Student Employment FAQs

Should I become a student employee?
You will want to consider your class load and the amount of study time necessary to support your classes before seeking employment opportunities on or off campus during the academic year. This balance is very important in determining the level of success you will achieve while attending Aquinas College .

Who is eligible?
You must be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours during the fall or spring semester and 3 credit hours in a summer term to be eligible for on-campus student employment. No student may average over 20 hours per week of on-campus employment during the academic year. 

What kinds of opportunities are available?
On-campus job opportunities occur throughout the year, including in the summer months, when housekeeping and groundskeeping crews are very important.  More jobs become available just prior to the beginning of each academic term. Some of the positions filled by student employees during the school year include but are not limited to:

• Admissions: Student Ambassadors
• Aquinas Bookstore: Students must apply directly with the bookstore management
• Athletics: Physical Education and Athletic Assistants for team and intramural sports; Building Managers
• Campus Dining: Caterers, Corner Café workers, Kitchen Assistants, Grill Cook, Pizza Supervisor, Student Cook Helpers, Moose Care Baristas
• Campus Life: Staff Assistants
• Campus Ministry: Staff Assistants
• Campus Safety: Officers
• College Newspaper - The Saint: Reporters,Editors, Photographers
• Conferencing & Event Services: Set-Up Assists and Event Monitors
• Copy Center & Mail Room: Mail Distributors, Copy Assistants, Mailroom Clerks
• Grace Hauenstein Library: Assistants
• Information Technology Services: Lab Assistants, Programmers, Help Desk Staff, and Computer Technician Assistants
• International Programs : Office Assistants
• Kretschmer Recital Hall/Art & Music Center: Building Managers, Stage Manager, Office Assistants, Score Librarian, Slide Librarian
• Physical Plant: Housekeepers, Groundskeepers, Maintenance, Snow Crew, 
• Performing Arts Center: A variety of production-related opportunities
• Registrar's Office: Staff Assistants
• Residence Life: Residence Hall Desk Receptionists, Resident Assistants
• Science: Student Lab Assistants
• Student Support Services: Peer Tutors
• Women's Studies Center: Staff Assistants

How do I onboard as a student worker?
Once a student has accepted a job offer at Aquinas, the student's supervisor will complete a Student Employment Information Form, which will be sent electronically to Human Resources (HR@aquinas.edu). HR will respond by sending the student worker an onboarding email. The student will use the login information provided in the email to complete various required forms, including tax withholding forms.

VERY IMPORTANT: Students may not work until they have met with HR and provided the documentation required to complete Section Two of federal I-9 Form. In accordance with federal law, the documents presented must be ORIGINAL documents (NOT copies or pictures), and they must be presented on the student worker's first day of employment.

To avoid delay in starting work, student workers should review the list of acceptable documents to ensure they have original documents in hand before agreeing to a start date. To expedite this process, please email the Human Resources Office at hr@aquinas.edu to make an appointment.

Are international students eligible?
International students who have been granted F-1 status by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are eligible for on-campus employment as long as they maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester and do not work over 20 hours per week. International students will need to apply for a U.S. Social Security Card after they have secured an on-campus position. Students should email globalstudentservices@aquinas.edu for more information about how to obtain a social security card.

How do I get paid?
Students utilize ADP Workforce Now, our payroll system, to log their hours by clocking in and out. You will be given access to this system by Human Resources. Hours worked are then confirmed by the student's supervisor. If you miss a punch, please contact your supervisor as soon as possible. Accurate documentation of hours worked is a legal requirement and extremely important. Falsifying hours is a serious offense and violates Aquinas College's student code of conduct. Any student found to have falsified time records will be subject to disciplinary action and will no longer be able to work at Aquinas College.

Student payroll is biweekly. Ask your manager for a payroll schedule. Direct deposit is strongly recommended. Sign up for direct deposit within the first two weeks of employment using ADP Workforce Now. If you have issues signing up for direct deposit, please contact Payroll (Donna Slaughter, Payroll Specialist, Phone: (616) 632-2143 Email: dds004@aquinas.edu). ADP automatically pre-notes your bank account with your bank when you sign up for direct deposit. The payroll office will email you if your first paycheck is not directly deposited.

You will also use ADP Workforce Now to make any address changes. Changes must be submitted before 5 p.m. the Tuesday before the paydate.