Frequently Asked Questions
If you are an incoming student, a parent of an incoming student, or a parent of a current student, there are many questions you may have regarding student employment. If you have questions that are not addressed below, email hrses@syr.edu.
What does the award on my financial aid letter for work-study mean? Does this money go to the Bursar's office or to me?
Money earned through the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program goes directly to the student in the form of a weekly paycheck. See Advanced FWS for more information about the FWS program.
What form do I need to fill out in order to work? What should I bring with me to SU?
Students must visit the Student Employment Office, 210 Steele Hall, in person to complete an I-9 form. Acceptable original documentation needed to complete the form must be presented.
How many hours can I work? Will I have time for other things?
FWS students are allowed to work a maximum of 40 hours in a seven day week or 8 hours a day. There is no
minimum allotment of hours. Non-FWS employees may have greater flexibility in the number of hours they can work.
Will SU find a job for me or am I assigned a job?
All FWS and non-FWS jobs are listed on the online Job Openings web page. Students use this as they would the classifieds to find jobs that suit their interests and time constraints. While HRSES is happy to assist students in
researching compatible positions, it is ultimately up to the student to obtain a job.
Can I work at more than one job?
FWS students may work a maximum of two jobs IF Student Employment Services deems their award to be adequate
for two jobs. Any student can work an unlimited amount of non-FWS jobs, as long as they don't exceed the maximum
of 40 hours a week.
I am an international student. Can I use Work-Study?
No. International students are not given FWS grants. They are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week in a non-FWS
job assuming they meet the appropriate criteria. Contact the Lillian and Emanuel Slutzker Center for International Services about the appropriate forms and for additional information concerning international student employment.
Are there enough jobs?
There are usually jobs available and they fill quickly, but new jobs are posted daily throughout the year.
Can I work off-campus?
Yes. If the off-campus job is posted through SU's Job Openings web page, the proper documentation must be completed at the
Student Employment Office. However, nothing prevents students from working independently in the mall, around the neighborhood and in local businesses.
When do I get paid? Where is my check sent?
SU pays all hourly employees (including student employees) weekly, on Wednesdays. Direct deposit may be arranged online through MySlice after the student begins working.
What will I get paid?
Each job pays differently depending on the department, the availability and the job responsibilities, among other factors. Students are guaranteed to start at the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Higher paying jobs are typically the result of promotions, raises, and specific job-related skills.
I am a graduate student and want to work in a specific department. How can I secure a position there?
Contact the department directly to see if they are hiring student employees.
Can HRSES help me with graduate/teaching assistantships?
Many graduate/teaching assistantships are posted on the SU Job Opps web site. Or, graduate students
may contact their department or the Graduate School directly to see if any GA or TA positions are available.
Can my child find a job before he/she arrives at SU?
Prior to students arriving on campus, many jobs are posted on the Job Openings web page. A student may contact potential employers
before arriving, but cannot be hired for a job before completing the I-9 paperwork at HRSES.
I want my child's chief focus to be academics, but I want him/her to have fun as well. How many hours should he/she work?
HRSES recommends that incoming freshman work no more then 8-10 hours a week. If they need to work more, they certainly can, but 8-10 hours a week is a good start.
My child tells me that he/she can't find a job.
There are usually jobs available. There are many reasons a student may say he/she can't find a job. The student
may not know how to go about finding a job, may not have completed the proper documentation, or may not be
interested in the positions that are open at the moment. Students or parents should feel free to contact HRSES
at 315-443-2268, hrses@syr.edu, or in person at 210 Steele Hall.
Questions? Contact HRSES at 443-2268.