Employment of University Students
The University encourages employment of full-time Penn students to fill temporary or part-time positions. Students may be hired during the school year, the summer, and during vacation periods. A full-time student's primary responsibility is academic work and paid employment should not interfere with their academic success.
Consult the Office of Student Employment website at www.srfs.upenn.edu/seo regarding policies and procedures for hiring Work-Study students and Student Workers (non-work-study). If hiring students who attend universities/colleges other than Penn, they are hired into the job title attached to the posted requisition; they are not to be placed in a student worker job title.
Consult with International Student & Scholar Services at https://global.upenn.edu/isss/oncampus regarding rules governing students studying at Penn on a F-1 and J-1 visas.
109.1 LIMITATIONS
A full-time student (one who is enrolled in three or more course units or equivalent) may not be employed in a full-time position with the University. During the regular fall and spring terms (see the University’s Academic Calendar for dates), 20 hours of employment per week is the maximum allowed for all students. This limit also applies to students enrolled full-time in the summer. For students enrolled part-time in the summer and during vacation periods, 40 hours per week is the maximum.
Students who are on leave from the University should not be employed without the permission of the student’s dean or department chair.
109.2 RATES OF PAY
Students are entitled to the legal hourly minimum wage. When work-study and non-work-study jobs are created on Workday@Penn, the supervisor may enter proposed wage rates. These rates must fall within the base pay range for each position's job profile.
109.3 ONBOARDING
All onboarding paperwork, including Form I-9, must be completed before starting any temporary student assignment.
109.4 TERMINATION OF STUDENT WORKERS
When a student worker graduates, is placed on leave, or is no longer enrolled at the University, the student must stop working. It is the responsibility of the home department’s business administrator to enter the student’s end date in Workday. Students who graduate in May can continue to work through May 15 of the year they graduate. It is the responsibility of the home department to enter into Workday the separation of the student worker (along with entering the proper reason for separation), as soon as possible.
Policy Number: 109
Effective Date: 12/03/2014
Revised Date: 06/01/2019
Last Reviewed Date: 01/30/2024
Supersedes Policy Number(s): 116, 109 (09/01/1991, 10/01/2002)
Applicability: Student Hires
Cross-reference:
Employment of Non-U.S. Citizens - Policy 108,
Temporary Staff on Penn's Payroll - Policy 114,
Minimum Wage - Policy 301