VCU hires student workers as wage employees to perform a variety of duties ranging from entry-level service jobs to office support and professional activities. Because the work situations in which the university employs student workers are not standard, hiring departments may set wages within certain parameters.
Hiring student workers does not require a formal search process. Some VCU departments post student worker vacancies on VCU eJobs; the VCU Career Services also posts vacancies and assists students in locating suitable employment. Student workers are paid on the first of the month for the pay period of the 10th through the 24th and on the 16th of the month for the pay period of the 25th through the 9th. Some student workers will qualify for participation in the Federal Work-Study Program.
The federal hourly minimum is $7.25 (under the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, effective July 24, 2009). VCU's minimum wage for hourly employees already is above the federal minimum. Pay for students participating in the Federal Work-Study Program must not exceed $15 per hour.
Student workers are not allowed exemptions from paying FICA/Medicare withholding tax if the following conditions apply:
IRS regulations stipulate that all student workers and graduate assistants must be enrolled at the institution at which they are working to be eligible for the FICA exemption. Human resources will automatically change all student workers to Eclass H1 for the summer session. This change will apply the hourly fringe benefit charges to all jobs. If a student worker takes classes during the summer session, the department’s personnel administrator must change the worker’s Eclass back to SW. To change the student's status and Eclass, prepare a Personnel action form as follows:
In summary
Virginia Commonwealth University
VCU Human Resources
Lindsey House | 600 West Franklin Street | Box 842511
Richmond, VA 23284-2511
Email: askhr@vcu.edu
Phone: (804) 828-0177