers remain in a state of uncertainty. “We’re still in our temporary phase right now,” one student at the Frist front desk told The Daily Princetonian. With new hires expected in the coming weeks, they hope clearer staffing patterns will emerge.

Until then, the student workforce that powers Princeton’s day-to-day operations, from answering phones to shelving books, must adapt to doing more with less.