Type of Work Awards Required
- Federal Work Study (FWS)
- State Work Study (SWS)
- College Work Study (CWS)
The following policies derived from both internal operational procedures and federal/state guidance.
- The Student Employment program is a Financial Aid program.
- Students must be registered for at least one credit to qualify to work as a student employee.
- All students are required to have a work award (need-based or non-need-based)
- Priority for employment must be given to a student that has a need-based work award. If a student does not have a work award, a “non-need based work award” may be requested by outlining the student’s specialized qualifications for a particular position and must be submitted by the supervisor to the Human Resources Office for review before any non-need based work award will be granted.
- If a student thinks they are going to exceed their work award, please check in with the Financial Aid Office. Exceeding your work ward could have an impact on the other parts of your financial aid offer (grants, scholarships, loans) from St. Olaf.
- Student’s paystub will indicate the status of their work award at the time of payroll processing.
Students are allowed to work up to the following hours:
- 20 hours per week during academic sessions (Domestic and International students; Fall and Spring semesters)
40 hours per week during January Term break (if not taking classes; domestic and international students)
40 hours per week during summer semester/break (if not taking classes; domestic and international students)
- International students may not work off-campus during their first year of enrollment
After first-year of enrollment, International students may work off-campus providing the position/work is related to their field of study (see International Student Office for more information.
- Employment documentation is required before start of work (I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form)
The following are general policies regarding student employment vacancies and labor needs:
- Job vacancies should be posted for at least three (3) days before filled; or
- Rehires of returning student employees into the same or previous year’s appointment does not have to adhere to the normal hiring process and can be hired directly to their previous appointments.
- Wages are assigned at the supervisors’ discretion – within the annually established departmental/programs’ budget – in consideration of the type of work and skills required.
Non-Need Based Work Awards
Students who does not meet the eligibility or was not assigned a “need-based” work award may request a “non-need-based” work award with the financial aid office if the following criteria are identified:
- Skills and requirements cannot be easily satisfied by another candidate;
- Candidate does not have a work award assigned;
- Candidate financial aid profile allows for a non-need based work award to be added; and
- Time sensitivity to fill the position is imperative.
Note: Non-Need-Based work awards are assigned depending on the review of an individual financial aid profile. Not all students may be eligible for a non-need-based work award. Accepting such awards may alter or impact other existing awards. Confirmation/acknowledgement will be required.
Summer Student Employment
Summer student employment is not part of a financial aid package and is not impacted by a student’s work award or lack thereof. Summer job opportunities are available for all St. Olaf students. Students are paid on a bi-weekly payroll and must record hours in the Time Entry System. A supervisor will need to initiate a job offer. Summer student employment begins the day after final exams are completed in May and ends the day before the first day of class in September.
Summer payroll is separate from the Academic Year payroll and is funded directly by the department’s budget assignment.
Note: If a student is paid at a stipend rate, the rate will be converted into an hourly rate for student employment payroll purposes.
- May work up to 40 hours per week
- Overtime is discouraged
- Pay period are two weeks (Saturday to Friday)
- Pay at a bi-weekly schedule
Start: Summer 2024 – May 23, 2024
Summer rate of pay will follow the previous academic year wage structure. (i.e. Summer 24 adheres to AY 23-24 wages)