As a student employee of the university, you may be eligible for certain kinds of benefits. The charts on this page outline some of the benefits that may be available to you, depending on your student job title. Additional eligibility requirements, such as those explained in the notes to the charts, may apply. If you’re not sure what your job title is, ask your supervisor or the HR representative in the department where you work.
If you’re a graduate student academic employee who qualifies for the university’s employee insurance benefits, more information is available on the Insurance and Benefits page.
Benefits Eligibility for Student Employees
This chart outlines the benefits that may be available to student employees based on their employment in a position requiring student status (“student-status job”):
Student-Status Job Benefits
| Student Academic Title | Tuition Reduction Benefit 1 | Tuition Remission 2 | Resident (In-State) Tuition 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants (Graduate academic title) | Eligible | May be available at department discretion | Eligible |
| Assistant Instructors (Graduate academic title) | Eligible | May be available at department discretion | Eligible |
| Graduate Research Assistants (Graduate academic title) | Eligible | May be available at department discretion | Eligible |
| Academic Assistants, Assistants, Tutors (Graduate academic title) | Not Eligible | May be available at department discretion | Eligible |
| Undergraduate Research Assistants (Undergraduate academic title) | Not Eligible | May be available at department discretion | Eligible |
| Assistants, Tutors (Undergraduate academic title) | Not Eligible | May be available at department discretion | Eligible |
| Student Non-Academic Titles | Not Eligible | May be available at department discretion | Not Eligible |
Notes:
- Beginning in academic year 2013 - 2014, students employed as Teaching Assistants (TAs), Assistant Instructors (AIs), and Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) are eligible for a tuition reduction benefit related to their student academic employment. The assistance amounts can vary based on the number of hours of the appointment and is paid on a semester basis. Details of the tuition reduction benefit are available from the Graduate School.
- Tuition remission is departmental payment of all or a portion of a student’s tuition bill. This payment is applied directly to the tuition bill. The student does not receive any funds directly.
- To qualify for a resident (in-state) tuition entitlement, a student must work in a student academic title at least 20 hours per week, and have an assignment that runs at least from the 12th class day through the last class day for a long semester, or at least from the 4th class day through July 15, or from July 16 through the last class day for the summer. The position also must relate to the student’s degree program.
Student employees also may qualify for certain general staff benefits if eligibility requirements are met. This chart outlines some of the staff benefits that may be available to employees working in student-status jobs:
Staff Benefits
| Student Academic Title | Employee insurance benefits1 | Paid annual leave | Paid sick leave2 | Paid holiday leave2 | TRS / Optional Retirement Program | Voluntary Retirement Programs | State service credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants (Graduate academic title) | Eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Assistant Instructors (Graduate academic title) | Eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Graduate Research Assistants (Graduate academic title) | Eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Academic Assistants, Assistants, Tutors (Graduate academic title) | Eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Undergrad Research Assistants (Undergrad academic title) | Not eligible under state law, may be eligible under ACA | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Assistants, Tutors (Undergrad academic title) | Not eligible under state law, may be eligible under ACA | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Student Non-Academic Titles | Not eligible under state law, may be eligible under ACA | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
Notes:
- To be eligible for employee insurance benefits under state law, a student must be assigned in a graduate-student academic title for at least 20 hours per week for at least 4.5 months. Special summer coverage rules apply. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), benefits must be offered to (a) any employee who is reasonably expected to work at least 30 hours per week or 130 hours per month for a period of 90 days or more, and (b) any employee who works an average of at least 30 hours per week or 130 hours per month during a 12-month measurement period.
- For students in student academic titles, time off due to illness or during academic breaks is arranged in accordance with established practices of the hiring department (see Handbook of Operating Procedures 9-2010 –9-2040).