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STUDENT EMPLOYMENT ANALYSIS SUPPORT

Starting July 1, 2024, student wages will increase to the Virginia minimum wage of $12.00 per hour. This adjustment aims to acknowledge students' contributions and maintain competitiveness in the local labor market. Two cross-functional committees have studied student employment on campus since 2021, prompting a need to update student wage philosophies and reevaluate the placement and management of student employees.

While many student positions provide significant contributions and prepare students for life beyond college, others lack such impact.  The overarching goal of our student employment program is to foster a supportive and efficient working environment for students, preparing them for the professional world while managing student labor costs prudently.  Guidance for achieving this balance is below and includes the development of a student staffing plan for fiscal year 2025.

ACTION PLAN

Action Plan For Student Employment Positions In Fiscal Year 2025, Which Begins July 1, 2024.

Developing a High Impact Student Employment Experience

NACE Student Employment Performance Evaluation

Position Evaluation Rubric

Staffing Plan

2024 Student Grading Proposal

2025 Student Grading Proposal

Time Study

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

Human Resources Student Assistant Job Description

Student JD Admissions

Blank Student Job Description Template

Student Job Description Template with Guidance

ACTION GUIDANCE

For student employment positions in Fiscal Year 2025, which begins July 1, 2024, supervisors should consider the following:

  1. Suspend further hiring of student employees for the next budget year. Continue interviewing but withhold offering positions until your staffing plan is approved.  
    1. Exceptions will be made for mission critical departments of Admissions, Campus Safety, Residential Life, Dining Services, and IT.
    2. Student positions with confirmed grant funding in the next fiscal year may move forward.
    3. If you have already placed students, you do not need to revoke your employment offer at this time.
  2. New budgets for FY25 will be communicated to budget managers in mid-February.
    1. Current information can be found in self-service under ‘financial management’ and then selecting ‘budget to actuals’.
    2. If the student labor budget is not visible to you, you may not be set up as the budget manager or there may not be a current budget allocation.  
  3. Familiarize yourself with the new Student Employment Pay Grades and Classification document and the Staffing Plan document.
    1. As you develop your plan, consider how to maintain critical functions, which may involve reassigning tasks, prioritizing key roles, or finding alternative solutions to manage workloads. Consider job sharing or job consolidation to reduce downtime. Other helpful items for staffing plan development:
      1. Develop job descriptions, assigning grade and proposed wage. Positions must perform mission critical work and/or develop students’ National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness competencies.
      2. PLACE is creating, training, and managing a small, shared student labor pool. This is the perfect solution for intermittent projects, or sporadic needs. This service will start with the beginning of the fall 2024 academic term.
      3. Is there a justifiable business case to replace student labor with RC staff? Consider both direct and indirect costs, as well as benefit costs (32% benefitted;16% non-benefitted).
  4. You may request financial transfers from other operating budget line items to increase your student employment budget if you have excess in another area.
  5. Submit your staffing plans to your divisional leaders and human resources by March 31, 2024. Divisional leaders, in consultation with the Vice President for Business Affairs, have ultimate authority in budgetary and position allocation. 

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE

Student Employment Town Hall Recording

QUESTIONS

 For questions regarding the student employment analysis process, please contact Human Resources or PLACE.