Being a Student Employee
Each year, more than 2,300 UNLV students work on-campus. The university depends on the contributions of student employees in day-to-day operations. Student employees enhance quality of service to students, staff, faculty, and visitors who make up the UNLV community. Becoming a student employee prepares students for future employment while providing them with financial stability and transferable skills.
Benefits of Student Employment
- Reduce the need for student loans and debt
- Work with employers that are conscious of academic workload and flexible with schedules
- Prepare for future employment through the processes of interviewing, onboarding, training, supervision, and relating to coworkers
- Establish a work history and grow transferable skills such as communication, time management, organization, and problem solving
- Develop a professional mindset and understand employer expectations
- Network and build relationships with professional mentors
- Sample several career choices through varied work experiences or through defined career objectives
- Gain related experience that enriches your educational program
- Establish a sense of community and involvement at UNLV
Contact
Human Resources Front Desk
702-895-3504
hr@unlv.edu
Learn More About Student Employment
Student Testimonials
“My work made me feel close to campus and more involved with it than just being a student.”
“I’m able to move around shifts to study and to accommodate my class schedule as long as I get my work done and communicate my academic workload. That’s not something you get on The Strip.”
Careers Start with That First Student Worker Job
Students shared their experiences with student employment with the UNLV News Center including the benefits of working at UNLV and tips on how to find the perfect on-campus job.
Eligibility
Regular Student Eligibility
To apply for employment, a student must be:
- A regular degree seeking student
- A U.S. citizen, U.S. National, U.S. permanent resident, or other eligible non-citizen with an I-94 arrival/departure record with an approved designation
- Enrolled in at least one (1) credit for the fall or spring terms at UNLV
- Undergraduate students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Law students must maintain at least a 2.3 cumulative GPA
Work Study Student Eligibility
Some students may be awarded a work study allocation as a part of their financial aid package. This package determines the maximum number of hours the student may work during the semester. Work study awards are earned on a semester-by-semester basis and pay for 100% of the student’s wages.
For work study eligibility, a student must be:
- A regular degree seeking student
- A U.S. citizen, U.S. National, U.S. permanent resident, or other eligible non-citizen with an I-94 arrival/departure record with an approved designation
- In compliance with the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy by maintaining reasonable academic progress toward their degree objective
- All financial aid recipients must meet minimum GPA requirements, credit hour requirements, and graduate within a reasonable time frame as discussed within the Financial Aid & Scholarships SAP policy
- Enrolled in at least one (1) credit for the fall or spring terms at UNLV
- Undergraduate students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Law students must maintain at least a 2.3 cumulative GPA
- In good financial standing on student loans and tuition payments
- Students must not owe a repayment on any federal aid program, be in default on any Title IV loans received at any institution of higher education, or have a UNLV payment hold on record
More information is available on the Financial Aid & Scholarships federal work study website.
International Student Eligibility
International students may work as a regular student employee.
In order to apply for employment, a student must:
| J-1 Visa Students | F-1 Visa Students |
|---|---|
| Hold valid student status from UNLV | Hold valid student status from UNLV |
| Have a valid Form DS-2019 issued by UNLV | Have a valid Form I-20 issued by UNLV |
| Be enrolled in 12 undergraduate credits per semester* | Be enrolled in 12 undergraduate credits per semester* |
| Be enrolled in nine (9) graduate credits per semester or six (6) with a graduate assistantship (GA)* | Be enrolled in nine (9) graduate credits per semester or (6) with a graduate assistantship (GA)* |
| Obtain prior authorization from the International Student and Scholar Services before beginning employment. Students may apply for a (Social Security Number) SSN upon receiving a valid offer of employment from the university. Note that UNLV requires students to obtain a (Social Security Number) SSN prior to starting employment. | Students may apply for a (Social Security Number) SSN upon receiving a valid offer of employment from the university. Note that UNLV requires students to obtain a (Social Security Number) SSN prior to starting employment. |
| Students may work on campus for a maximum of eight (8) hours daily and 20 hours weekly. Students may work more hours during term breaks. Visit Career Services for resources and assistance with career development. | Students may work on campus for a maximum of eight (8) hours daily and 20 hours weekly. Students may work more hours during term breaks. Visit Career Services for resources and assistance with career development. |
*Exceptions will need to have prior authorization from the International Student and Scholar Services.
Term Break Eligibility
Students may work over term breaks (summer, spring, and winter) within certain parameters.
Summer Term
Students must be degree-seeking, previously enrolled for the spring term and either:
- Enrolled in at least one credit hour for the summer term
- Enrolled for the fall term by May 31
If students are not enrolled in the fall term by May 31 or taking summer courses, they may ask their supervisors to continue work as a temporary hourly employee until they regain student status.
Winter Break
Students may work over winter break if they are degree seeking and enrolled in the spring term.
- Enrolled in at least one credit hour for the spring term
- Enrolled for the spring term by December 31 If students are not enrolled in the spring term by December 31, they may ask their supervisors to continue work as a temporary hourly employee until they regain student status.
Spring Break
Students may work over spring break if they are degree seeking and enrolled in the spring term.
International Students
To qualify for employment during summer, winter, and spring break, they must maintain status and remain enrolled for the subsequent semester.
Find a Job
Every year more than 2,300 UNLV students work on campus. Students can search for and apply for on-campus jobs using Handshake.
We encourage you to visit Career Services for appointments and resources for further career development and assistance options.
Types of Student Jobs
Campus jobs most commonly fall into two categories:
- Student part-time hourly positions open to all qualified students
- Work study positions open to students who qualify for work study as part of their financial aid package
- Graduate assistant (GA) positions
- Some graduate programs offer GA positions to students taking at least six (6) hours of graduate credits
Onboarding
A student must complete the following on the first day of work:
- Employment eligibility verification, Form I-9
- Employee data forms
- Input personal contact information, federal tax withholding, and payroll information into Workday
It is encouraged that students ask questions, discuss work expectations, and confirm work schedules with their supervisors during the first week of work.
Work Schedule
Student employment exists to support students in the pursuit of an academic degree. In order to ensure success, both in the classroom and on the job, balance is the key. Too many work hours may place a student's academic success at risk. Work with your supervisor to allow ample time for classes and coursework. No work will be scheduled during your class time.
It is important to note that college coursework doesn’t take place just in the classroom. A general recommendation is that for every credit a student should expect to have one contact hour in the classroom and two study hours out of the classroom.
Limitations on student employment hours apply regardless of the number of student jobs a student has or the number of semester credits for which they are enrolled (i.e., enrolled in one class or full-time).
The following chart represents maximums for all hourly jobs combined:
| Student Employment Type | Per Day Maximum | Per Week Maximum | Term Breaks and Summer Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Hourly, Part-Time Only | 8 | 20 | 40 |
| Student Hourly, Work Study Only* | 8 | 20 | 40 |
| International Students | 8 | 20 | 40 |
*Work Study Student Employment
The work study dollar eligibility of the student will determine the average number of hours per week a work study student can work before the work study award is earned. This may limit the average weekly work hours to less than the maximums listed above.
Many employers can continue to employ a student after the work study award is earned. The student should discuss this option with the employer before developing their weekly work schedule.
Student Hourly in Addition to Salaried Employment (Graduate Assistant)
Graduate assistants may work an additional student hourly job of up to 10 hours per week. The approval form can be found by logging into Grad Rebel Gateway and visiting the Forms tab and selecting the Graduate Assistant Forms link.
Graduating Students
Graduating students are eligible to continue working with the following limitations:
| Graduating Term | Continuation of Work Limited To: |
|---|---|
| Fall | December 31 |
| Spring | May 31 |
| Summer | End of month (based on when degree requirements are met) |
Time Entry
Student employees are paid on an hourly basis and must record all time worked each day. Workday is the university’s system of record for time and work attendance tracking. An hourly employee must clock in and out and submit their time worked on a daily basis so their manager can review and approve it. Without the time entry and a manager’s approval, the employee risks delays in receiving their pay. For any corrections to time entry, please contact your supervisor. Time must be submitted through Workday. For any corrections, please contact your supervisor.
The following job aids for how to enter time are available within Workday:
Rest and Meal Periods
Required breaks in accordance with state law:
Rest Period/s (paid)
- One 10-minute rest period if the employee works at least 3 1/2 continuous hours and less than 7 continuous hours.
- Two 10-minute rest periods if the employee works at least 7 continuous hours or more.
- Rest periods are not tracked in Workday.
Meal Period (unpaid)
- A minimum of a 30-minute uninterrupted meal period for eight (8) continuous hours of work.
- Lunch breaks must be taken by clocking out of Workday, and clocking back in once the break is complete.
Payroll Information
Direct Deposit
Students may elect to receive pay through direct deposit. If students do not elect to use direct deposit, the first paycheck is sent by mail to the address on file and a bank card will be mailed in a nondescript envelope by the bank for future payments:
- Students may sign up for direct deposit in Workday
- Employees may switch from bank card to direct deposit at any time by completing the direct deposit information in Workday
Pay Dates
Pay is semi-monthly, on the 10th and 25th:
- If the 10th or the 25th of each month falls on a weekend, payroll will be ready the Friday before the weekend or the last working day before a holiday
- Hours are not allowed to be deferred into future payment periods
- Federal employment regulations require students to be paid for all time worked during the current payment period
- If the student only works five minutes for the pay period, they must still be compensated
Visit the NSHE Payroll Services website for all your payroll needs.
Federal and State Taxes
The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) is a U.S. law that mandates a payroll tax on the paychecks of employees, as well as contributions from employers, to fund the Social Security and Medicare programs.
Student employees are FICA-exempt, meaning these taxes do not apply to service performed by students employed by a school, college, or university where the student is pursuing a course of study. FICA-exemption only occurs when students are actively taking classes, see the chart below for exemption rules.
| Term | Daily | Weekly | Minimum Number of Credits required | Minimum Number of Credits required for FICA exemption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall or Spring Term | ≤ 8 | ≤ 20 | 1 | 6 undergraduate /3 graduate |
| Summer Term | ≤ 8 | ≤ 40 | 1 | 1 |
| Winter or Spring Break | ≤ 8 | ≤ 40 | 1 | 6 undergraduate /3 graduate (based on fall or spring term) |
Hourly Pay Scale
Student employment offers a wide range of positions, which require different degrees of skill or experience. Three pay scales with different ranges are provided below. Levels are related to the type of duties performed.
| Job Level | Hourly Wage Range |
|---|---|
| Student Level I | $9.00 - $15.00 |
| Student Level II | $10.25 - $18.00 |
| Student Level III | $12.25 - $25.00 |
Student Level I
Student employees at this level receive comprehensive training, clear guidelines, and are provided with procedures as necessary. They are closely supervised to ensure work is accurate and complete.
Student Level II
Student employees at this level are able to prioritize work, use initiative, and make decisions regarding work assignments. Their work duties may be specialized or technical, requiring diversified skills.
Student Level III
Student employees at this level are able to use analysis, independent judgement and knowledge of the principles, practices, and concepts of a professional field. This level may require advanced customer service and normally involves work that is closely related to the student’s academic program and requires specialized skills.
Tips for Student Employee Success
Consider your part-time job at the university as a foundation from which to demonstrate core competencies that prepare you for success in the workplace.
As part of the UNLV workforce, your department is depending on you. The following tips will help you succeed as a student employee:
- Complete all onboarding tasks in Workday on your first day of work
- Coordinate your schedule according to both your class/study demands and department needs
- Perform assigned duties promptly, accurately, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re unsure about something
- Be dependable-- report to work on time and follow department guidelines for reporting absences or tardiness
- Arrive prepared to work and refrain from conducting personal business while on the job
- Attend all required meetings and/or training sessions
- Observe policies on confidentiality for all university information
- Follow departmental guidelines for appropriate attire and maintain professional personal appearance
Inform your supervisor if you need to end your job and provide two weeks’ notice.
Mandatory Training
On your date of hire, you will be emailed access to required courses on REBELearn:
- Preventing Harassment and Discrimination
- General Workplace Safety
- Understanding Public Records
You will need your ACE login credentials to access the site. Please email REBELearn@unlv.edu with any questions.