Student Employee Information

Student Employee Information

Definition:
Employment of a student of Iowa State University who was hired as a work study or non-work study employee.

Authority:
Students working as part-time public employees twenty hours per week or less, except graduate or other postgraduate students in preparation for a profession who are engaged in academically related employment as a teaching, research or service assistant. Iowa Code - 20.4 (4) Public Employment Relations - Exclusion (PDF)

All presidents, deans, directors, teachers, professional and scientific personnel and student employees are under the jurisdiction of the state Board of Regents. Iowa Code - 8A.412 (5) Merit System - Applicability - Exceptions (PDF)

ISU Student Employment Website

Expectations for Student Employees

• Do not replace merit or P&S staff
• Are registered as Iowa State students for at least one credit hour in the semester of employment
• Can continue as a student employee though the end of month of graduation, as long as otherwise authorized and permitted, i.e. international students cannot work beyond the end of the semester in which they graduate unless they are registered as a student for the following fall semester
• Are allowed to work during the summer as non-student employees (not taking summer classes), if registered for the next fall semester
• Are limited to 20 hours or less per week when classes are in session, except during summer session
• Will be paid for hours worked. Hours worked over 40 in a work week will be paid at time and one-half. Hours will be tracked by Workday time tracking and be paid as a student employee

Student FICA Information

• Wages earned by undergraduate students who are enrolled at Iowa State University and are at least half-time students are exempt from FICA and Medicare taxes. Students attain half-time status by enrolling in at least 6 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters and 3 credit hours during the summer session. Graduate students must be registered for 5 credit hours or more during the fall and spring semesters and 3 credit hours or more during the summer session to be exempt from FICA and Medicare taxes.
• Wages earned during the summer months by students not registered in summer classes are subject to FICA and Medicare withholding.

New Employee Sign Up Information

On or before the first day of employment, all employees hired at Iowa State University must complete payroll forms in University Human Resources, 3810 Beardshear. At this time, the employee will fill out an I-9 form and Employment Information/Equal Opportunity form. The employee will need to provide a federal or state photo ID/Drivers license and Social Security card or certified birth certificate or a passport, that establish identity and employment eligibility. If employee is between 14 and 18 years of age, see Section 3.23 Child Labor Regulations.

Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, if an employee is unable to provide the necessary documents to complete the I-9 (Employment Eligibility) Verification on or before the start of employment he or she must produce a receipt showing that he or she has applied for the document. In order to continue employment, the employee must produce the documents itself within 90 days of hire.

Non-United States Citizens

Non-United States citizens must complete Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) with the International Students and Scholars Office (4530 Memorial Union). For more information, please visit the International Students and Scholars Office.