Student Employment

Eligibility

To be eligible to work on campus during the regular academic year, a student must be enrolled for six (6) or more semester hours of credit per term. International students must be enrolled full-time (12 hrs. for undergraduate students or 9 hrs. for graduate students), unless otherwise cleared by the International Student Advisor/U.S. Immigration for less than full-time enrollment, to maintain their status in the United States. Audit classes do not count. All students must be enrolled in at least six (6) or more semester hours to be eligible for student employment, unless they are a graduating student with only a limited number of hours remaining to meet graduation requirements (in which case prior approval of Human Resources is required).

Summer

To be eligible to work during the summer, a student either:

  1. Must have been enrolled for six (6) or more hours during the previous spring semester and be preregistered for fall at WIU for six (6) hours, OR
  2. Must be accepted for admission/re-entry to WIU for the following fall semester and be pre-registered for at least six (6) hours, OR
  3. Must be enrolled at WIU for a minimum of three (3) hours during each summer session while they are employed.
  4. International students are required to be enrolled three (3) hours each session during summer or pre-registered for full-time for fall.

Note: During summer sessions, student employees may work a maximum of 28 hours per week if enrolled for less than six (6) hours during the current summer session.

Break Periods

During break periods, students may work up to 28 hours per week. The break periods are:

  1. Period of time at the end of the spring semester and before summer session (must have been enrolled for six or more hours for the spring semester or be eligible for summer employment).
  2. Period of time after summer session and before fall semester begins (see summer eligibility above).
  3. Thanksgiving break (must be enrolled six (6) hours for the fall semester).
  4. Break between fall and spring semesters (must have been enrolled for six (6) or more hours for the fall semester or pre-registered for at least six (6) hours for spring semester). International students may not work unless enrolled full-time for spring semester.
  5. Spring break (must be enrolled at least six (6) hours for the spring semester).

Students who graduate are only eligible for regular student employment during the break period following their graduation. (Federal Work-Study cannot be used.) They must have been registered for at least six (6) hours their last semester. They are not eligible for further employment unless they have been accepted into the WIU Graduate School and are pre-registered. International students are not permitted to work after graduation unless they are continuing study in another WIU program, can show acceptance for the new program, and are pre-registered for the next regular semester.

Teaching Assistants

Full-time teaching assistants are ineligible for employment. A part-time teaching assistant with a two-thirds contract which requires 13 hours per week may work seven (7) hours per week under student employment.

Graduate Assistants

Full-time graduate assistants are ineligible for employment. A graduate assistant with a two-thirds contract which requires 13 hours per week may work seven (7) hours per week under student employment.

Research Assistants

Full-time research assistants are ineligible for student employment.  A part-time research assistant with a two-thirds contract which requires 13 hours per week may work seven (7) hours per week under student employment.

Resident Assistants

Resident Assistants are eligible for employment; however, their employment hours are limited to 10 hours per week.

Two-Job Exceptions

Students should be employed for one on-campus job at a time; however, a student can be authorized for a second on-campus job covering the same time period. For a two-job exception, both supervisors must contact the Student Employment Office in writing or by email and advise the maximum number of hours the student will work in the department and confirm the student will not exceed 20 hours per week between both jobs. The Student Employment office will notify the departments when the two job exception is approved.

Nepotism

Students cannot be authorized for employment if their position is in an administrative line to a relative (either blood or in-law) without approval. If there are questions in this area, the employing department/agency should refer to the University Nepotism Policy for further details under 5.b.