Navigating Student Employment at Northeastern University: A Comprehensive Guide

Northeastern University offers a wealth of on-campus employment opportunities for its students, providing valuable experience and financial assistance. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding student employment at Northeastern, covering eligibility, application processes, regulations, and important resources.

The Office of Student Employment, Graduate Assistantships, & Fellowships (SEGAF)

On-Campus Employment at Northeastern is managed by The Office of Student Employment, Graduate Assistantships, & Fellowships (SEGAF). SEGAF plays a central role in connecting students with on-campus job openings and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations. Student Employment serves currently enrolled Northeastern students who are seeking part-time, seasonal, temporary, and on-campus employment. Job opportunities such as these assist students in meeting college expenses and/or gaining career-related experience.

Eligibility for On-Campus Employment

Eligibility for certain on-campus jobs, such as those funded by the Federal Work-Study Program, are based on demonstrated financial need resulting from an approved financial aid application. Other on-campus jobs (Student Aide) are open to all students who are enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours (half time) per semester. Several factors determine a student's eligibility for on-campus employment:

Enrollment Status: Generally, students must be enrolled at least half-time (six credit hours) to be eligible for on-campus employment. (Undergraduate and Graduate) Enrolled full or half-time.
Financial Need: Eligibility for Federal Work-Study positions is based on demonstrated financial need, determined through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Must complete FAFSA.
Degree Program: Students must be enrolled in a degree program. Must be enrolled in a degree program.
International Students: International students are able to participate in student employment opportunities at Northeastern. However, there are some important regulations to keep in mind.

Specific Eligibility for International Students (F-1 and J-1 Visas)

International students holding F-1 and J-1 visas have specific guidelines to follow regarding on-campus employment:

F-1 Students: F-1 students enrolled in degree-seeking programs at Northeastern University are eligible to work on-campus while attending classes. The work does not need to be related to the student’s field of study. F-1 students do not require employment authorization to accept an on-campus position.
J-1 Students: J-1 degree-seeking and exchange students at Northeastern University are eligible to work on-campus while attending classes. J-1 students must receive employment authorization from OGS BEFORE they begin and for each position, regardless of whether they already have a social security number. Authorizations are granted for up to one year at a time or until the end of your J-1 program, whichever comes first. J-1 students should submit a J-1 On-Campus Employment Authorization request to OGS. See below for details.

Work Hour Limitations

During Academic Terms: F-1 and J-1 students may work up to 20 hours per week during required academic terms. If full time enrollment is required for you during the summer term(s), you may not work more than 20 hours/week.
During Breaks and Vacation Periods: F-1 and J-1 students may work more than 20 hours/week during non-required academic terms and vacation periods. Vacation/Break (i.e.
Graduating Students: Graduating students are allowed to work until the official last day of university finals.

Finding On-Campus Job Opportunities

All jobs received by Student Employment are posted online at Handshake. The Online Job Search can be found by going to Workday and searching “Jobs and Career Hub” then selecting “Student Employment”. Northeastern utilizes various platforms to advertise on-campus job openings:

Workday: The primary platform for finding on-campus jobs is Workday. Students can access the "Jobs and Career Hub" within Workday and select "Student Employment" to browse available positions.
Handshake: All jobs received by Student Employment are posted online at Handshake.

The Onboarding Process

Once you have an offer of employment, you will need to complete the onboarding process with SEGAF. Before you can be hired for any position on campus, you must have a completed I-9 form on file with the Office of Student Employment, Graduate Assistantships & Fellowships. Can be completed online via Workday. You will be required to provide supporting documentation to an authorized Student Employment representative.

Obtaining a Social Security Number (SSN)

In order to complete this process, you will need a Social Security Number (SSN).

For F-1 Students Without an SSN: If you have been offered an on-campus job for the first time and do not have a SSN, you will need to obtain an on-campus employment SSN letter from OGS. This letter can be presented to the Social Security Administration (SSA) in order to apply for a SSN. Please follow the steps below if you have a job offer and need to obtain a SSN.
- Apply for and accept an offer with an employer on-campus.
- A Designated School Official (DSO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) from OGS will review and sign the letter, if eligible.
For F-1 Students With an Existing SSN: If you already have a Social Security Number, you do not need to request an on-campus employment SSN letter from OGS.
For J-1 Students: J-1 students must receive employment authorization from OGS BEFORE they begin and for each position, regardless of whether they already have a social security number.

Important Forms and Procedures

Several forms and procedures are essential for student employees at Northeastern:

I-9 Form: Before you can be hired for any position on campus, you must have a completed I-9 form on file with the Office of Student Employment, Graduate Assistantships & Fellowships. Can be completed online via Workday. You will be required to provide supporting documentation to an authorized Student Employment representative.
Direct Deposit: All on-campus student employees and all off-campus work-study student employees are required to enroll in direct deposit.
W-4 Form: The W-4 Form indicates how much in federal taxes will be withheld from your paycheck.
M-4 Form (Massachusetts): Students in Massachusetts will additionally fill out the M-4 Form for state tax withholdings.
Timesheets: If you are an hourly paid employee, you should submit your online timesheet to your supervisor each week that you work. each week.
Tax Forms: These forms will be available to you in Workday once you have been hired into a position.

Compensation

Student employees are paid at an hourly wage. Pay rates will vary depending on the level of experience, and the responsibilities for each position, but will always adhere to the state minimum wage.

Workday Maintenance and System Blackouts

It's important to be aware of scheduled maintenance windows for the Workday HR system, which may result in temporary system blackouts. We want to inform you about an upcoming Workday maintenance window that will result in a complete system blackout intermittently heading into the upcoming weekend. Due to maintenance of the Workday HR system in preparation for the Workday Finance go-live, there will be no access to Workday HR for the following three weekends and a full week from June to July. Additionally, a freeze on specific HR transactions will be in effect from June 06 EOD through July 2, 2025 EOD. This freeze is critical to ensure a smooth transition and data accuracy during the system cutover.

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Additional Resources and Considerations

Stipended Graduate Assistantships (SGA): Students holding a Stipended Graduate Assistantship (SGA) should review this page for additional information about eligibility/requirements and submit the appropriate request for that type of on-campus employment.
Off-Campus Work-Study: Federally funded on or off-campus employment. Off-campus employment is arranged through Student Employment with public and/or private not-for-profit agencies operating in the public interest.
Location Specifics: (Please pay attention to the specific location that is considered on-campus employment. Fenway Lot - 216 Hemenway St, Melvin Lot - Hemenway Terrace (84 Fenway), Asian American Center Lot - 109 Hemenway St (Public Alley 807), Fenway Center Lot - 68 St. Stephen St, North Lot - 97 St.
Unacceptable Employers: If the on-campus employer you would like to work at is not listed on either the acceptable or unacceptable list, please contact OGS for guidance.
Resume Submission: If you are an international graduate student with at least two years of work experience, please upload your resume to be incorporated in our Talent Pool.
California Law Compliance: Under California law, all work time an employee works needs to be accounted for.

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