UCCS will limit students who work at on-campus jobs to 25 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters and 40 hours per week during the summer, university officials announced to student employees and their supervisors April 29.
The new policy will go into effect July 1 and may potentially affect approximately 50 students who have on-campus jobs, according to Susan Szpyrka, vice chancellor, Administration and Finance.
Additionally, the new policy calls for undergraduate students to be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours, generally two classes (three credit hours for graduate students). Students who work in the summer will be required to have been enrolled the previous semester, though some exceptions will be allowed for new graduate students or for students who are nearing graduation. Some campus units also require students to meet grade point average requirements as a condition of employment.
“We are improving our processes and ensuring that university policy and student employment needs match,” Szpyrka said. “This policy reinforces that the primary mission of students is to attend classes and to make progress toward earning a degree.”
For many years, student academic advisers have encouraged students to limit work to 20 hours per week while attending classes. Studies show that excessive work decreases academic performance and extends time to graduation.
UCCS encourages students to find on-campus employment as a way of both earning money and gaining experience, though at less than half-time levels. Student jobs range from answering telephones and grounds maintenance to general office assistance or resident assistance in on-campus housing. More than 100 students will work in a new campus-operated food service, dozens are employed in the Campus Recreation Center, and many work in positions such as tour guides.
An administrative examination exploring the effect of the Affordable Care Act on campus discovered some offices allowed students to work an average of 30 per week and some students combine work for multiple campus offices to equal 30 or more hours per week, often unbeknownst to supervisors.
Campus units are being informed of the new policy this week and will have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions as the university prepares to implement the change.
The policy does not affect students who work jobs off campus, though academic advisers continue to recommend working less than half-time if attending classes full-time.
For several months, a team of UCCS officials representing student affairs, human resources, and student employment have worked to develop the new policy. Their action was prompted, in part, by the Affordable Care Act which requires employers to provide health insurance for employees who work an average of 30 hours or more per week.
UCCS provides part-time student employment opportunities to assist students in offsetting some of the cost of their education, learning valuable skills, and gaining employment experience in an environment that respects attention to academic success. UCCS departments are not budgeted for the additional expense of health insurance benefits for student employees. University department heads received a memo outlining the regulations and group meetings are planned to review the policy and its provisions in detail prior to the July 1 implementation.
To see the policy, visit http://www.uccs.edu/Documents/vcaf/policies/2014/300-020StudentEmployment.pdf
This is a ridiculous regulation. It should be up to the students to determine what they think best fits their needs. Not every student needs to be a “traditional” student. It is their choice as to how many hours they want on their plate. Instead, UCCS should raise the requirements for student employment instead of limiting the individuals who can handle a job and school. I worked 40 hours/week while taking 16 credit hours at UCCS. My GPA is a 3.9. I don’t need the university to tell me what is best for me. Obviously, I know what is best for my needs.
Please allow me to clarify the article. The 25 hour per week limit (40 in the summer) applies only to on-campus jobs – not jobs that are held off-campus with a private employer. There is no prohibition for a student who works, say, 25 hours a week at a campus job and also holds a job off-campus. There is also no prohibition on students working 40 hours a week (or more) for an off-campus employer. If you have further questions, please contact the Office of Student Employment at 255-3055.
— Shannon Cable, Assistant Director, Student Employment Programs