The University uses the e-SEARCH system to post open student positions on-campus. Read this step-by-step document called e-SEARCH Posting Instructions to learn about the process. Demonstrations for creating Student Employment Postings in e-SEARCH are listed on the HR training calendar. If there are no demonstrations listed on the training calendar you can contact the UNR Human Resources office at (775) 784-6082 to set up a demonstration. These demonstrations are for student postings only.

If you will be coordinator or chair for a faculty position you will need to attend the faculty coordinator and/or chair training for e-SEARCH.

To be hired under the “student” category, all the following criteria must be met: Maintain half-time enrollment at the University of Nevada, Reno, per NSHE Administrative Manual and the Guide to Student Employment. Students enrolled in other institutions are not eligible for this employment type, but may be eligible as a temporary employee under the State classified employment system. For undergraduate half-time enrollment is a minimum of 6 semester credits and for graduate students half-time enrollment is a minimum of 5 semester credits. The student must also maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative Grade Point Average at the undergraduate level, or 3.0 cumulative GPA at the graduate level.

Students who drop credits below the 6 credit minimum as an undergraduate, or 5 as a graduate, or fall below the minimum required GPA will be terminated from their “student” employment position immediately.

A student who has fewer than 6 credits remaining to complete the degree must provide a letter from their academic advisor requesting an exception to the credit requirement for that one semester.

Work- Study recipients must meet all the financial aid requirements, including “satisfactory academic progress” toward the degree objective. Additional information is available by contacting the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office at (775) 784-4666.

A student who graduates at the end of a semester terminates employment on the last day of that semester or once their degree has posted.

International students must meet the same GPA requirements. They are required by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations to be enrolled full-time (12 –undergraduate or 9 – graduate credits), with an F-1 or J-1 form issued by this university. For more information on international student eligibility and requirements please visit the Office of International Student and Scholars web site. University of Nevada, Reno is proud of the growing diversity on our campus.

International students with 1-20s issued by the University are permitted to work as a student employee. Documentation issued by any other NSHE institution is not acceptable for work purposes under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations. International students must be enrolled full-time, 12 undergraduate credits or 9 graduate credits, and must meet GPA requirements in order to be eligible for student employment. In addition, prior to employment international students on J-1 Exchange Visitor visas (with a DS-2019) must obtain permission to work on-campus from a responsible officer of the exchange visitor program sponsoring the student. Additionally, the student must visit with the tax specialist in the University Controller’s Office regarding the tax status related to their employment.

Students in F-1 and J-1 status may work up to 20 hours per week (40 hours during the winter, spring, and summer breaks) on campus but are not eligible to apply for off-campus employment during their first nine months in the United States. After nine months in the U.S. in nonimmigrant status, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (F-1) or the program sponsor (J-1) may grant part-time employment permission only under special conditions.

For more information contact the Office of International Student and Scholars at (775) 784-6874 or the OISS Website.

For summer employment, students must be enrolled in the minimum required credits (6 for undergraduate and 5 for graduate/graduate special)during the summer sessions, or be registered for a minimum required credits during the fall term, and meet the minimum required GPA.

The Federal Work Study Program is a “need-based” financial aid program designed to assist students in earning money to meet their college expenses. To be eligible, a student must have filed a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). If need is determined a work-study allocation of funds will be provided in the student’s financial aid package. The awarded amount of work study funds per semester will determine the maximum number of hours per week that may be worked under work study. For on-campus positions, the federal funds pay 75% of the student’s wage and the employer matches the other 25% of the wage. The department is also responsible the employee fringe/worker’s compensation which is 1.5% for 100% of the wages.

An example of the funding breakdown would be a student is awarded $3000 in work study for a school year; this includes the fall and spring semesters. The $3000 award is split in half for the year so $1500 for fall and $1500 for spring. For hours turned in to be paid on a timesheet the federal funds will cover 75% and the department funds will cover the remainder. Wages under the program for a semester can be earned up to $1500 this includes the federal and department money. So 100% of the funds paid to the student per paycheck will be subtracted from the $1500 for that semester. The spring semester portion of the award can only be earned during that semester. However, unearned funds from the fall semester portion of the Work Study award may be carried forward and combined with the amount allocated to the spring semester. Currently, summer work study is not awarded at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Once the student earns all of the semester work study allocation, 100% of subsequent wages will be paid from the department funding source(s). At this point if the department wishes to continue employment for this student a PAF should be submitted to end the account lines with the work study earnings code and start a new account line with the student worker earnings code.

Student employees may work up to 25 hours per week when classes are in session (fall and spring semesters). Students must not be scheduled to work when they have a scheduled class period. Student employees may not work more than 25 hours a week. During break times winter/spring break and the summer student employees may work up to but no more than 40 hours per week.

• Students on Federal Work Study funding may work no more than 20 hours per week during periods of enrollment when classes are in session (fall and spring semesters).
• International Students in F-1 and J-1 status may work up to 20 hours per week (40 hours during the winter, spring, and summer breaks)
• A student employed with more than one department needs to coordinate their schedule with each area they are employed with as to not exceed work hour maximums.

Student employment positions are temporary, part-time positions that offer individuals whose primary purpose here is to be a student an opportunity for work experience. Hours worked are flexible and variable. Due to the nature and purpose of these positions, overtime should not be incurred. However, in unusual situations (i.e. during summer employment or special events) where hours in excess of a student’s normal work schedule are required, overtime at time-and-one-half rates will only be paid for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week. All overtime for students must have prior authorization from the supervisor.

Since student employment is temporary, hourly and part-time it can be terminated at any time at the discretion of the employer. Also, if a student drops below the required credit and/or GPA requirements, the employment status must be terminated immediately. It is advisable that the supervisor keep notes regarding the student's performance that may have led to the termination.

Both the employer and the employee share the responsibility of addressing problems that may occur during the course of the student’s employment. There should be realistic expectations of both the supervisor and the employee.

• Address problems as they arise, not after they accumulate. Deal with minor concerns before they become major problems
• Review job responsibilities, duties, and expectations. Make sure they are clear to both the supervisor and the student
• Avoid personalizing critical comments. Discussions regarding performance should be conducted in private.

If assistance in resolving conflicts is required, employers and/or employees may contact the Human Resources office at (775)784-6082 or the Affirmative Action Office at (775)784-1547.

Yes, the employer should submit a termination PAF when a student has been terminated or will no longer work for that department.

Every student employee is covered during his/her working hours by Worker’s Compensation insurance for work related injury/illness. The coverage provides an incapacitated student employee the means of support and medical care when unable to work because of a job related disability. An employee must immediately report any job related accident or illness to his/her supervisor. The supervisor is responsible for completing the appropriate forms for the BCN Workers' Compensation office. If you have questions, contact BCN Workers' Compensation, phone (775) 784-4394 or visit their website for procedures, forms and information.

Student employees are not eligible to receive other employment benefits such as shift differential pay, paid holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, retirement benefits, or permanent status.

Breaks

A student working a consecutive 4-hour work period is entitled to one 15-minute rest period with pay. For a consecutive work period that exceeds 6-hours a student worker is entitled to two 15-minute rest periods with pay. In general, rest periods should occur near the middle of the shift for a 4 to 6 hour shift. For shifts of more than 6 hours rest periods should be taken in the first and last third of the shift. Rest periods may not be taken at the beginning or end of the work period and are not cumulative.

Meals

In general, an unpaid meal period of 1/2 hour to 1 hour is required when a student employee is scheduled to work more than 6 hours. Under circumstances driven by operational needs, a student may waive the meal period, particularly when the need to work additional hours arises at the end of a scheduled shift. If a student works more than six hours and does not take a meal period, the reason for not taking a meal period must be documented on the time sheet by the student and approved (initialed) by the supervisor. This documentation/time sheet for a student worker must be retained by the department for three years or five years for a student on work study.

From the time of appointment to a student employee position supervisors should make a clear process for notification of absence from a scheduled work period and be sure the student is made familiar with the department expectations. If no clear plan is made student employees should notify the supervisor no later than the beginning of the scheduled work period when he/she is unable to work. In the case of an extended absence, the estimated duration should be reported to the supervisor as soon as possible. The supervisor is responsible for authorizing all absences.

Instructions for completing student employment paperwork can be found under the HR Liaison section of the Human Resources web site. In this section you will find information on how to complete paperwork for each employee type, cut-off schedules, and I-9 instructions as well as other helpful Human Resources Information.