Student Employment: Work. Learn. Earn.
What is Student Employment?
Student employment refers to part-time or temporary work opportunities that students take on while pursuing their education. These jobs, often offered on or off campus, provide students with the chance to earn income, develop valuable workplace skills, and gain professional experience. Employment can range from internships and work-study positions to retail, service industry roles, or administrative jobs. Through student employment, students balance academic commitments with work, enhancing their time management abilities and preparing for future careers by gaining hands-on experience in real-world environments.
You do not have to qualify for Federal Work-Study to be eligible for a Student Employment role.
There are two primary ways students may qualify for HACC Student Employment:
Federal Work-Study
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a type of federal financial aid that allows eligible students to earn money through employment.
To qualify for Federal Work-Study, students must:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Demonstrate financial need based on their FAFSA.
- Be enrolled in at least six credits at HACC during the semester they are working.
- Meet HACC's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
- Have a high school diploma/GED
- Have a valid social security number.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
- Not be in default on a Federal Student Loan.
- Now own on a Federal Student Grant.
- Receive approval for Federal Work-Study from HACC Financial Aid before beginning work.
Not sure if you qualify for Federal Work-Study? Contact Financial Aid to review your eligibility.
Student Employment
You may still be eligible for Student Employment even if you do not qualify for Federal Work-Study.
HACC offers Student Employment roles that are funded by the College rather than through Federal Work-Study. These roles provide the same opportunities to work, earn a paycheck, and gain valuable professional experience.
To be eligible for these Student Employment jobs, students must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be currently enrolled at HACC and actively taking at a minimum of one credit.
- Have a valid Social Security number.
- Be a U.S. citizen, eligible noncitizen or an international student with a valid F-1, J-1, or J-2 VISA.
Federal Work-Study eligibility is not required for these roles.
What is the difference?
| Federal Work-Study | HACC-Funded Student Employment | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Federal financial aid earned through employment | HACC-funded student employment |
| Do I need to complete the FAFSA? | Yes | No |
| Do I need to demonstrate financial need? | Yes | No |
| Minimum enrollment | 6 credits | 1 credit |
| Wage rate | $14/hour | $14/hour |
| Can I gain career experience? | Yes | Yes |
| Can I apply for Student Employment jobs? | Yes, jobs that are eligible for Federal Work-Study employment | Yes, jobs that are eligible for HACC-funded student employment |
Ready to find a Student Employment Opportunity?
Student Employment opportunities are posted on HACC's career platform, College Central Network (CCN).
Log-in to CCN and search for jobs by job type, then select Student Employment to view current opportunities.
If you have questions about student employment, please contact the Student Employment at studentemployment@hacc.edu, or contact Madison Johnson at mljohnso@hacc.edu.
Navigate appointments can be scheduled through the following link: New Appointment | Navigate360
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
- Demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Be enrolled in a minimum of six credits at HACC each term.
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Program (SAP) standards as determined by the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.
- Have a high school diploma/GED.
- Have a valid Social Security number.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
- Not be in default on a Federal Student Loan.
- Not owe on a Federal Student Grant
Student Employment Program (SEP)
- Have a valid Social Security number.
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Be enrolled at HACC and actively taking a minimum of one credit.
- Be a U.S. citizen, eligible noncitizen, or be an international student with a valid
F-1, J-1, or J-2 VISA.
International Students
- International students with a valid F-1, J-1, or J-2 VISA may be eligible to work on campus through Student Employment. As of the date of this guidebook, all international students with a valid F-1, J-1, or J-2 VISA must be approved by International Student Services.
- Summer - End of spring semester– 6/30/XX
- Fall - 7/1/XX- End of fall semester
- Spring - 1/1/XX- End of spring semester
Q: We have very strict rules for who we can hire. Who will perform drug screening and/or background checks?
A: HACC facilitates an extensive onboarding process, which includes criminal background checks and PA Act 15 (when applicable) prior to the student employee’s start date, but any drug screening needed for employment contingencies would need to be performed at the expense of the partner. PA Act 15 Clearances provided by HACC include the following:
Mandated Reporter Training (three-hour online course)
Child Abuse History Certification (DHS)
Federal Criminal History Background Check (FBI)
PA State Police (PSP) check
Q: Will HACC reimburse student employees for travel related expenses?
A: HACC will not reimburse for mileage.
Q: Will we be able to train new hires before they start working for us?
A: New hires can log training hours for compensation from HACC up to their maximum of 20 hours per week and in place of hours worked. This includes virtual training.
Q: We offer/require remote work for some job tasks/work days. Can student employees work remotely for us?
A: Students may work remotely for your company. We recommend you provide deliverable projects or monitoring to make sure they are utilizing their time effectively.
Q: When are students available to work? Can they work during the summer?
A: Students work semester to semester, including the summer session if and only if they register for 6 credits worth of summer classes. They will also need to register for fall classes to work from July on because HACC’s fall semester technically begins in July.
Q: Does HACC prohibit supplemental pay to raise student employees’ wage?
A: No. HACC does not prohibit supplemental pay; however, it is the employer’s responsibility to track the student employee’s hours and calculate the additional funds to supplement the $14.00 an hour for 20 hours maximum that HACC will pay to the student. They may not exceed 20 hours of work per week, no matter the circumstances.
Q: Our positions require highly trained, degree holding employees, or recent graduates. Can we fill these positions with student employees?
A: New and entry level positions would best suit students hired for Community Work-Study, and these positions must either serve the community directly, or involve making your company’s services accessible to the community. In order to work for our community work-study partners, student employees must be enrolled in classes at HACC during the semester in which they will work. Additionally, you may offer regular employment opportunities and post these on College Central Network for HACC students who have not been awarded Federal Work-Study, but want additional income. If you are interested in posting and recruiting for positions, please email careerservices@hacc.edu to connect with our employer partnership team.
Q: We also offer internships and/or have provided internship opportunities in the past. Can a student employee’s work hours count towards completion of an internship?
A: No. Hours worked for CWS partners may not count towards internship credit hours.
Q: What majors would be applying to work for our company?
A: All majors are welcome to apply to any job posted on CCN. Students may select jobs that align with their interests or career, but applications will not be restricted by major.
