Student Employment

External Non-ECU Employers

Looking for off campus opportunities? The ECU Student Employment Office (SEO) will post local off campus opportunities on the job website. Students should apply directly to the contact information listed.

ECU makes no representations or guarantees about positions listed from outside employers with the SEO. ECU is not responsible for safety, wages, working conditions, or other aspects of off-campus employment. Further, ECU makes no representation or guarantees to employers regarding student integrity, safety, confidentiality, fitness or competence for employment, or other aspects of off-campus employment. It is the responsibility of the employer to interview, check references and/or perform background checks on its student employment hires.

Student Employees (Hourly) (Formerly Self-Help)

Student Employment positions are part-time or full-time, hourly campus jobs that are available to any undergraduate or graduate student that is currently registered at ECU and is in good academic standing (minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.) Hourly pay rates will vary depending upon the department’s budget, the student’s experience level, and the required duties and responsibilities of the positions. Student employees may work up to 40 hours per week.

Federal Work-Study Program

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federally funded program that provides part-time job opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing these students to earn money in which to help pay for educational expenses. The program encourages community service work and work that is related to the student recipient’s course of study.

Eligibility is determined by the annual completion of the FAFSA, enrollment status, and satisfactory academic progress. ONLY students qualified by the Office of Student Financial Aid are eligible to participate in the program. Please note that students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours to participate in the FWS program.

Qualified students who accept FWS are issued a “FWS Hiring Authorization Form” via ECU email. This form is to be completed by the student and hiring agency. Students are paid hourly, based on experience level. The hourly pay rates for FWS Positions range from $10.00-$14.00 per hour. Federal Work-Study employees may not work more than 25 hours per week in a FWS position. The amount of FWS earned cannot exceed the total amount awarded to the student.

FWS students are paid twice a month and must submit time in PIRATEtime. If a student works off-campus, their employer will usually be a private nonprofit organization or a public agency, and the work performed must be in the public interest.

For more information on becoming a FWS employee, contact Kelly Sikes-Baker at 252-328-4394.

Apply for Federal Work-Study Positions today! Click here to apply.

Undergraduate Assistantships

An Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) provides enrolled undergraduate students with hands-on research experience under the mentorship of a faculty or staff member. Through these educational experiences, students engage in a mentored investigation or creative inquiry that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge.

Undergraduate Research Assistants (URAs) are appointed within an academic department or program. Their work supports the research mission of the unit and relates to their field of study

Non-Degree students are not eligible for Undergraduate Research Assistantships. Undergraduate Research Assistantships are paid twice a month through a salary. Award amounts vary. The number of hours worked per week will vary by department. Student employees in Undergraduate Research Assistantships may not work more than 25 hours per week.

Graduate Research or Teaching Assistantships

Graduate Research or Teaching Assistantships are available to qualified, full-time, degree- seeking graduate students. The primary purpose of graduate assistantships is to promote the successful completion of an academic program by enabling students to obtain academic or research experience while making progress towards their graduate degree.

Appointments are normally given to those students who:

• have demonstrated superior aptitude in a particular field of study appear likely to render a high quality of service to the University by their teaching, research, and other activities
• perform specific services in which to further his/her undergraduate equation
• are in good academic standing (minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA) and are enrolled full-time in an on-campus ECU Graduate degree program

The duties, hours, and pay for graduate assistants vary by program. Offers of assistantships are made directly by the department and are contingent upon the availability of funds. Students who are interested in learning more about graduate assistantships are encouraged to contact their graduate program directly or visit the Graduate School website for more information.

Please note that Graduate Research or Teaching Assistantships are hired through the Graduate School. However, hourly graduate assistantships are available through various divisions, departments, and colleges.

Remote Work

Student employees are expected to work on campus. If remote work is approved, employees must reside and work within the state of North Carolina.

How to Apply to a Position

Click here to apply for a student position.

Employment-Related Background Checks, Criminal Activity Reporting, and Applicant Salary History Policy

An ECU policy developed to help promote a safe learning and work environment for students, staff, faculty, and visitors. Background checks will be used to evaluate prospective or current employees for employment purposes and will not be used to discriminate on the basis of any of the Protected Classes as outlined in the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination Policy. Employment decisions must be solely job related to the position in question and consistent with business necessity.

• Background checks are required to be conducted on student employees who will have Unsupervised Access to either (a) Sensitive Population; (b) other ECU students; or (c) Unsupervised Access to cash, checks or other forms of liquid assets of the University.
• If a background check is required for a position, it will be noted in the job posting.
• Student employees will not be able to begin work until the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Employment Eligibility Regulation

An ECU policy on the requirement of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 to only hire individuals who are legally eligible to work in the United States. ECU verifies the identity and employment eligibility of each individual hired, completes and retains a federal Form I-9 for each employee, and does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of national origin or any other Protected Class as outlined in ECU’s Notice of Nondiscrimination Policy.

• You will be contacted by the SEO and will receive an email from HireRight with instructions to complete Section 1 of the I-9 form online.
• To complete Section 2, you must present your original identification documents to the SEO. You may do this:
  • In person, by visiting Old Cafeteria G403 or G406 (appointments are not required), or
  • Virtually by requesting a remote appointment using this link (https://calendly.com/ecupeopleoperations/i9completion).

Student Employee Training

It is important that ECU student employees remain successful both inside the classroom as well as in their student jobs. For this reason, ECU requires all students to complete a series of online New Employee Trainings that are accessible in Cornerstone.

The required New Student Employee Trainings include:

• Best Practices in Information Security for Employees
• Confidentiality Agreement
• Student Worker ACA
• When Lightning Strikes: How to Recognize & Respond to an Extreme Violence Event

Payroll

ECU pay periods run from the 1st – 15th and the 16th – last day of the month. Student employee paystubs will reflect time worked for the two weeks prior to when approved time is submitted. This means that as a student employee, you receive pay on the 15th and the last day of the month for work completed in the previous pay period. All work performed between the 1st and the 15th will be paid out via direct deposit on the last day of the month; and all work performed between the 16th and the last day of the month will be paid out on the 15th. Please note that hourly student employees are responsible for accurately reporting time worked in the timekeeping system.  Directions on completing the W4 and NC4 can be found here. Please click here for directions for completing your direct deposit.

Holiday Schedule/Campus Closings

Student work schedules follow the holiday/closing schedule for the University. Student employees are not paid for University holidays or closings. Students should not be scheduled to work on these days and would not receive additional pay above their normal hour rate if they are expected to work as an exception.

During adverse weather conditions, student employees are advised to contact their departmental supervisor to determine whether the University will be open or closed. If open, employees will need to discuss whether reporting to work is required and/or possible based on weather conditions. Student employees are not paid for hours not worked during periods of adverse weather.

Student employees are not eligible to earn any sick, vacation or other paid forms of leave.

Student Employment Affordable Care Act

Student employees who are hired/rehired after January 1, 2015 and work 30 hours or more per week are considered eligible for health insurance and will be notified through email by the Benefits Unit and offered the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). Those eligible will receive an email with information, an enrollment guide, and the uniform summary of benefits within 30 days of the date eligibility is determined.

If it is determined that you are eligible, the Benefits Unit will contact you through email. If you are not contacted shortly after your hire date, but you think you are eligible for coverage under ACA regulations, contact Trina Baker at 252-328-9889 or bakertr@ecu.edu.

Affordable Care Act (ACA) – High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

National Student Employment Week

Student employment offers students career-enhancing opportunities, the ability to develop skills relevant in any career, and better preparation for the job market upon graduation. Student employees perform invaluable services with enthusiasm, dedication, and initiative. The ECU campus and the local community depend on the contributions of this reliable workforce for efficient operation. For this reason, ECU participates in National Student Employment Week to draw awareness to the contributions that our student employees make in the multitude of roles they fill.

During this special week, departmental supervisors are given the opportunity to nominate exemplary student employees as recipients of ECU’s Student Employee of the Year Award. Student employee nominees are assessed on the following characteristics: