Introduction

Student employment gives students a chance to gain experience, learn new skills, and develop valuable contacts.  Student employment opportunities can be found on Handshake maintained by Career Services.  Jobs can be posted by supervisors at Handshake for Employers.   Approximately half of all student jobs are funded by work-study awards and half are funded by a college department’s budget (Institutional Employment).  Student employment at Fort Lewis College is managed by Human Resources in partnership with Career ServicesSkyhawk Station, the Financial Aid Office, and Payroll.

Employment contracts

There are two types of student employment contracts that students can be hired through; 1. CARF contract (for institutional employment contracts) that is paid by departmental or grant funds and 2. Work-study contract paid by work-study funds awarded through Financial Aid.  

Students are paid no less than minimum wage and no more than the maximum amount as outlined in the Pay Plan provisions located below. Students must complete New Student Employment Onboarding Paperwork (see forms for link to onboarding packet) and verify their identity and eligibility to work prior to employment.

Institutional employment contracts

Students obtain their Employment Contract also known as a CARF (Contract Authorization Request Form) from their supervisor. The supervisor initiates the CARF and requests the student’s signature. The supervisor submits the completed, signed CARF to ecarfs@fortlewis.edu before the student begins working after ensuring the student has completed their New Student Employment Onboarding Paperwork (see forms).

Students are unable to begin work until their New Student Employment Onboarding Paperwork (see forms) has been completed and their CARF has been submitted to ecarfs@fortlewis.edu.

Students who are awarded work-study may work through a work-study contract and an institutional CARF simultaneously for more than one job at FLC.

Work-study

Work-study is a Financial Aid program that enables students to work and earn money to meet educational expenses. The work-study program promotes part-time employment for our students. The program is designed for eligible students who are in need of earnings to pursue their post-secondary education. It is funded from state and federal sources.

The needs of the on-campus employer, although certainly important, are not the major priority in the work-study program. Funds appropriated are intended to supplement rather than supplant other employment funds. Therefore, student employees may not be used to displace regular, non-student employees. Any work performed after the appropriated work-study funds have been exhausted or after ineligibility will be compensated by the department.

Eligibility criteria:

  • Be currently enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per term at Fort Lewis College in a regular degree-seeking program of study.
  • Be awarded work-study as a result of the timely submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA) each year.
  • Demonstrate sufficient financial need (or no-need if applicant for Colorado No-Need Work-Study) as determined by the FAFSA results.
  • Meet and maintain minimum standards of satisfactory progress as defined by the Financial Aid Office.
  • Complete New Student Employment Onboarding Paperwork (see forms) prior to beginning work.

In the case of Colorado No-Need Work-Study, all of the above requirements apply and the student will need to be classified as a resident of Colorado for tuition purposes.

Students who are awarded work-study may obtain their work-study contracts from the Skyhawk Station after they have completed their New Student Employment Onboarding Paperwork (see forms). Work-study awards will be rescinded if students fail to obtain and return their work-study contract by the deadline as outlined by the Financial Aid Office.

International students

International students enrolled as full-time students must have a "valid for work" social security card before they begin working. To apply for a social security card the student will request a letter from The Office of Human Resources requesting a card, and proof of enrollment, for the student to take to the Social Security Administration Office. After international students have received their social security card they must bring it along with their, passport, copy of I-20 and I-94 to the Human Resources Office before they begin working to authorize their employment as part of their New Student Employment Onboarding Paperwork (see forms). International students are not allowed to work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session. The Fort Lewis College work week is Saturday through Friday.

Supervisor responsibilities

Supervisor responsibilities are:

  • to generate job descriptions, job listings (including promotions), interview, and hire;
  • ensure that student employees have completed their student employment on-boarding requirements include their I-9 on or before their first day of employment;
  • complete the employment contract (CARF, see forms) and return it to ecarfs@fortlewis.edu or work-study contract and return it to the Skyhawk Station along with a current job description – send revised job description to hr@fortlewis.edu;
  • establish a work schedule with the student and ensure students are not working during their scheduled class time. Academic success is the student employee’s top priority. Determine if your potential student employee is academically strong enough to work for you and still earn good grades.
  • explain duties and responsibilities to the student before they begin working and provide them with a current job description;
  • provide training and ensure student employee has complete their required trainings annually;
  • monitor hours the student works;
  • approve accurate timesheets via WebOpus by the submission deadline each pay period;
  • Promote unity among student employees and staff;
  • follow required termination procedures if applicable;
  • submit written performance evaluations each semester or at least annually;
  • update job description and submit to HR annually.

If supervisors do not fulfill their responsibilities, they may be relieved of their supervisory duties.

Job postings, interviewing & hiring

Students seek employment through Handshake, FLC boards, and networking, independently arranging for interviews with supervisors. Supervisors will need to know their department's short- and long-term student employment needs and the skills required of prospective student employees prior to posting their positions on Handshake. Many students have considerable potential with little work experience. Jobs are part of their educational process and may compliment their academic work. Supervisors can teach valuable job skills and offer internships that will facilitate transition to careers. Carefully matching qualifications with job requirements enhances the employment experience. Interviews are important to ensure that the student employee is suited for the job.  Student employees have the option to be promoted to a higher-level position. Supervisors must ensure that promotional opportunities are posted on Handshake to provide equal opportunity for students to apply.

Please note the pay rate may be communicated to the student according to the pay plan when the student is hired, however, the student may not begin working until their contract has been submitted and the student has completed all their required on-boarding paperwork.

Confidentiality

Student employees accessing staff, faculty, administrator and/or student records must know the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) confidentiality and information disclosure law and complete the FERPA Training annually through the assigned employee trainings.  Violation of the right to confidentiality is serious and could result in liability to the institution.  Please have student employees who may be accessing this information to sign a Confidentiality Contract and submit to Human Resources.

Benefits

Student employees receive sick leave benefits under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplace Act and are covered by Worker’s Compensation while on the job, however, do not received other fringe benefits such as retirement*, vacation, or paid holidays. 

*Students who work while enrolled less than 1/2 time (less than 6 credits) will automatically be enrolled in a Student Employee Retirement Plan with TIAA that includes 7.5% of their pay automatically deducted from their paycheck and deposited into their account.  Students can access their retirement account information at TIAA.org or by calling TIAA at 800-842-2252.

Paychecks

Paydays are every other Friday and pay checks are mailed to the student’s mailing address on file with FLC unless they are signed up for direct deposit through payroll. Students can update their mailing address through WebOpus and are highly encouraged to sign up for direct deposit to receive their paycheck as quickly as possible.

Termination

Violations of confidentiality, insubordination, poor work performance, habitual tardiness and absence without prior notice or approval are some circumstances that justify terminating a student's employment. If the student is not performing in a satisfactory manner, supervisors should discuss issues with students and attempt to provide assistance in effort to improve the student's work performance. Supervisors must clearly explain their expectations and give students the opportunity to ask questions and receive clarification.

If the supervisor continues to be dissatisfied with the student's work, the student may be placed on probation for two weeks. The basis for placing the student on probation must be documented in writing. It should be discussed with the student and one copy given to the student and another copy sent to Human Resources for the student’s personnel file. This document must include performance expectations with a timeframe for accomplishment clearly stated. If the student fails to perform satisfactorily during the probationary period, the supervisor may terminate the student's employment. In all cases of probation or termination, the notification must be in writing with records sent to Human Resources for the student’s employee file.

Equal opportunity

Fort Lewis College does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, sex*, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family or domestic status, political beliefs, veteran status, pregnancy, or genetic information. Accordingly, equal opportunity for employment shall be extended to all persons. The College shall promote equal opportunity, equal treatment, and affirmative action efforts to increase the diversity of students, faculty, and staff. The College is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. To file a report, get resources, read policies, or make an appointment, see www.fortlewis.edu/CARE.

Title IX sex discrimination

Questions about Title IX sex discrimination?

Office of the Title 9 Coordinator
Kate Suazo (She/Ella)
970-247-7241

tellsomeone@fortlewis.edu

230 Skyhawk Station
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, Colorado 81301

Other kinds of discrimination

Other discrimination questions?

Office of the Equal Opportunity Coordinator
David Pirrone
(970) 247-7182
eeocoordinator@fortlewis.edu
192 Education Business Hall 1000 Rim Drive,Durango, Colorado 81301

Safety report

Information about Fort Lewis College’s alcohol and drug policy, sexual assault policy, campus security policies, campus crime statistics, fire safety procedures and fire statistics, and campus/community resources can be found in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Hard copies are available upon request.

Title IX

* Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Fort Lewis College may be directed to FLC's Title IX Coordinator and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education. Fort Lewis College does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political beliefs, or veteran status. Accordingly, equal opportunity for employment, admission, and education shall be extended to all persons. The College shall promote equal opportunity, equal treatment, and affirmative action efforts to increase the diversity of students, faculty, and staff.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is generally defined as "any deliberate or repeated unsolicited or unwelcome verbal comments, gestures or physical contact of sexual nature".  It is distinguished from voluntary sexual relationships by the elements of coercion, threat or unwanted attention.  It is an abuse of power.  Men, as well as women, are victims of sexual harassment.  Fort Lewis College is committed to ensuring that all employees and students can work and learn productively without unnecessary interference or distraction. As part of this commitment, we strive to maintain an environment that is free of unlawful discrimination including sexual harassment.  Sexual harassment is unethical and illegal. It is a violation of:

Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title IX, Education Amendments 1973
Colorado Revised Statutes, 18.9 - 111
Fort Lewis College Policy

Pay plan

Employers and supervisors at Fort Lewis College must adhere to the Student Employment Pay Plan. The Pay Plan is a guide for determining seniority and merit pay raises in addition to staying in compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. 

Employers are required to pay each of their student employees with the same job title and job description equally unless the following systems are in place and such plan is written clearly on the job description:

  • A seniority system;
  • A merit system;
  • A system that measures earnings by quantity or quality of production;
  • The geographic location where the work is performed;
  • Education, training, or experience to the extent that they are reasonably related to the work in question; or
  • Travel, if the travel is a regular and necessary condition of the work performed.

The allowable range students may earn is minimum wage up to minimum wage plus $2.00 per hour, applicable year-round.  Effective July 1, 2022 minimum wage for Colorado state workers including student employees is $15 per hour. Any contract submitted in excess of the allowed maximum will automatically be lowered to the maximum amount student may earn. An exception is when an employer is using discretionary grant funds to pay their student employee and requires approval from the Office of Sponsored Research or in the event the funds are donor funded and requires approval from Human Resources.

Work schedule

The supervisor and the student establish a work schedule taking into consideration the student's class and vacation schedules. The supervisor ensures that the student agrees to abide by the work schedule and does not work during class time. The student's work schedule may be revised each term according to their new class schedule.

Students paid through work-study funding may not earn more than half of the yearly award prior to the end of the fall term. Conversely, the unused portion of the fall award is added to the spring term award.

Full-time students should not work more than 20 hours per week except during vacation periods. Work-study students are not permitted to work overtime (40 + hours per week). Overtime hours will be charged to the department budget. The student may not work for pay after the last day of the award period: the last day of spring term finals if awarded work-study for the school year, or the last day specified on the CARF if paid through institutional funds.

The chart below is designed to help estimate the number of hours a student can work per week to meet their annual work-study award. It assumes that the student will work for two terms, not including Thanksgiving, Winter Break and Spring Break. The below chart is designed of the typical yearly maximum work-study award of $3,000.

Work-study Conversion Chart

Award Weeks per School Year Amount per Week Hourly Wage Hours per Week*
$3,000 /30 = $100 /$12.56 = 8.00
$3,000 /30 = $100 /$13.00 = 7.75
$3,000 /30 = $100 /$13.50 = 7.50
$3,000 /30 = $100 /$14.00 = 7.00

*Rounded to nearest quarter hour

Timesheets

A short instructional video is sent to students that explains how to enter their time. It is the supervisor's responsibility to ensure student employees are familiar with this process and to ensure timesheets are submitted according to the payroll deadlines.

Supervisors are responsible for verifying the accuracy of hours reported. The person signing as the supervisor will have direct knowledge of the hours worked as they appear on the timesheet. These timesheets are official records and as such, are subject to scrutiny through audits and program reviews from institutional, state, and federal regulatory agencies. The supervisor is accountable and will be held responsible for the accuracy of these records.

Students are required to submit their timesheet to their supervisor by the entry deadline listed on the payroll calendar. Supervisors are required to approve their student's timesheet on WebOPUS by the approval deadline listed on the payroll calendar. Students whose timesheets are not submitted or approved by the deadline will be required to request a manual timesheet from payroll@fortlewis.edu and their pay may be delayed. Any manual work-study timesheets turned in more than 30 days late will be paid out of departmental funds, not work-study funds.

Planning for the next year

Students paid through the work-study program must qualify for the award each year. 

THIS IS NOT AUTOMATIC. 

If you plan to re-hire a work-study student, remind your student to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the recommended early submission deadline of November 15th each year. Due to funding limitations, students who do not meet the deadline may not be awarded work-study.

Determine your anticipated student employment needs for each academic year. To create new positions, you will need to complete a Student Job Description Form. To advertise a student position including promotional opportunities, supervisors will post the job on the Handshake.

Forms

Career Development

Fort Lewis values and fosters a culture of personal and professional growth as part of career development.  Students and supervisors are encouraged to utilize the Career Conversation form  tool as a guide to documenting meaningful conversations, goals, and reflection periods.  

Benefits include:

  • Coaching-centered tool to use during introductory, reflection, and exit meetings with student employees
  • Opportunity to connect student’s strengths with job tasks and career goals that can be incorporated in student’s resumes
  • Included examples illustrate sample language to use in discussions with student employees

 

FAQs

Q: Is it possible for the student to work more than one job at FLC simultaneously?

A: Yes, students may work through multiple CARF or work-study contracts simultaneously or a combination of the two.  Student employee who are working more than one job at FLC will need to keep in mind not to work more than 12 hours in a day or more than 40 hours in a week to avoid overtime through all of their jobs combined and are encouraged not to work more than 20 hours combined when classes are in session.


Q: May the student earn more than their work-study award amount?

A: No; the contract specifies the maximum amount that the student may earn. The student's earnings should be monitored to ensure that the student does not earn more than the approved limit nor work past the last day of the contract. If a student over-earns their work-study award, the over-earnings are charged to the department budget. The work-study student cannot earn more than the fall award during the fall term. If there is an unused portion of earnings remaining from the fall term, it is added to the spring term amount and that total becomes the maximum amount the student may earn for the spring term.


Q: May the student be paid from department funds after the work-study limit has been earned?

A: Yes. The supervisor must submit a Contract Authorization Request Form (CARF) to replace a work-study contract.


Q: Are the student employment earnings taxable?

A: Yes, depending on how the student completed their W-4 form.


Q: Are there limitations on the type of work a student can be asked to do?

A: Yes; the supervisor cannot ask a student to do personal tasks such as personal correspondence, running personal errands, etc. The work assigned must be necessary for the operation of the department or office and must directly support its function.