Student employment can be a fundamental part of a student’s educational experience, promoting engagement and providing professional development opportunities in an effort to retain, graduate, and prepare students for the workplace. UTRGV’s Student Employment Office hires over 2500 students to work on-campus every year.

Being employed at the university not only provides students with extra money. They also have the opportunity to:

Acquire hands-on experience that will create beneficial workplace habits,
Develop stronger connections with faculty and staff,
Build and improve organizational and time management skills, and
Enhance career readiness for successful professional employment after graduation.

There are a few types of student employment options that undergraduate students are eligible for at The University of Rio Grande Valley. These options are Work-Study (awarded through Financial Aid) and Direct Wage (not based on financial aid award).

For graduate student employment opportunities or student assistantships, contact the Graduate College at (956) 665-3661 or gradcollege@utrgv.edu.

STUDENT EMPLOYMENT HOURLY INCREASE

Student Wage Increase Frequently Asked Questions

To assist you with completing your degrees in a timely manner, UTRGV encourages you to seek employment on campus and take advantage of having a job that works around your academic schedule and pays competitively. For this reason, UTRGV has approved an increase of the hourly rate to $12. This will be the new minimum rate for all hourly assignments starting September 1, 2022.

To take advantage of the increased rate as early as this summer, you must enroll in a minimum of 1 credit hour or more. For additional information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions below.

Students

Who will qualify?

All students working under a student title at UTRGV that are enrolled in the Summer will be eligible for the increased rate of $12 per hour starting the summer session they are enrolled in (no sooner than June 1, 2022).

Are there any steps that I need to take, or do I need to notify anyone that I am going to be enrolled in the summer and also working as a student employee to be eligible for this hourly increase?

There is no action needed on your part as the Student Employment Office will be verifying enrollment on census day and will then adjust the pay rate accordingly.

Will pay rates be adjusted?

Yes, pay rates will be adjusted accordingly after the census date by Salary Administration for the respective session.

Will the Work Study funds awarded to students be adjusted as well?

Although the total Work Study award will remain the same, the hourly pay rate will be adjusted which may result in a decrease in the available hours a student can work. For more information on Work Study award amounts, please contact workstudy@utrgv.edu

How do I apply for Work Study?

Students can apply for financial aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA). If you are a US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, you should complete a FAFSA. If you are neither a US Citizen nor a permanent resident but graduated from a Texas High School, you should complete a TASFA. The FAFSA can be completed online at fafsa.gov. TASFA cannot be completed online, but it can be accessed via www.utrgv.edu/finaid under the Forms section for the appropriate year. For assistance with completing the FAFSA or TASFA, visit U Central or schedule an appointment with a Financial Aid advisor.

How do I request Work Study if I have already applied with a FAFSA?

Students who were not originally awarded Work Study or who need to request, can visit utrgv.edu/finaid and click the Additional Aid Request option. Students need to fill out the form in its entirety and click submit to receive their confirmation of submission. Also please make sure that your student ID number and email address are entered correctly so that your student record can be reviewed. All awards are contingent on the availability of funds. Students should expect a response within 5-7 business days. Students can check their award status online through their ASSIST account.

How do I contact the Work Study Office?

For questions or additional information, students may contact the Work Study Office at workstudy@utrgv.edu.

If I am only registered for classes Summer II, but work Summer I only, am I eligible for the wage increase in Summer I?

No, pay rates will not be adjusted retroactively if you were not enrolled in a prior summer session.

If I am only registered for classes Summer I, but I work Summer II only, am I eligible for the wage increase for Summer II?

No, pay rates will not be adjusted retroactively if you were not enrolled in a prior summer session.

Does this only apply to students who are registered for summer classes?

Yes, this rate with a one-credit-hour requirement only applies to students that are enrolled in summer semesters. There will be different criteria for Fall 2022 student employment.

What if I already earn $12 per hour or more as a student employee?

Your hourly rate will stay as is, no further increase will be processed.

Supervisors

Who will qualify?

All students working in a student title at UTRGV and that are enrolled in the Summer will be eligible for the increased rate of $12 per hour. This is not applicable for part-time non-students.

How many hours will my student employee need to be enrolled?

A student needs to be enrolled in at least one credit hour.

Will we receive notification when the pay rate change has been adjusted?

If the rate is adjusted, a notification will be sent to the supervisor on record. As the supervisor, you will be expected to communicate this change to your student employee.

What if my student employee already earns $12 per hour or more?

The student’s hourly rate will stay as is. No further increase will be processed.

EPAF/CPAF Initiator

If I have already submitted ePAF/cPAF to rehire a Student/Work Study employee for the summer with an hourly rate of less than $12 per hour, and the student meets the enrollment requirements (enrolled in classes in the Summer, with at least one credit hour), but the form is currently pending with Position Control or Human Resources, what should I do?

If the ePAF/cPAF is already submitted and is pending Position Control or Human Resources, no action is needed since student status will be reviewed at the census date and the rate will be adjusted accordingly.

The Student/Work Study employee has an appointment that started before the Summer and is scheduled until August (for example January until August 2022) with an hourly rate of less than $12 per hour. What action do I need to take if the student meets the new rate requirements (is enrolled in classes in the Summer, with at least one credit hour)?

Human Resources will adjust the hourly rate; you do not need to do anything else.

If I have already submitted a ePAF/cPAF to rehire a Student/Work Study employee for the summer, with an hourly rate of less than $12 per hour and it has not reached Position Control or Human Resources, what should I do?

If the ePAF/cPAF is submitted after the census date and the student is enrolled for the current summer semester and has not reached Position Control or Human Resources, then the creator can edit and adjust the hourly rate to $12 per hour.

Can I edit a form that was not created by me, or can I assign someone to edit the hourly rate?

If the ePAF/cPAF has not reached Human Resources or Position Control, then anyone in the workflow can make edits. If the form has already reached those departments, then no action is needed since student status will be reviewed at the census date and the rate will be adjusted if the employee meets the enrollment requirements.

If a Student/Work Study employee will not work in the summer, but will return in Fall 2022, should I still submit a form with the $12 hourly rate for the Fall 2022 semester?

Yes, $12 per hour will be the new minimum hourly rate for UTRGV students beginning September 1st.

If I need assistance editing the hourly rate, who can I contact?

You can edit an ePAF/cPAF by clicking on the top right edit button on the form. Once clicked, you should be able to update the hourly rate. If you still have questions, please email salaryadministration@utrgv.edu or call 956-665-2451 or 956-882-8205.

Funding

Will my department receive additional funding to cover student wages?

For Summer 2022, Planning and Analysis will adjust budgets and provide additional funding as needed to cover student wage assignments in institutionally funded and auxiliary cost centers. Self-funded and restricted cost centers will be required to fund student wages in full

Student wage budgets for Fall 2022 and after will be adjusted during FY 2023 budget development.

When will additional funds be provided?

The additional funding as needed for Summer 2022 will be provided after the July accounting close.

Who can I contact for funding assistance?

Departments should reach out to their college or divisional budget coordinator with any questions. The list of budget coordinators is available to download. If necessary, the budget coordinators will reach out to Planning and Analysis for assistance.

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Office of Human Resources Division of the President