Student employment = Student success
Students who work on campus have higher GPAs and are more likely to graduate from the University of Iowa.
When hiring student employees and defining their roles, consider these key skills that employers look for in new graduates:
- Critical thinking and problem-solving
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Professionalism and work ethic
- Oral and written communication
By offering meaningful work opportunities, you help our students develop key skills, achieve academic success, and prepare for their future careers, upholding Iowa's commitment to excellence and student development.
Student Employment Guidelines
Iowa law allows students employed through the Biweekly Student Continuous or Work-Study programs to work 20 hours per week. During school breaks, students are allowed to work 40 hours per week.
The university monitors compliance with state law over an academic year - Sep. 1, 2024 – May 10, 2025.
For the 2024-25 academic year, students are allowed to work 680 hours, excluding any hours worked during winter break (Dec. 22, 2024 – Jan. 18, 2025).
Students are not eligible for the Continuous and Work-Study employment programs once they've reached the 680-hour limit. Once the limit is reached, a Termination Report is automatically created. Students can be appointed through the Biweekly Student Continuous or Biweekly Student Summer programs after May 17, 2025. They must be registered for classes in the spring or summer of 2025 to be eligible for summer employment.
For more information about the student employment process, visit the student employment webpage.
| date | information |
|---|---|
| 12/16/24 – 12/20/24 | Finals (Can only work 20 hours per week) |
| 12/21/24 | End of Work-Study appointments for students graduating in December End of Biweekly Continuous appointments for international students graduating in December. Questions regarding employment policies for international students should be directed to International Students and Scholar Services. |
| 12/22/24 – 01/18/2025 | Winter Break (Can work 40 hours per week) |
| 01/18/25 | End of Bi-Weekly Continuous appointments for students graduating in December |
| 01/19/25 | Start of spring-only Work-Study period and new Continuous appointments |
| 03/16/25 – 03/22/25 | Spring Break |
| 05/17/25 | End of Work-Study appointments for spring/academic year |
Resources
Work-Study Appointment
- 2025 spring semester dates: 01/19/25 – 05/17/25
- The employer pays 50% of the student's wages (40% if the job is designated as a community service position) up to $12 per hour.
- The Work-Study program pays the remaining 50-60% until the student has earned the amount of the Work-Study award. The portion of the wage above $12 per hour is paid 100% by the employer.
- The appointment is for a specific time frame and must be renewed after each employment period. Students must reapply for Work-Study each academic year.
Work Study Facts and Reminders
- Work-Study awards are approved for the academic year. The end date of the appointment will be 05/17/25. The amount of the student's Work-Study eligibility is for the academic year.
- Work-Study eligibility represents the student's total pay (department and Work-Study). Once the student has earned the Work-Study award, the Work-Study appointment will be terminated and the department can create a Bi-Weekly Continuous appointment if the department can pay 100% of the student's wages.
- To verify the remaining eligibility of your Work-Study employees(s), login to Employee Self-Service. Under "Human Resources Systems" select "ePersonnel File" (direct reports). Once you click on an employee, you will get a recap of Federal Work-Study earnings and remaining eligibility as of the last pay period. If the student is nearing the end of their eligibility, we encourage you to email finaid-workstudy@uiowa.edu to see if the student's eligibility can be extended. If the eligibility can't be extended, you can switch the student to a Biweekly Continuous Appointment, assuming you're able to pay 100% of the student's wages.