We learned this week that, beginning May 12, students working at on-campus jobs will be limited to working 28 hours per week — a decrease from the previous 32-hour maximum.

This means, in an average month, students used to working this amount will have more than 16 hours cut from their work schedules. Based on Ohio’s current minimum wage, that is about $125 lost monthly.

Due to regulations of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the university has implemented this rule and will crack down on any students caught working more than the allotted 28 hours each week.

The hour limit includes the total time worked at any on-campus job. This puts many students — regardless of the number of on-campus jobs they may hold — in a tough situation.

With the high costs of off-campus living, tuition, textbooks, gas, food and other necessary expenses, many college students cannot afford to have this many hours cut each month.

Some may have to quit their on-campus jobs and look for employment elsewhere to make ends meet.

Those who counted on working more days or longer hours during the summer may already be scrambling to find new jobs that will allow them to work more hours weekly, since these regulations also apply to summer, spring and winter breaks.

Though many advisers will agree working long hours each week as a student can have a negative impact on grades and overall academic performance, the reality is college is expensive, and many of us need to hold jobs just to be able to afford our education.

On-campus jobs are coveted because of their flexibility with students’ class schedules and close proximity to academic buildings and housing. Some of these jobs also allow students to get started in the field that pertains to their majors.

Those who are forced to pick up a second job off campus will only have more responsibilities that take away from the time they could be spending on their educations.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater Editorial Board.