Graduate Student Workers

THE LANGUAGE USED IN THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT CREATE AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE AND THE AGENCY. THE DOCUMENT DOES NOT CREATE ANY CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS OR ENTITLEMENTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVISE THE CONTENT OF THIS DOCUMENT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART. NO PROMISES OR ASSURANCES, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, WHICH ARE CONTRARY OR INCONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF THIS PARAGRAPH CREATE ANY CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.

Departmental Responsibility: Office of Human Resources
Topic: Graduate Student Workers
Policy: Graduate Student Workers
Effective: January 01, 2014
Last Revised Date: January 06, 2014

Graduate Student Workers

Goal:

To provide guidelines for graduate student workers regarding work hour limitations.

Clemson University will adhere to the defined guidelines outlined in this policy for using graduate student positions.

Definition:

Graduate student worker: There are several types of graduate student worker positions at Clemson University. The specific definitions, eligibility requirements, and any additional enrollment limits and/or benefits for graduate students are outlined on the Graduate School’s Student Employment site.

Primary Hiring Department: The primary hiring department is defined as the department who was the first to hire the student worker.

Secondary Hiring Department: The department(s) who hires a student worker after they are hired by the primary department.

Paid service hours are defined as each hour for which the individual is paid or entitled to payment for the performance of his or her duties as directed or assigned by their supervising faculty or staff member. “Paid service hours” do not include independent, unpaid effort required to maintain academic progress, professional development, or to complete a dissertation or thesis. (Hours devoted to academic progress are not capped.)

Assistantship Hours: Paid service hours for an assistantship.

Wage Hours: Paid service hours for all other student worker positions.

Work Hours Limitations:

All Clemson University graduate student workers are limited to working a cumulative total of 28 paid service hours per week, with the exception of international student workers who are limited, during the fall and spring academic sessions, to working 20 paid service hours per week. The cumulative total includes wage hours and assistantship hours. Standard work hours need to be accurately reflected in the Human Resource System. It is the shared responsibility of the hiring department(s) and the student workers to ensure that they do not work hours in excess of this cap.

Special Reporting Requirements for Graduate Assistants and Resident Assistants:

Graduate Assistants and Resident Assistants are required to enter cumulative paid service hours worked, and certify any weeks in which they do not work, in the designated time capture system.

It is the shared responsibility between the supervising department and the student to ensure paid service hours are reported in the designated time capture system. Supervising departments can monitor time capture system activity within a Time Capture Report.

Multiple Jobs:

Graduate students may occupy multiple jobs with the University (graduate appointment and/or hourly positions) provided that the total number of paid service hours does not exceed the applicable cap per week. Secondary hiring department(s) must obtain approval from the primary hiring department prior to assignment of any additional work and to ensure that the applicable cap is not exceeded. The primary hiring department is defined as the department who was the first to hire the student.

Disciplinary Action:

Graduate student workers and their supervisors are responsible for complying with this policy by closely monitoring and accurately reporting actual hours worked. Failure to abide by this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination, for the student worker and/or the student worker’s supervisor.

Fringe Rates and Additional Costs:

Colleges/divisions are assessed the student fringe rate for graduate student workers.

If a student worker exceeds the cap, the college/division will be responsible for the University cost not to exceed the employer rate of full family coverage.

Related Documents:

Time Capture System

Time Capture System Instructions (PDF)

Student Worker Guidelines (PDStudent Worker Guidelines (PDF)

Student Worker Welcome Information (PDF)