For the first time in university history, Taylor’s discipleship assistants (DAs) will receive compensation for their official position. Announced in August, the change will be implemented for the 2025-2026 school year.
A largely volunteer-based role, discipleship assistants have traditionally been paid for 35 hours during their week of residence life training. However, DA compensation came out of the front desk workers fund, meaning DAs were not officially paid for position-related training or services, Julia Hurlow, Dean of Campus Life, said.
Anna Tabone, Director of Residence Life Programs, explained that under the new policy, DAs will be compensated for 35 hours each semester at an hourly wage of $7.25. These funds will officially compensate DAs for their discipleship and residence life training throughout the year. Along with the week of training in August, DAs attend a monthly class, a weekly staff meeting and regular one-on-one check-ins with their discipleship coordinators, Tabone explained.
“Even though they volunteer throughout the year, they really are a selected student leader,” Tabone said. “And so we wanted to honor and attempt to gift them a little bit more, just for their time and energy.”
Every floor of Taylor’s dormitories has one or more DAs who oversee the spiritual events of the student residents, Tabone said. From organizing group Bible studies to planning service projects, they cultivate a culture of faith formation within their residence halls.
DAs also act as a constant source of spiritual support to members of their wing or floor, senior cybersecurity major Jacob Gray added. Gray is beginning his second year as DA on Penthouse, the fourth floor of Samuel Morris Hall. Rather than approaching a more intimidating authority figure, students can go to their peers for discipleship, Gray said.
Hurlow emphasized the new compensation policy was not a result of student complaints or lackluster recruitment. Over the years, the administration has consistently received a sufficient number of qualified applications for DA positions.
“It's really humbling to watch student leaders just step in, because (compensation) is not the motivating factor,” she said.
Efforts toward DA-specific compensation spanned many years, Hurlow said. After having conversations with multiple departments, such as the People Operations Office and the Finance Office, she settled on the appropriate wage for this position that involves both work and voluntary service.
Jakob Gray called the new compensation policy “welcome,” mentioning a positive response from DAs across campus. However, he emphasized that payment is not the ultimate goal of the position.
“It's kind of like what Dr. Lindsay was saying (in the first chapel),” Gray said. “Matthew 6, seek first the kingdom of God, and the rest will be given to you. So it's really just (that) we have a calling to fulfill God's purpose in our life, and then he will give us his blessings.”
Though often behind the scenes, DAs play a large role in the spiritual life of Taylor, Hurlow said.
“They're the students who are slowly and steadily moving the oxygen through the body of the campus,” she said. “And (they are) caring for and holding space with students as it pertains to their needs and their celebrations and their questions.”
Hurlow hopes this new compensation policy allows DAs to feel appreciated.
However, despite her excitement, she knows no amount of monetary compensation could ever acknowledge the full amount of time and effort DAs pour into their position, she said.
“We just value DAs so much and their leadership,” Hurlow said. “They embody the servant leadership essence of Taylor University.”
