Overview
The Living Wage Policy Study is a multi-year, multi-method program of research examining:
- the prevalence of living wage policies and practices in American higher education;
- the nature or robustness of living wage policies once adopted;
- how living wage policies and practices are adopted; and
- the impact of those policies on employees and institutions.
The Living Wage Policy Study uses multiple research methods, including secondary data analysis, surveys of institutions, and interviews with individuals involved in the process of developing and implementing living wage policies.
The Living Wage Policy Study is designed to collect and share data on the wage policies and practices of American institutions of higher education. Institutions can elect to opt-in to each study separately and are provided pre-publication access to research results.
The project is directed by Ken Weidner, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Management at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.
About Ken Weidner
Dr. Weidner has served as Assistant Professor of Management at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia since 2000. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in business ethics and social responsibility, social justice, leadership, organizational change, and consulting skills.
Prior to his academic career, Ken worked as both an internal and external consultant in the areas of organizational culture, leadership, change, communication, and organizational effectiveness. His clients included organizations in the service and technology sectors, including professional service firms, hospitals, and organizations in mental health, information technology, and other fields.
Ken holds an MBA and Ph.D. in Management from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a B.A. in Management from the University of Illinois at Springfield.
2023 Summer Scholar
Daniel De Lude is a rising junior at Saint Joseph’s University, where he is majoring in Leadership, Ethics, and Organizational Sustainability with minors in Spanish and Faith-Justice Studies. He is actively involved in Campus Ministry at SJU as a retreat and Christian Life Community leader, a Placement Liaison for the SJU Faith-Justice Institute, a participant of the Philadelphia Synodal process, a leader of the Hawks for Just Employment (student organization), and a participant in the Winter Immersion Program in El Salvador. On campus, Daniel is Captain of SJU‘s Overwatch Esports team, President of Junto Club (a modern philosophy club), and enjoys cooking.