Below Minimum Wage Pay for International Students at Illinois Tech

A Thematic Analysis of Student Interviews

Abstract

The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) student population consists of approximately 34% international students(“Student Demographics Illinois Institute of Technology”). International students who are accepted at IIT confirm that they have the necessary financial resources to live in Chicago(“Students and Employment | USCIS”). These students come to the US on a student visa and many international students, after discovering the cost of living in Chicago, need to work to support basic expenses. On-campus work opportunities are limited and as a result, many international students work illegally off campus. It is common practice for employers who illegally hire non-US citizens on student visas to compensate them with below minimum wage and no benefits. These circumstances exacerbate the dis- advantages these students can face as international students who are often marginalized as members of racial, ethnic, or gender minorities. Exploitative working conditions affect their academic success, mental health and wellness, and career trajectories. However, because international students risk losing their visas if they make these working conditions known, they are poorly positioned to advocate for themselves or to seek institutional support.

The goal of the study is to explore and describe the experience of international students who are working illegally in Chicago. I conducted semi-structured interviews with international students who volunteered to be interviewed. Findings from the thematic analysis of the interview data suggest the need for changes to Illinois Tech university policy and also demonstrate potential means for the university to improve outcomes for students.