Student Employment at Cornell University

Important -- Prerequisites to Employment

Federal law requires all employees to prove their identity and eligibility to work in the United States before starting a new job. This requirement includes students who work at Cornell or for employers in the local area.

• New employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) Form.
• This form is completed after you receive a job offer but before you start working.
• You cannot work until you complete the I-9 - no exceptions.
• You must present to your employer ORIGINAL documentation that proves your identity and your eligibility to work.
• The most common forms of documentation are:
  1) Valid Passport.
  2) Or, Valid driver's licence or school ID card (proof of identity) along with an original social security card or an original birth certificate (proof of employment eligibility).
  
• Foreign National students with visa status other than F1 must confirm employment eligibility and complete the I-9 form at the International Students and Scholars Office in Caldwell Hall.
• Foreign national students with an F1 visa, U.S. citizens, and Permanent Residents should complete the I-9 form with the employer.

Employment Eligibility

Continuing undergraduate and graduate students in good standing can work at Cornell on the student hourly payroll if registered full-time in a degree program with no registration, bursar, or other holds.

• You are not allowed to work on the student payroll if you are not fully registered, owe the Bursar, or have a Dean's or other registration hold.

New students are eligible to work as student employees AFTER they register for the Fall or Spring terms as long as they are also in good standing with no registration, bursar, or other holds.

Student Wages and Taxes

• The minimum wage for Cornell student employees is $7.15 per hour. Student hourly jobs are graded into four different levels with minimum and maximum wage ranges in each grade level. Specific pay rates are based on job complexity, responsibilities, required skills, experience, and equity within the department or unit.
• Pay rates for off-campus jobs vary according to the employer and job type and may start as low as the current federal minimum wage of $5.15 per hour.
• Student wages are subject to state and federal taxes.
• FICA (social security) tax is not withheld during the academic year if you are registered full-time and attending classes. However, if you work at Cornell during the summer but do not attend classes full-time, your wages are subject to FICA tax.
• Foreign Nationals should complete the Foreign National Questionnaire to determine tax exemption.
• The Foreign National Questionnaire is available on the University Payroll Services web page.

Tax withholding information for all students is available on the University Payroll Services website.

Additional Job Search Resources

A successful job search uses multiple resources. In addition to checking the Student Job and Internship postings on a regular basis you should also:

• Network with other students, staff, residence hall advisors, and faculty...most students find their jobs through word of mouth!
• Contact Cornell departments directly. Use the campus directory to identify department addresses, phone numbers, and contact names. If there are no job openings, don't hesitate to follow-up at a later date to inquire about new job openings.
• Scan the bulletin boards in academic units...a lot of departments post "help wanted" signs on the bulletin boards outside their office.
• Check the Cornell Daily Sun and the Ithaca Journal for job opportunities in the local area.
• Visit your college career service office to learn what resources are available to you and get to know the staff. College faculty and staff often check with their career services office for the names of potential student employees, and you could be referred if the career services staff know that you're actively looking for a job!
• NOTE: Cornell Career Services advertises summer jobs and internships located outside of Tompkins County. To access those listings, register for Handshake.

Questions?

The staff in the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment is available to assist you with employment questions and job search issues. Contact us at: