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BYU Library Human Resources

Library Student Employment Eligibility

Fall/Winter Student Employment Guidelines

To qualify to work on campus during fall or winter semesters, a student must meet one of the following enrollment criteria:

US Citizens/Resident StudentsInternational Students
  • Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 6.0 credit hours per semester.
  • Graduate students must be accepted into a BYU graduate program and be enrolled in at least 2.0 credit hours per semester.
  • Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 12.0 credit hours per semester.
  • Graduate students must be accepted into a BYU graduate program and be enrolled in at least 9.0 credit hours per semester.

International students may not work with a reduced credit load unless they are given prior approval from the International Services Office.

Exceptions: Students may be granted an exception to this policy if they are in their last semester of study prior to graduation. The Last Semester Option Form will need to be filled out and submitted to Student Employment for approval.

**Independent Study, Salt Lake Center, Evening Classes, Post Baccalaureate and audited courses only do not meet the enrollment requirements to qualify for student employment on campus. Day-Continuing students may include credits from Salt Lake Center and Evening Classes towards student employment eligibility.

Work Hours

During fall and winter semesters, undergraduate students should not work more than 20 hours per week, unless special exceptions have been granted. Graduate students may work up to 28 hours per week provided the job duties are within the student’s field of study. International students may not work more than 20 hours per week according to federal regulations unless they are on approved vacation.

International Students are allowed to work over 20 hours per week during their annual vacation period (to be determined by the International Services Office) and during school holidays and breaks.

Spring/Summer Student Employment Guidelines

In order to work on campus during spring or summer terms, a student must meet one of the following enrollment criteria:

  • Enrolled in day school the previous winter semester and will also be enrolled for the next fall semester. Meeting this criterion permits working spring and/or summer terms without taking any credits for those terms (see FICA section below for information about tax implications).
  • High school seniors who have been accepted to day school for fall semester may be hired as a student employee after they have graduated from high school (see FICA section below). Students must be at least 16 years of age to work on campus.
  • Visiting Spring/Summer Only students who are enrolled in day school for at least 3.0 credits for one of the terms (see FICA section below).
  • Students graduating in August should be enrolled in at least 3.0 credits during either spring term or summer term or have been accepted into a BYU graduate program beginning fall semester.

General Information: Individuals who are enrolled in evening school (generally 8.5 credit hours) AND have been accepted into a day school program may also be eligible to work as a student employee during spring and summer terms.

Graduating Students: Graduating students may work up to two weeks beyond graduation in their student jobs. During this two-week period, those students will be required to pay FICA. According to federal regulations, International Students may not work past their graduation date.

Work Hours: Student employees may work up to 40 hours per week during spring and summer terms depending on departmental needs and budget. Students should take care to never exceed 40 hours per week, as overtime pay is then required. If a student employee works more than 40 hours during the work week, the department for which the student is working when overtime begins is responsible for the paying that overtime. For example, if a student works 8 hours for Concessions on a Saturday, then works 40 hours for the library M-F that same week, the library would be responsible for paying the 8 hours of overtime. Students (as well as their supervisors) should carefully monitor their weekly work hours.

Exception for Returned Missionaries: Returned missionaries who were unable to register for the current semester, but are registered for the next semester may begin working at the library during the semester before they start school. They are still limited to 20 hours a week during fall and winter and 40 hours during spring and summer terms.

Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)

Social Security Tax:

For FICA tax purposes, enrollment will be determined independently for each term. During spring and summer FICA status is determined by the following criteria:

FICA Exempt Students:

Undergraduates enrolled in at least 3.0 credit hours and graduate students enrolled in at least 1.0 credit hour during spring and summer terms are exempt from paying FICA (neither the student nor the department pays the FICA Tax).

FICA Non-Exempt Students:

Undergraduates enrolled for less than 3.0 credit hours and graduate students enrolled for less than 1.0 credit hour during spring and summer terms are required to pay FICA (both the student and the department pays the FICA tax).

International students are exempt from paying FICA.