Maximum Student Work Hour Policy

Policy Number: 03.0002

Purpose

The New School wants matriculated students to spend the majority of their time and efforts on their academic pursuits. This policy establishes limits regarding the maximum number of hours that a student may work each week and annually.

Scope

This policy applies to individuals whose primary relationship with the university is that of student and applies to all student worker positions, regardless of program, wage funding source, citizenship status, or method of payment. The policy does not apply to employment outside of the university, although students should limit outside work that might negatively impact their academic progress and success.

Full time employees of the university are not permitted to hold other positions of employment at the university, except as outlined in the General Advisory on Full-time Employment policy, and must follow the Procedure articulated therein to be approved.

Definitions

N/A

Responsibilities

Student Success and Engagement is the policy owner.

Students are responsible for accurately and completely reporting all hours worked in all student positions in a given week to their supervisors.

Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that they do not request work from students that will cause students to exceed the maximum work hours outlined in this policy.

In addition, relevant New School administrative offices–including Human Resources and International Student and Scholar Services–will ensure that supervisors and students have access to the most complete and accurate onboarding and pay information available at any given time. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in consequences, up to and including termination of related New School student work.

Policy

Full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students may not exceed 20 hours of work per week as New School student workers during periods when classes are in session or when they are enrolled in New School classes. Students may work a maximum of 40 hours per week during official university breaks provided they are not enrolled in classes. The university’s official breaks are spring break and summer break. For specific start and end dates of terms, as well as dates for official breaks, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

Students working in roles with irregular weekly hours, such as Research Assistants, Event Ushers, Exam Proctors, Orientation Leaders, etc. will have some flexibility with respect to the 20-hour per week limit but must not work more than an average of 20 hours per week during periods when classes are in session.

Students working more than one New School job may not exceed the maximum number of hours for all jobs combined. Work-hour limits apply to both hourly and stipend positions. No student is permitted to exceed a total of 960 hours per year in all New School student work, which is measured both in terms of a calendar year (January through December) as well as within the one-year anniversary of the date the student first commences working in any position.

Additional requirements and restrictions may be applicable to Federal Work Study positions and international students. Students in Federal Work Study positions must adhere to all limitations and requirements related to their Federal Work Study work. International students must adhere to all limitations and requirements related to New School student work required by their immigration status and obtain work authorization from the relevant university office in New York or Paris, if required. In the event of conflict(s), Federal policies for work-study and international students supersede this policy.

Doctoral Students

The New School recognizes the relevance of academic jobs in research and teaching to a student's successful academic degree completion and future job prospects. As such, doctoral students who have completed coursework, not including dissertation research credits or internship credits, and have begun working on their dissertations may be allowed to work in academic positions above the 20-hour limit (up to a maximum of 25 hours per week) when classes are in session. Approval by their Dean is required in consultation with their faculty advisor. This does not apply to international doctoral students on an F-1 or J-1 visa, who are subject to U.S. federal regulations regarding on-campus work and may not exceed 20 hours per week even with Dean approval.

All other conditions in this policy apply to doctoral students.

Procedure

N/A

Policy Administration

Responsible University Official: Vice Provost for Student Success

Responsible Office: Human Resources

Contact Information: hrhelp@newschool.edu

Policy History

Effective Date: July 2019

Approved Date: October 7, 2024

Last Reviewed Date: October 7, 2024

Next Review Date: October 7, 2029

Revision History: Revised April 2024 to clarify the scope regarding full-time employees, class terms and breaks, and provisions regarding international doctoral students.