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Rules & Policies
Wages, Benefits, etc.
Work-study students do not receive benefits such as sick or vacation leave. However employers should offer student employees a minimum thirty-minute lunch/dinner break if scheduled for six or more hours.
Schedules & Breaks: When hired, the student and employer should establish a work schedule which is convenient for both parties. To ensure that a student meets, but does not exceed, his or her earnings limit, it is best to divide the student's limit by the number of weeks to be worked and the wage rate. The result will be the approximate hours per week the student should work. (A higher wage rate reduces the number of eligible employment hours.) Refer to the Scheduling Guide in the Work-Study Handbook section of this Web site for more information. Once this schedule is established, the student is responsible for working those hours. A new schedule should be arranged at the beginning of each quarter, or as is the policy of the employing department.
Students should not work more than fifteen (15) hours per week, and must not work over thirty (30) hours per pay period. If the student remains on campus during winter or spring break, he or she may work, but please remember that the income earned during these vacation periods will count towards the student's work-study award limit.
If you work four or more hours a day you are entitled to breaks and/or lunch.
Classifications & Wages
Every work-study position is assigned an "Aide" classification title. Each title has a specific wage range within which a student must be paid. These titles and wage ranges vary according to skill and responsibility required for the position. All students begin at the base wage as a new employee in a department; however, if a student has directly relevant experience, he may be hired at a slightly higher wage rate. Although immediate supervisors determine the title for each position, this classification is subject to approval by the Work-Study Coordinator. This ensures equity across campus and prevents abuse of the system by employers. If students have questions regarding their classification or wage rate, they should discuss the matter with their immediate supervisor or the Work-Study Coordinator.
Pay Increases
Work-study employees may obtain pay increases by three methods:
1. Longevity: All students receive an optional longevity increase of 5 cents per quarter for continuous service with the same employer.
2. Merit: At the annual evaluation each spring, students may be given a raise for meritorious service. This is an optional increase determined by the employer and takes effect the following fall.
3. Reclassification: If, after an employee has worked for a period of time, it is determined that he or she has gained additional skills and responsibility, he or she may be reclassified to a higher title. Employers should resubmit a corrected authorization form to the Work-Study Office with new job title and salary information. Employers must also correct their timekeeping records for payroll purposes.