The Campus Employment Office advertises available student jobs; provides standardized practices and procedures for employing students; and works to increase the number and variety of available jobs both on-campus and in the community through the community service program. Students can help meet their educational and personal expenses by working on campus.

Students can help meet their educational and personal expenses by working on campus. Campus employment is an experience that involves a commitment and an involvement with the Carnegie Mellon community that is valued by faculty, staff and students. The skills and work habits gained on the job will benefit students when they seek full-time employment and will also establish a foundation upon which future job endeavors can be built.

Eligibility

Student employment is more than a job; it is a valuable component of the educational experience. A student employee is defined as "an individual whose employment at the university is incidental to the pursuit of attaining a degree." Any student, enrolled at least half-time(18 units) in a degree granting program, at Carnegie Mellon can participate in the campus employment program. To qualify to work during the summer session, the student must be admitted to, or continuing in, a degree granting program at Carnegie Mellon University.

Find a Campus Job

Carnegie Mellon campus jobs are posted on the web in TartanTRAK. Search for campus jobs by following these steps:

Applying for a Campus Job

All students are responsible for finding and applying for campus jobs. A work-study award is not a guarantee of a job. Normally, there are more jobs than students, so all students, regardless of work-study eligibility, typically no trouble finding a campus job. If you do need help, stop by the Career Center, UC Lower Level, and we will be happy to assist you in your job search.

Work Hours

Students may work a total of 40 hours per week. International students are allowed by immigration regulations to work on-campus up to 20 hours per week when school is in session and full time during Summer and Winter vacations. International students should consult the Office of International Education, Warner Hall 3rd Floor, 268-3520, for detailed information about on and off-campus employment regulations.

If you are a work-study student, you may be limited to earn no more than the amount of your award. Once your earnings reach your work-study award limit, the employer has the option of continuing your employment. Due to budget restrictions, the department may have to end your appointment. You can then seek other employment in a campus non work-study job.

Types of Jobs Available

There are two types of hourly student jobs: Work-Study and Non Work-Study

Some of the many different categories of jobs to choose from include: office assistant, database assistant, computer programmer, web-designer, lab assistant, researcher, and library assistant.

Carnegie Mellon participates in three work-study programs: Federal Work-Study, State Work-Study, and Federal Community Service Program.

All jobs not under one of the work-study programs are considered non-work-study. The hiring department is charged 100% for these students earnings. Any qualified Carnegie Mellon student may apply for a non work-study job, regardless of financial need.

The federal work-study program is a federally funded financial aid program offered to students who demonstrate financial need. A federal work-study award can be part of the financial aid package a student receives. The hiring department is responsible for paying only a percentage of the student gross wages, currently it is 60%, since the program is partially subsidized by the federal government. This program is administered by Carnegie Mellon during the academic year only. In order for a work-study award to be used for a job, the pay rate must not be more than $11.00/hr for undergraduate students or $15.00/hr for graduate students. The federal work-study award can be used by all hiring departments where the undergraduate student works. A graduate student's award is restricted to use in their graduate school.

Carnegie Mellon participates in the PHEAA State Work-Study Program (SWSP) for the Academic Year and Summer work periods. The purpose of the SWSP is to provide eligible Pennsylvania students an opportunity to gain career-related work experience and earn funds to help pay for school-related expenses. A student must apply for a State Work-Study Award and meet the eligibility guidelines established by Carnegie Mellon and PHEAA.

To be considered eligible for SWSP, students must:

The job itself must also meet certain criteria. In general, any job that is high-tech or community service and is in some way related to a student's career goals would be eligible. The maximum rate an undergrad or a graduate student can be paid is $10.00/hr. During the academic year, a department employing a student with a SWSP award is charged 40%; during the summer period 60% of the gross wages.

Additional information regarding eligibility and requirements for participating in the SWSP can be found in The State Work-Study Times, which is produced by PHEAA. Copies are available in the HUB, Warner Hall 12 and in the Enrollment Services Administration Office, WH 2nd. floor.

A Federal Community Service Award can be a part of a federal work-study award. Carnegie Mellon participates in the community service program during the Academic Year and Summer work periods. In order to qualify, a student must already have a federal work-study award or demonstrate financial need. Questions about how financial need is calculated can be answered by the HUB.

A student must be paid a minimum of $6.00/hr. The maximum amount for hour for an undergraduate student is $12.00/hr; for a graduate student, it is $15.00/hr.

The definition of a Community Service position, according to the Federal Government: "Services that are designed to improve the quality of life for community residents, particularly low income individuals, or to solve particular problems related to their needs." A department employing a student with a FCS award is charged 25% of the gross wages.

Payroll Information

The payroll information listed below is brief and intended for use by campus employers and students who work on-campus. Contact the Carnegie Mellon Payroll Services, at 268-2097, for answers to common payroll questions and to obtain payroll forms.

Payroll Documentation

In order to work on campus, all students must complete a Federal Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9). U.S. citizens must present a photo I.D., and either an original social security card or a birth certificate with a raised seal. Foreign students, including permanent residents, must present their Visa, Passport or Green Card. All I-9 forms are processed in Payroll Services, 407 S. Craig Street. The U.S. Dept. of Labor Immigration Law requires that all new employees must complete the I-9 form within 72 hours of employment. If the employee cannot provide all the proper documentation for completion of the I-9, a 21-day waiver form can be completed. An employee will not be paid unless a completed I-9 Form is on file in Payroll Services.

These forms and information about each can be obtained by calling Carnegie Mellon Payroll Services at 268-2097.

All undergraduate students employed on campus must have bi-weekly appointments and are required to complete and submit a timecard documenting hour worked. Graduate students with hourly appointments must also complete a timecard. The timecard must be signed by both the student and their supervisor and then sent to Payroll Services for processing.

Money earned goes directly to the student in either a bi-weekly paycheck or is deposited into a direct deposit account. If a student is employed in more than one position, the student will receive ONE paycheck or advice only. Graduate students who have both an hourly and monthly job will be paid once per month, on the monthly payday. Paychecks and payroll advices can be picked up in Cash Operations, Warner Hall 28C, across from the HUB. Checks/Advices are available on the weekly/monthly pay date only. After that, paychecks and advices are available at Payroll Services, 407 S. Craig Street. Questions about work-study awards or eligibility can be answered by the HUB.

For all jobs, minimum wage, $5.15/hour as of 9/1/97, is the least amount per hour that a student can be paid. There is not a set hourly maximum wage unless the job requires that the student have a work-study award in order to apply. For federal work-study and community service federal work-study jobs, the maximum rate per hour is $11.00 for undergraduates and $15.00 for graduate students. (Note: a graduate student federal work-study award can only be used by their graduate department.) For state work-study jobs, the maximum per hour is $10.00 for both undergraduate students and graduate students.

"Employment" is defined by the immigration service as any kind of compensation for services rendered. Accepting employment, whether for jobs or internships, without proper authorization is a serious violation of your immigration status and are grounds for deportation from the US. Certain types of employment authorization can take time (up to 3 months or longer). Therefore students must apply well in advance in order to be sure they will be able to accept employment for jobs or internships. There are several categories of "employment" for which students holding F-1 or J-1 status may request authorization. Different regulations apply depending on whether you are in F-1 or J-1 status. Be sure to note to which status a certain benefit or regulation applies.

IMPORTANT: Foreign students should check with the foreign student advisor for school requirements and procedures governing the authorization of campus employment. The information included below pertains to on-campus employment only.