Dear UNE Community,
As we are closing the semester, Student Financial Services would like to thank our student employee supervisors for everything they do on daily bases to help create more opportunities for our students.
For those supervisors, there are several important updates to be aware of as we head into the winter break and spring semester.
Winter and Spring Policies, Dates, and Reminders
- If your student employee is continuing in their position into the spring semester, you do not need to resubmit an e-Authorization.
- All spring student employment opportunities must be posted on Handshake so that all students have an equal opportunity to obtain on-campus employment. Click here for instructions on how to post your job on Handshake.
- If you are hiring new students for spring 2022, you do need to submit the authorization form and review and sign the UNE Safety and Operational procedures form.
- Student Employee Appreciation Week: April 10-16, 2022. We will share ideas and suggestions for how we can celebrate our amazing student employees during this week (and more broadly!). Please email us if you have any suggestions.
Working During Breaks and Holidays FAQs
- Are students allowed to work during winter break, and, if so, are there any restrictions (e.g., are there specific days that they cannot work)? Students can work during holidays and/or breaks if the department for which they work is also expected to be open and operating. If your department is open and operating, then student employees can work even if the University is closed.
- Can student employees work remotely if the work can be done that way (e.g., data analysis)? We do not offer remote work for student employees regardless of the type or location of the position.
- How many hours per week are student employees allowed to work during holidays? Student employees are allowed to work up to 40 hours per week during holidays and breaks.
Minimum Wage Increase
- In compliance with applicable state and local minimum wage laws, effective January 1, 2022, UNE will implement a new minimum wage of $12.75 per hour in Biddeford and $13 per hour in Portland. Please visit https://www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/minimum_wage_faq.html for details.
- Pay increases will likely impact the number of hours a student will be able to work; students with Federal Work Study (FWS) may exhaust their awards more quickly. Please plan student work schedules accordingly.
- Impacted student wages will be automatically adjusted
- In early January, an email providing remaining student FWS balances based on the new wages will be sent to all supervisors. The list of eligible FWS students is also regularly updated throughout the semester with remaining balance information, so be sure to regularly check this to ensure your students don’t exceed their total FWS award.
- If your student is close to earning their entire FWS award and you wish for them to continue working through the FWS program, it may be possible to increase their award. While we cannot guarantee this for all students, potential increases could be granted on a case-by-case basis. To inquire about increases, please email Rachael Tripp at rtripp@une.edu.
- For any student employment position (FWS or institutional/departmental) already earning wages equal to or more than $12.75/hour (Biddeford) or $13/hour (Portland), no changes will occur. In another words, only students who are currently paid less than $12.75/hour will receive a pay increase beginning 1/1/22. For example:
- Scenario one: A FWS position currently pays $12.15/hour (all from FWS) in Biddeford. Beginning 1/1/22, the student will be paid $12.75/hour (still all from FWS funds).
- Scenario two: A FWS position currently pays $12.15/hour (all from FWS) in Portland. Beginning 1/1/22, the student will be paid $13/hour (still all from FWS funds).
- Scenario three: A FWS position currently pays $13/hour ($12.15 from FWS and $.85 from department). Beginning 1/1/22, the hourly pay rate will still be $13 ($12.75 from FWS funds and $0.25 from department budget)
- Scenario four: An IW (department-funded) position currently pays $15/hour (all from department budget). Starting 1/1/22, the position will still be paid $15/hour.
Supervisor Training Opportunities
Are you new to supervising or just need a refresher? Please contact Student Employment Director Suheir Alaskari at salaskari@une.edu to schedule a training on topics such as the hiring process, required hiring forms, and the difference between FWS and IW employment programs. Let us know what training opportunities you would be interested in seeing offered in the future!
We are looking forward to another exciting semester ahead! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out, and Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
Suheir Alaskari
Director, Student Employment