Student Employment

Southwest Minnesota State University employs hundreds of students. Job responsibilities vary from lab work, to mowing, to working as a life guard, to secretarial duties, to selling tickets, to working as a tour guide. Students earn wages through two different types of programs - either work study or regular student employment.

Work Study is need based. To be considered for Federal or State Work-Study students must complete the Financial Aid Application process. Applications will be reviewed for work-study eligibility. A work-study offer indicates that the student is eligible to work and receive state or federal funding for this work. The amount listed on your financial aid offer is the maximum amount you are eligible to earn during the school year. Work study funds are not applied to charges at the beginning of the semester.

Students who do not receive work- study are still eligible to work on campus under regular student employment.  The jobs, pay rate and wages are the same as those in the work study program.

The following information provides details about the work programs on the SMSU campus.

• It is your responsibility to find a job you are interested in. We have provided a link to job openings. This link provides telephone number, office location and email address. It is the philosophy of the Financial Aid Office not to place students. We feel it is a good experience for students to locate their own job. It gives you a chance to find something you are interested in and also provides experience for the future. 

• Current on-campus job openings

• Once you have located employment, the department personnel will assist you in completing the necessary payroll forms. You will need to complete a student payroll authorization, I-9 form and W-4 form. Federal rules and regulations require your employer to view specific documents - your social security card, and your driver's license or birth certification. Please remember to bring these documents with you.
• You will be paid at a rate of $12.00 per hour. Students are paid every two weeks for the hours worked in the previous two-week period.  Earnings will be directly deposited into your checking/savings account.  Please fill in your bank information for direct deposit in e-services.
• We would like to encourage students to review the attached lists and make contacts early.  It is much easier to search for a job during the summer before you arrive on campus and become busy with classes. Your employer will assist you in scheduling work hours around class time.

Assistance in locating off-campus employment is provided by the Career Services Office.