Student Raises

Cost of Living/Market Increases

Each year, the Student Employment Office determines if the overall student wage rate structure should be increased to reflect cost of living and/or market adjustments. This decision is based on University staff pay rate increases as well as the pay rates for similar jobs off campus. Neither a cost of living nor market increase is guaranteed each year. Rather, they are given when necessary to keep the on-campus student pay rates competitive both internally and externally. Notification of these increases (when applicable) is made in writing to the supervisor.

Longevity Increases

Longevity increases are designed to reward students for continuous employment within a department and to encourage retention. Students become eligible for a longevity increase by remaining employed in the same position/job level in the same department for two consecutive semesters (not counting summer term).  Students who go abroad in a given year are not awarded longevity for that review period.  Longevity increases are automatically added to the pay rates for eligible students at the beginning of the semester during which their employment anniversary date falls. Currently, the amount of the longevity increase is $0.10/hour.

Merit Increases

Merit increases allow supervisors to reward students who perform at a level beyond expectation for a continued period of time. Students are eligible at the same time as longevity increases (described above). In order to provide a merit increase, supervisors must complete a Student Performance Evaluation with the student. The rating on the performance evaluation determines the amount of the merit increase. Currently, the ratings and corresponding increase amounts are as follows:

"Competent" no merit increase
"Commendable" receives a $.05 per hour merit increase "Exceptional" receives a $.10 per hour merit increase.
Merit increases will go into effect at the beginning of the semester in which the student's anniversary date falls, assuming the Student Performance Evaluation is received in the Student Employment Office in a timely manner (at least one full pay period prior to the start of a semester). Performance evaluations received after the start of the student's anniversary semester will become effective the following applicable pay period and will not be made retroactive.