Care.com is introducing its new College Caregivers program that connects students at over 7,000 universities, including Penn State, with local residents in need of services such as babysitting, pet sitting, in-home care for seniors and tutoring.

The program allows students to work with local residents in establishing flexible, part-time jobs. With rising tuition costs and tough economic times, who couldn’t use a little extra cash?

Students can create free Caregiver profiles through the website detailing their area of service, a short biography, a description of relevant experience, and a list of attributes and additional services that may make them qualified for the desired service. Those seeking care also have access to the student’s average hourly rate, availability, timeliness in responding to messages and frequency of log-ins to the website. In some cases, ratings are also available on a 5-star system. Background checks are available for all potential caregivers, so safety is ensured for those who are wary.

In a recent press release, founder and CEO of Care.com Sheila Lirio Marcelo said, “When families look for care options, they need hyper-local solutions. We developed this program so that people could access trustworthy, affordable and quality care from college students in their local communities, and we are confident that it will be a helpful resource for families.”

The website, which was founded in 2006, also offers articles for caregivers and families on topics specific to the varieties of care offered by the caregivers and other helpful tools such as a babysitter calculator that takes into account years experience, the number of children, and the area of service by zip code.

In the future, consider exploring the College Caregiver program for a flexible yet rewarding part-time job.