Student Employee Overview


Buildings on campus

There are over 4,000 student employees that work over the course of the academic year on-campus. Many students work consistently over the course of the year, averaging ten to fifteen hours a week. On-campus, students are either hired as Federal Work Study or non-work study (regular). Students employed on-campus work in department offices, Laker Food Co. locations, serve as research assistants to faculty members, tour guides, groundskeepers, computer technicians, etc. There are also many opportunities for employment off-campus with various establishments in the surrounding community. Off-campus employment is equally varied in the types of opportunities available. You will find a listing of all on-campus opportunities on Workday and many off-campus opportunities on Handshake.


Office Goal

Student Employment is located within the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.  The goal of Student Employment is to provide a centralized source of employment information and opportunities for Grand Valley State University students. We provide an opportunity for practical work experience as a means of financial assistance while at Grand Valley. Student Employment provides an online resource, Workday, enabling students to search for employment opportunities on-campus. We also partner with off-campus employers through Handshake to connect students and alumni to employment opportunities both in west Michigan and throughout the country. You decide which jobs to apply for. You may want to select jobs based on your work experience, location, and interest.


Bikes parked

Definition

A student employee is a part-time employee who is enrolled and is regularly attending classes at Grand Valley State University. The primary purpose for being at Grand Valley State University is to further his/her education. Such employment, therefore, is interim or temporary and incidental to the pursuit of an education. Student employees shall not work more than twenty-five (25) hours per week. A student must be enrolled for a minimum of six credits each term to be employed on campus.


Handshake

Handshake is an online job search tool for students and alumni that contains thousands of internships, as well as part- and full-time career opportunities with Grand Valley employer partners. New opportunities are posted daily and it is free to use.

Login with your GVSU network ID and password online at www.gvsu.edu/handshake/.

You can also use Handshake to

  • get information on and register for upcoming career fairs, workshops, and information sessions;
  • participate in on-campus interviews;
  • make your resume available to employers through resume books;
  • be notified of opportunities that fit your preferences;
  • research employers who recruit at Grand Valley; and
  • schedule career advising appointments.


Page last modified December 18, 2023