Student Employment

Chatham University's Student Employment Program provides financial assistance and meaningful professional development opportunities for full–time students. Student employees are encouraged to establish goals in collaboration with their supervisors – goals that will benefit both the student and the department for which they work. Supervisors will articulate learning outcomes – what we hope students will learn as a result of their employment – and evaluate their performance on the basis of these learning outcomes. Just like in the professional environment, there will be an opportunity for advancement in many campus positions (including an increase in pay!) and, also, an opportunity to take on supervisory responsibilities. When they graduate, student employees will have substantial work experience to include on their resumes.

Balancing academic, work, and co–curricular responsibilities
Research suggests that when students work they often actually get better grades, as long as they do not work too many hours. For this reason, we limit the number of hours a student may work to 16 hours per week. Typically a student employee works between 8 and 15 hours per week during the academic year.

Student employees receive a contract which articulates the maximum number of hours permitted in a semester. Depending on their course load and other commitments, students may ask their supervisors to adjust their work schedules. An athlete, for example, may request fewer hours when in season. Some students re-arrange their work schedules when they have a big test or paper due. Academic success is our first priority!

The hiring process
Over the summer we send email instructions to new students, explaining how to view and apply for positions on campus. They submit a Student Employment Application, which asks for their experience, skills, schedule, and references. Supervisors interview applicants by phone or in person and select the most qualified candidates before the start of the fall semester. A limited number of positions are available for students who matriculate in January, as well. There is no limit to the number of applications students may submit, but they are permitted to work at only one position at a time.

The base pay rate for student employment is $8.00 per hour, with a few positions paying more depending on the job description. Some positions require the expertise of a graduate student, and these pay $10.00 per hour. When student employees receive their monthly paychecks, they may either cash their checks at their local bank, or sign their checks over to the Student Accounts Office so that their pay will be applied to their balance.

Undergraduate students
Approximately 40% of our undergraduate students work on campus. A majority of these students have a Federal Work-Study award as part of their financial aid package. Eligibility for Federal Work–Study is based on financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office. Students are notified of their Federal Work-Study eligibility through their financial aid award letters. About 30% of our undergraduate student workers do not receive a work-study award, and are paid through University funds.

Graduate students
The typical graduate student employee works between 10 and 15 hours per week. Each fall the university offers a limited number of graduate assistantships, which require the recipients to assist departments with teaching, research, or program–specific support. Eligible new students enrolling for the fall term receive an email invitation to apply for the graduate assistantships in early spring, and the first round of recipients of these prestigious awards are notified no later than May 15. In addition, there are other student employment opportunities for graduate students, which give them a chance to work as professionals and to develop skills in preparation for their careers. In all, 13% of our graduate students work on campus, with compensation ranging from $1,500 to $9,000 annually.

International students
At Chatham we value the contribution that international students make to the workplace, and encourage them to apply for employment opportunities. Staff in the International Student Services Office assist students in making application for their social security cards. In all, about 40% of our international students are employed by the University.

Summer employment
A limited number of full-time employment opportunities are available for Chatham students over the summer. These positions are filled in March for the following summer. The base pay for summer work is $8.00 per hour, and students ordinarily work 35 hours per week for 12 weeks. Student employees may elect to live on campus for a small fee if they do not have off–campus housing.

"The powerful connections through networking events, the time management and multi-tasking skills, and the general hands-on work experience that I have gained will ... help set me apart to potential employers. I am treated as an equal in the office, not just a student or an assistant, providing me with the confidence to problem-solve and think 'outside the box.' I appreciate this opportunity to build my resume and believe that student employment is an essential stepping stone toward a successful career."

Laura Hudson '11
International Business Student Assistant for the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship