University Human Resources

Student Employment

Student employment is a vital part of the Brown experience, supporting both student development and departmental operations. Opportunities exist across academic and administrative departments, ranging from entry-level roles to positions requiring specialized skills. Student Employment is administered by UHR to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations and to support equitable hiring practices.

Planning to Hire a Student

Before recruiting, departments must ensure funding is available within their operational budget.

Student Eligibility

To work on campus:

  • Students must be enrolled in a degree-granting undergraduate program at Brown
  • Students on a leave of absence (inactive student status in Banner) are not eligible
  • First-year students may begin working July 1 before their first semester
  • December graduates may not continue working after completing their studies
  • May graduates may typically work through the last pay period in August

International students must confirm work authorization with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISSS).

Federal Work-Study and Campus Employment

Federal Work-Study (FWS) and campus employment are both ways students may be paid for on-campus work.

  • Federal Work-Study is a form of financial aid that provides eligible students with the opportunity to earn wages through part-time employment. It is not a requirement to work on campus.
  • Students earn FWS funds through hours worked; wages are paid as work is performed.
  • Departments must still provide funding for student wages and manage payroll in accordance with their budget.

Many students work on campus regardless of whether they receive FWS as part of their financial aid package.

University Work Scholarship - Sidney Frank Scholars

Recruiting Student Workers

Posting Requirements

All student jobs must:

  • Be posted in Workday
  • Remain posted for a minimum of 5 business days
  • Be posted in advance of the start of each semester

In rare cases, limited exceptions* may be granted with senior-level approval.

Equitable Hiring Practices

Brown is committed to equitable hiring. All student positions must be accessible to all students, and candidates must be selected based on qualifications.

Creating and Managing Requisitions

Hiring and Onboarding

Students may not begin work until all onboarding steps are complete.

Managing Student Employees

Additional Resources

Consistent with its mission, Brown offers undergraduate students a wide range of opportunities for leadership, teaching, research, volunteer work and employment that enhance the academic experience.
Any work performed by students in exchange for compensation is governed by federal regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the U.S. Department of Labor.
This page provides guidance for Student Worker Managers and HR Coordinators on student pay, time reporting, payroll policies and compliance requirements for student employment at Brown.
These courses support Student Worker Managers and HR Coordinators in managing student employment in Workday, covering the full student job lifecycle from hire to completion.