On-Campus Employment for International Students
On-campus employment is an opportunity for international students to gain professional experience, build their résumé, and develop valuable workplace skills while studying at Adelphi University.
International students may engage in qualifying on-campus employment as permitted under federal regulations while maintaining valid status and pursuing a full course of study.
On-campus employment may include:
- Work performed on Adelphi University’s campus and employed by Adelphi University.
- Work performed on campus for an on-campus commercial business, such as a bookstore or cafeteria, when the work directly provides services to students.
- Certain work performed at an off-campus location that is educationally affiliated with the school’s established curriculum or part of contractually funded research projects at the post-graduate level.
Employment located on campus that does not meet the federal definition of on-campus employment does not qualify. For example, employment with an on-campus business that does not directly provide services to students, such as certain construction work, may not qualify.
How to Find an On-Campus Job
To view available on-campus jobs, visit Handshake, Adelphi’s job and internship recruiting platform for students and alumni.
For assistance in finding a job or offering guidance, please contact the Center for Career and Professional Development at careercounselor@adelphi.edu.
Eligibility for Working On-Campus
All on-campus employment must be reviewed and approved in advance by International Services.
F-1 students may engage in on-campus employment part-time on the premises of the school that issued their currently valid I-20, with the school as the employer, while they are attending that school, enrolled in a full course of study, and maintaining their F-1 status.
J-1 students may engage in on-campus employment when the employment is permitted under the terms of their J-1 program and applicable federal regulations and authorized by the Responsible Officer.
On-Campus Employment Authorization Process
After receiving a job offer but before you start working, request an official offer letter from your supervisor or hiring department.
The letter must:
- Be on official Adelphi University letterhead
- Be addressed to the student using their U.S. physical address
- Include the student’s legal name exactly as it appears on their passport
- Include the job title and a brief description of the position
- Include the employment start date
- Include the number of hours the student will work per week
- Include Adelphi University’s Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Include the supervisor’s name, title, and U.S. telephone number
- Include the hiring manager’s wet (handwritten) signature
- Be dated within 30 days of the employment start date
Submit the On-Campus Employment Request through the International Services Portal and upload your employment offer letter.
Do not begin working until you have received authorization from International Services.
If you are eligible to work on-campus, International Services will provide:
- DSO/RO employment verification letter
- Temporary Authorization to begin working, when applicable
- Social Security Number (SSN) application instructions
- Support throughout the employment authorization process
You will be notified when documents are ready for pickup in the Office of International Services.
You have three pay periods (six weeks) from your employment start date to complete all required employment and onboarding steps.
If required steps are not completed within this period, you must stop working until the required authorization and employment procedures are completed.
Start your Social Security Number (SSN) application process with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
After receiving your Social Security number, complete the Change of Personal Identification Form and submit it to the One-Stop Student Services Center.
Complete Human Resources and Payroll Paperwork
Check your Adelphi Gmail address for instructions and a secure link to complete the required tax and payroll forms. You will need your:
- Social Security card
- Valid passport
- Form I-20 or DS-2019
After you submit your forms, allow 3-5 business days for processing. If you have any payroll questions, please contact payroll@adelphi.edu.
Follow the Human Resources and Payroll Onboarding Steps.
Requirements for Working On-Campus
An F-1 student may engage in on-campus employment while pursuing a full course of study and maintaining valid F-1 status.
The work must be physically located on Adelphi University’s campus or at an off-campus location that qualifies as an educationally affiliated site under applicable federal regulations.
- Employment is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session, combined across all qualifying positions
- During official school breaks, employment is limited up to 27 hours per week, combined across all qualifying positions
- The Adelphi work week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday
For positions in which compensation or workload is based on an academic appointment or assistantship, Adelphi uses the following work-hour equivalencies:
- Adjunct Teaching: 1-credit course = 3 working hours per week; 3-credit course = 9 working hours per week.
- Graduate Assistantship: Hours per week indicated on the Graduate Assistantship form.
- Resident Assistant: Equivalent to 10 working hours per week.
- Other Assistantship Positions: Hours determined by the individual hiring department.
These equivalencies count toward the student’s applicable weekly employment limit.
The 20-hour weekly limit applies to the combined total of all qualifying on-campus employment. This includes, as applicable:
- Multiple student employment positions
- Teaching assistantships
- Graduate assistantships
- Resident assistant positions
- Adjunct teaching
- Other qualifying on-campus positions
Students who hold multiple on-campus positions are responsible for ensuring that the combined hours of all positions do not exceed the applicable weekly limit.
- An F-1 student in initial status may generally begin on-campus employment up to 30-days before the program start date listed on the Form I-20, provided the student is otherwise eligible to work.
- An F-1 student who is transferring to Adelphi may begin on-campus employment only after the SEVIS record has been transferred to Adelphi and Adelphi has jurisdiction over the student’s F-1 record, provided the student is otherwise eligible to work.
Students who engage in on-campus employment are responsible for complying with applicable federal, state, and local tax requirements.
On-campus employment must end when the student completes the course of study. At Adelphi, students must stop working on the last day of classes for the semester, as listed on the Academic Calendar.
Students continuing their studies at Adelphi at a new educational level must obtain a Change of Educational Level I-20 before continuing on-campus employment.
Exceptions may apply to students who:
- Have employment authorized through Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).
- Are continuing between academic levels at the same school.
- Are transferring between schools and continuing employment when permitted under applicable regulations.
Special Situations
Students on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Students on post-completion OPT are no longer engaging in employment based solely on their F-1 on-campus employment authorization. Employment during OPT must comply with the separate OPT requirements, including the requirement that employment be directly related to the student’s field of study.
For Adelphi on-campus employment during post-completion OPT:
- The position must be approved through Adelphi Human Resources.
- The position must be funded through an administrative (non-student) budget line.
- The employment must otherwise meet applicable OPT requirements.
Students on Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
CPT and F-1 on-campus employment are separate employment provisions under the F-1 regulations.
Federal regulations do not categorically prohibit an eligible student from engaging in both authorized CPT and qualifying on-campus employment at the same time. Adelphi permits eligible students to engage in both simultaneously, provided the student remains within all applicable employment-hour limits and meets the requirements for each type of employment.
Students should consult International Services before combining CPT with on-campus employment.
F-1 regulations governing on-campus employment and CPT are separate. There is no federal regulation prohibiting students from engaging in both simultaneously, and Adelphi permits it.