Handshake is the job portal students use for searching and applying for on-campus part-time jobs.

On-campus department supervisors automatically have access to Handshake.

However, if you are having trouble accessing it, or if you are a new staff/faculty member contact studentemployment@utrgv.edu for assistance or for troubleshooting.

No, please contact the Student Employment office at studentemployment@utrgv.edu so that a user access account is created for you. If you create your own access, you will not have access to the features needed

A departmental posting is created ONLY when the department has a position that requires unique job duties and when the posting requires specific qualifications necessary to fulfill the position.

The Student Employment Office has created job postings that entail job duties that are generic in nature. These are postings that require standard duties for which students are commonly hired.

The generic job postings have a high number of applicants and any hiring official can view and access the listing of applicants for interviewing and hiring.

Log into Handshake using the single sign-on under the myutrgv.edu link. Click on Handshake, then click on Jobs. Select “Divisions” in the drop-down arrow key and select Human Resources & Talent Devt in order to see the listing of generic job postings. Click on the job title according to the position you are hiring for to view the list of student applicants.

Yes, it is recommended for the status to be changed. After a student has been selected the student can be identified as “Hired” on the Applicants page under Status. The status can also be changed to “Reviewed” which means the application is being reviewed.

For the recruiting of new student employees.

By logging into my.utrgv.edu or utrgv.joinhandshake.com.

All enrolled students should be able to view and apply to the general job postings as well as the posting created by the department. The generic job postings are open to all majors, however not all departmental job postings are open to all majors.

If the student still cannot see these postings, have the student contact studentemployment@utrgv.edu so that a student employment coordinator can review and troubleshoot the issue with him/her.

Sometimes a student may not be able to view a posting because his/her job preferences do not match the requirements for the position. For example, the department may have included a requirement of a 3.0 GPA but the student trying to apply has a GPA of 2.5. In this case, the student will not be able to view that particular job posting.

1. When the individual being hired for the pertinent semester is not enrolled in the current, past, or upcoming terms.
2. When a non-student is selected to perform specialized duties that an enrolled student cannot perform since these duties require special training/degree/certification that an enrolled student does not have.
3. A job posting for PT Non-Student is not required in Handshake, as non-students do not have access to Handshake. Only enrolled students can view Handshake job postings.

1. The posting can be created in some cases through HR. Please contact HR Recruitment at careers@utrgv.edu for assistance.
2. Individuals who are not enrolled at UTRGV do not have access to view jobs posted in Handshake but can view postings at https://careers.utrgv.edu/.

No, the student is still considered a student. The Hiring Form should be created under a Student job title (i.e. Student Assistant or Student Academic Assistant, etc.). A student can be hired under a student job title for the summer, as long as they attended Spring and enrolled for the upcoming Fall semester.

Yes, they may be permitted to work up to 39 hours per week during the summer on a case-by-case basis. The maximum number of hours per week during the Spring and Fall is 19 hours. For additional questions, e-mail International Admissions Office at international@utrgv.edu.

No, international students do not qualify for work-study. However, they may qualify for other types of aid. For more information on other types of financial assistance, e-mail International Admissions Office at international@utrgv.edu and/or Financial Aid Office at ucentral@utrgv.edu.

Student employees may work up to 19 hours per week. In select cases, students may be granted an exception to work over the allowed 19 hours per week. Exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please contact studentemployment@utrgv.edu.

Although this is not recommended as it may cause timecard issues, student employees may have two direct wage assignments. Student employees cannot exceed the 19 hours per week in total.

Example: 4 hours per week with Department A, 15 hours per week with Department B. Total 19 hours per week.

There is no minimum credit hour requirement as long as the student is enrolled for the semester that he/she will be working.

For any questions regarding WS status, awards, eligibility, etc, please contact Work Study at 665-2934 or workstudy@utrgv.edu.

Financial Aid Work-Study program will cover 100% of the student's award. For any questions, please contact Work Study at 956-665-2934 or workstudy@utrgv.edu.

This depends on the funding source the student is eligible for. State funds and federal funds involve different enrollment requirements.

No, this is not permitted.

A CBC is needed, if there is a break in service of more than 6 months, no CBC submitted in the past 12 months or when a student is a new hire.

The Criminal Background Check Link (CBC), is below:

Criminal Background Check Link (CBC)

It is a two-step process that is needed when a student is a new hire or has had a break from employment for 2 years.

1. The first step is to complete the online I-9 form and onboarding documents found on the HR website or below:
   • Form I-9
   • Biographical Information Form, only if you are a new hire at UTRGV. This form is not required if you have worked at UTRGV at any prior point.
2. The second step is for the student to visit HR to certify documents. Where is the Biographical Form Link?

This form is used for processing a new candidate. A candidate is usually an individual who is new to the university or has not worked for the university for the last six months. 

This form is used for proposing changes to a current employee's job data such as hiring dates, number of hours per week, position, rate of pay, department, location or room number. 

If the Hiring Form is at the Student Employment approval level, the department can email studentemployment@utrgv.edu or their assigned coordinator for requesting the status.

No, it is the responsibility of the hiring official to contact the Student Employment Office for status on the Hiring Form and in turn inform the student of the status.

No, it is the supervisor’s responsibility to track the NH and CJD workflow approval level by logging in to the HR portal, in order to inform the student of their first day.

No, under no circumstance can the student start working while the Hiring Form is in process. The student can start working when HR has approved the Hiring Form.

The Hiring Form should be submitted no less than two weeks before the proposed start date in order to allow ample time for all the approvers in the workflow to review and approve the request. Starting students before HR approval, will cause a delay in the student payment. It takes several days for Payroll Office to create and provide access to the student's timecard.

By default, all UTRGV employees automatically have access to the HR Portal. If the hiring official cannot access the system, the employee may send an email to HR@utrgv.edu.

If you cannot identify an appropriate existing position, a new position should be requested; send an email to positioncontrol@utrgv.edu.

Yes, it is recommended to submit the CJD at least two weeks ahead of time in order to allow ample time for all the approvals to be completed in the workflow.

It is the responsibility of the hiring official/supervisor to track the earnings of the work-study, in order to anticipate when the transfer to DW should be initiated.

You can contact the Student Employment Office at studentemployment@utrgv.edu or by calling our HR Office 956-665-2451 or 956-882-8205.

Yes, additional steps would need to be taken when hiring a student worker under 18 years old. For information regarding the limitations, please read Texas Child Labor Law or contact Student Employment at studentemployment@utrgv.edu.