Student Employment

The Office of Student Employment offers a variety of work opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students at Hofstra. Through on-campus employment, students can enrich and enhance their academic experiences by applying learned skills in a practical setting, while earning income to assist with personal expenses. Students who work on campus practice time management, organization, and communication skills alongside peers and professionals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and cultures.

Additionally, working on campus is convenient and allows students to arrange their work schedules around their class schedules. 

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to work on campus, a student must be matriculated and enrolled at least half time, which is 6 semester hours for undergraduate students and 4.5 semester hours for graduate students. International students must be enrolled full time.

How to Apply for a Student Employment Position 

A student can either contact the hiring department directly or they can access Handshake via the Hofstra portal to view or apply for jobs. The student will then follow the instructions on the job posting to apply. Most postings request a cover letter, resume, and class schedule to determine suitability. Students will need their original identification documents, such as a passport and Social Security card, to apply for on-campus employment. Assistance with creating cover letters and resumes is offered through the Center for Career Design and Development.

Weekly Hour Maximums

Students are permitted to work a maximum of 25 hours per week during the academic year and 30 hours per week during school breaks and summer, subject to departmental budgetary limits and/or Federal Work-Study allowance. International students are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and 30 hours per week during school breaks and summer. 

Required Onboarding Procedure

If a student has never been paid by Hofstra, the student will receive a communication from the Office of Student Employment prompting them to complete onboarding paperwork, including a personal data form, tax forms, Federal Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification), and Hofstra policy sign-offs. To view a list of acceptable verification documents for Federal Form I-9, please visit this link: uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents. We cannot accept photocopies or faxes of I-9 identification. If your student intends to obtain a position through the Office of Student Employment, they are required to complete this onboarding procedure BEFORE they will be permitted to work.

Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a form of financial aid. Unlike other forms of financial aid, the FWS award must be earned through a job. All of our hourly student employment positions are Federal Work-Study (FWS) eligible. Eligibility for FWS is determined by Student Financial Services; students must file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to be evaluated for Federal Work-Study, as well as other types of aid, each year. If a student is eligible for Federal Work-Study, the student’s financial aid award letter will list the dollar amount of the Federal Work-Study grant. The student may also check the Hofstra portal to see if they were awarded Federal Work-Study grant money. For further information regarding financial aid packages, students may contact Student Financial Services (SFS) at studentfinancialservices@hofstra.edu or 516-463-8000. To identify their SFS counselor, students can visit hofstra.edu/findmycounselor. The Office of Student Financial Services is located in Room 206 Memorial Hall.

Types of Positions

Most academic and administrative offices at Hofstra employ students in a variety of positions, including: 

Hourly

These positions include Federal Work-Study and undergraduate and graduate positions that are paid on an hourly basis. Examples include:

• Student aides 

• Tutors 

Extracurricular

Hofstra University offers a multitude of positions generally recognized as extracurricular. These positions – which are part of a student’s overall educational experience at Hofstra

– are voluntary in nature and may include a stipend. 

Examples of extracurricular activities include:

• Athletic team student managers

• Musical performances

• Commencement activities

• Mascots

Leadership Positions

Educational leadership and mentoring opportunities for students may offer stipends or housing. These positions have their own eligibility requirements. Students must check with each department to find out more information. Some examples are:

• Resident Assistants (RAs) - RAs foster healthy communication and promote a sense of belonging within their residence hall and across campus.

• Peer Mentors - Hofstra’s Peer Alliance Program connects students through mentoring and co-curricular learning. Mentor tracks include Access, Commuter, Global, and Transfer.

• Orientation Leaders - Orientation Leaders are student leaders engaged by the University over the summer to welcome and provide orientation for new incoming and transfer students. Orientation Leaders receive housing over the summer, as well as a stipend.

• Welcome Week Coordinators - Welcome Week Coordinators work through the summer to plan the Welcome Week events and activities. They have the opportunity to mentor and guide first-year students in their first week at Hofstra University.

Other Opportunities 

• Research Assistants/Non-Credit Academic Interns Research Assistant and Non-Credit Academic Intern positions grant students the opportunity to engage in research that complements their area of study. Research is typically performed under the supervision of a Hofstra faculty member.

Graduate Assistantships

A Graduate Assistantship provides a graduate student with experiential learning in a variety of administrative and academic settings. Graduate Assistants are appointed by semester. Reappointment is subject to departmental approval, performance of duties in a satisfactory manner, continued registration for at least full-time credit hours, and good academic standing.

Compensation typically includes a tuition waiver and a stipend. All matriculated Hofstra students pursuing a graduate degree are eligible to apply. The tuition waiver is valued per credit at the lowest current graduate tuition rate. All students are required to pay registration and applicable fees. Please visit hofstra.edu/studentemployment, click on See Available Positions, and select Graduate Assistantships.

The Office of Student Employment may be reached at 516-463-6782 or student-employment@hofstra.edu. Visit hofstra.edu/studentemployment for further information.