Scheduling and Final Exams
Work schedules are based on student availability and department needs. Work hours vary widely across campus, and departments may use rotating schedules or a single schedule that lasts the full term. First-year students should not be scheduled to begin work before 7:30 a.m.; any exception must be approved by the Work College Program. This page outlines the general standards supervisors should follow when building a student's schedule, consistent with the scheduling responsibilities described under Core Program Functions.
Work hours cannot conflict with class times or other academic requirements, such as field trips. In these cases, students are expected to give advance notice so accommodations can be made. Supervisors are not required to excuse a student from work for optional activities, such as study sessions, or for class preparation; these situations can typically be addressed through effective time management.
Supervisors are encouraged to schedule students for slightly more than the minimum required hours each week (for example, 11 hours for a 10-hour position, or 13 hours for a 12-hour position), to provide a cushion for time that may be lost to absences or travel between work and class. In some departments, a student may be scheduled for slightly more than the required hours one week and slightly less the next; this is acceptable as long as the fluctuation is not excessive. The scholarship disbursement schedule indicates the number of hours a student should expect to work during each period, to ensure the student meets the Work College Program's hour requirement.
Students are paid for actual hours worked, not hours listed on a schedule. Upper-division students may be required to work during Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Spring Break if this obligation is clearly stated on the Status Form before it is approved. First-year students are not required to work during these break periods, though they may choose to do so. See Holidays and Days of Observance for how these break periods are handled by default, and Absence Policy for how excused time off is tracked throughout the term.
Overtime
Federal Work Study and Work College regulations do not intend for students to work more than 40 hours per week. This is generally only a consideration during break periods and summer practicum, since regular-term hour requirements are well below 40 hours and would not typically put a student at risk of exceeding this limit. During these higher-hour periods, departments are encouraged to schedule students for no more than 37.5 hours per week, and supervisors should carefully monitor student schedules to avoid exceeding the 40-hour limit.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, a student who works more than 40 hours in a week is entitled to overtime pay. The Work College Program strongly discourages this, since receiving overtime pay can negatively affect a student's financial aid package.
Final Exam Period
Students are expected to work during the final exam period, though exam schedules may require adjustments to a student's regular hours. Final exam times are set well in advance, giving students and supervisors ample time to arrange alternate schedules. A student scheduled for more than three exams in a single day may request to reschedule an exam through the Registrar.
During finals week, a student may work a maximum of 20 hours, including students who are behind on their required hours for the term. This 20-hour cap is an absolute maximum during finals week and applies even to students with an approved overload above 20 hours during the regular term; see Overload for how the standard 20-hour weekly limit and approval process work during the regular term. Supervisors should plan final exam period schedules around this 20-hour maximum.