On-Campus Employment of International Students Policy

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International students holding F-1 or J-1 status at Adelphi University and who are in good standing may be authorized to engage in on-campus employment while maintaining a full course of study and valid status.

Policy Statement

Adelphi University permits eligible F-1 and J-1 students to engage in on-campus employment in accordance with applicable federal immigration regulations and University policies and procedures.

Reason for Policy

Employment eligibility and the rules which govern employment options for international students are determined by federal, state, and local laws and regulations set forth by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This policy sets forth the characteristics of on-campus employment and establishes the guidelines and approval process for international students holding valid F-1/J-1 status.

Who Is Governed by this Policy

International students (F&J Visa Classifications)

Policy

International students holding F-1/J-1 status at Adelphi and in good standing may be authorized to engage in employment that occurs on the premises of the Adelphi campus, with the school as the employer, while the student is engaged in a full course of study and maintaining valid status. The designated school official or responsible officer must approve all on campus employment in advance. Such approval may be valid provided the student meets all requirements, but is automatically withdrawn if the student’s program is transferred or terminated.

Types of On-Campus Employment

On-campus employment may include:

  1. Work performed on Adelphi University’s campus and employed by Adelphi University.
  2. Work performed on campus for an on-campus commercial business, such as a bookstore or cafeteria, when the work directly provides services to students.
  3. 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.

Location

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.

Duration / Period of Eligibility

An F-1 student may engage in on-campus employment while pursuing a full course of study and maintaining valid F-1 status.

Beginning Employment

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.

Ending Employment

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 University 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 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.

Hours Per Week

  • Employment is limited up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, combined across all qualifying positions.
  • Full-time employment during official school breaks, provided the student is eligible to continue on-campus employment.
  • The Adelphi work week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday.

Multiple Positions

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.

Adelphi Work-Hour Equivalencies

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.

Field of Employment

On-campus employment does not have to be related to the student’s major or field of study.

The position must meet the federal requirements for on-campus employment and may not displace a U.S. worker.

Employment Offer

Students must have an employment offer before beginning an on-campus position.

An employment offer may be required as part of Adelphi’s institutional employment review and onboarding process.

Approval Process

Students must complete any employment review and documentation required by Adelphi’s Office of International Services before beginning on-campus employment.

Students must complete Adelphi’s on-campus employment authorization process within three pay periods (six weeks) of the employment start date.

International Services reviews the student’s immigration eligibility and the proposed employment to confirm that the student and position meet applicable federal requirements and University procedures.

Completion of Adelphi’s authorization process does not replace or create federal employment authorization. Students remain responsible for maintaining their immigration status and complying with all applicable employment restrictions and requirements.

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.

Federal, State, and Local Taxes

Compensation earned through on-campus employment may be subject to federal, state, and local income taxes. Students are responsible for completing required tax forms, reporting applicable income, and filing tax returns as required by law.

Social Security Number (SSN)

Students who are authorized to work in the United States may be eligible to apply for a Social Security number (SSN). A Social Security number is issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and is used for employment and tax reporting purposes.

An SSN is not itself employment authorization. Students must have separate authorization to work in the United States before beginning employment.

Definitions

CFR: In the law of the United States, the Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent regulations promulgated by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government of the United States. The CFR is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to federal regulation.

Designated School Official (DSO): The Designated School Official interacts with SEVIS and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), deals with other immigration and program administration matters, and is responsible for performing institutional compliance responsibilities, including record-keeping and reporting responsibilities for the SEVIS records of nonimmigrant students in F visa categories.

Educational Affiliation: In the case of off-campus locations, educational affiliation means the location is associated with the school’s established curriculum, and related to contractually funded research projects at the postgraduate level. In the case of on-campus locations, educational affiliation means the location is included in a financial aid package, scholarship, and/or fellowship or assistantship.

Employment: An employee is a worker who performs services for compensation under the supervision, direction, and control of an employer.

Employment Authorization Document: A Form I-766 employment authorization document or EAD card, known popularly as a work permit, is a document issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services that provides temporary employment authorization to noncitizens in the United States.

F-1 Student (Academic) Visa: An F-1 student is a nonimmigrant who is pursuing a “full course of study” to achieve a specific educational or professional objective at an academic institution in the United States that has been designated by DHS to offer courses of study to such students and has been enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification: Form I-9, officially the Employment Eligibility Verification, is a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services form. Mandated by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, it is used to verify the identity and legal authorization to work of all paid employees in the United States.

International Student: An F-1 student is a nonimmigrant who is pursuing a “full course of study” to achieve a specific educational or professional objective at an academic institution in the United States that has been designated by DHS to offer course of study to such students, and has been enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor information System (SEVIS).

Nonimmigrant: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines a nonimmigrant to refer to foreign nationals who are admitted to the United States temporarily for a specific purpose.

Responsible Officer/Alternate Responsible Officer: An employee or officer of a sponsor who has been nominated by the sponsor, and approved by the Department of State, to carry out the duties outlined in 22 CFR 62.11. A Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States. The Responsible Officer (RO), located in International Services administers the exchange program on behalf of Adelphi and is available to support academic schools and incoming scholars, providing regulatory support and assistance.

SEVIS: SEVIS is an Internet-based system that provides tracking and monitoring functionality, with access to accurate and current information on nonimmigrant students (F and M visa) and exchange visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2). SEVIS enables schools and program sponsors to transmit electronic information and event notifications, via the Internet, to the DHS and DoS throughout a student’s or exchange visitor’s stay in the United States. SEVIS will be informed of status events for students and exchange visitors including, but not limited to, entry/exit data, changes of current United States address (residence), program extensions, employment notifications, and changes in program of study.

Social Security Number: A nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents under section 205 of the Social Security Act, codified as 42 U.S.C. § 405.

Procedures

Forms

Related Information

Document History

  • Last Reviewed Date: October 2, 2026
  • Last Revised Date: October 2, 2026
  • Policy Origination Date: Unknown
  • Last Approval Date: October 2, 2026

Who Approved This Policy

Senior Leadership Council

Policy Owner

Policy Experts

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