Chapter 4

Personnel - General

4.9 Student Employees

1. Appointments to Classified Titles - Students appointed to positions not requiring enrollment as a student as a condition of employment should be appointed to the appropriate classified titles published in the current Classified Pay Plan. Students appointed in classified titles for 50 percent time or greater and four and one-half months or longer are considered regular employees and are subject to Teacher Retirement System, vacation, sick leave and holiday policies and are entitled to all other benefits received by classified employees.


2. Nonclassified Student Titles - The following student titles utilized at UTSA require enrollment as a student. However, during Christmas Break, Spring Break, and Summer Break students appointed to the following job titles can work a maximum of 40 hours per week (even if not enrolled in classes), only if the student is or will be enrolled in classes during the Spring or Fall semester.
   Tutor
   Student Intern
   Student Assistant II (Graduate Work Study)
   Student Assistant I (Undergraduate Work Study)
   Student Reader/Grader II (Graduate)
   Student Reader/Grader I (Undergraduate)
   Undergraduate Research Assistant
   
   

   Students appointed to the following job titles require enrollment as a student without exception.

   Teaching Assistant II (18 hours toward a Master’s Degree)
   Teaching Assistant I (Bachelor’s Degree)
   Graduate Assistant
   Graduate Research Assistant
   Assistant Instructor
   
   1. Appointment

   An electronic Personnel Action Form (PAF) must be used to appoint all nonclassified student employees. All nonclassified student employees must be paid within the established salary range for the title. Concurrent appointments are allowed with all positions if the student employee's total appointment does not exceed workload limitations stipulated herein.

   2. Pay Structure

   Each dean or vice president is responsible for establishing and maintaining their respective nonclassified student pay structure. Although latitude is permitted within the established salary range, payment within the upper end of the range should be reserved for those with more extensive education and experience. These pay structures must be approved by Human Resources prior to implementation and should be updated annually.

   3. Benefits

   All nonclassified student employee positions appointed for 20 hours per week and for four and one-half months or longer will be eligible for premium sharing and employee group insurance coverage. Such employees are not eligible for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or retirement.

   4. Resident Tuition Rates

   The Texas Education Code, section 54.063, states that students employed as teaching or research assistants at least one-half time by any public institution of higher education in a degree program-related position with an effective date of employment on or before the official census date of the relevant term(s), may pay the same tuition while attending the employing institution as a resident of Texas for themselves, their spouses, and their dependent children, regardless of the length of residence in the state. The institution which employs the students shall determine whether the students' jobs relate to their degree programs.

   The terms "teaching assistant" and "research assistant," as used in this section, are not intended as titles of positions that determine the entitlement of nonresident student employees to a waiver of nonresident tuition at institutions of higher education but are intended to describe the academic positions of the student employees who are entitled to such a waiver under Chapter 54, section 54.063, Texas Education Code.

3. Qualifications and Limitations for Nonclassified Student Employee Titles

Certification by the director of admissions and registrar of the student enrollment status is required for a nonclassified student employee titles. The Certification of Student Status Form must be submitted to the employing department before requesting the appropriate administrator to approve an electronic appointing PAF. Student employees are required to be in good academic standing.

1. Student assistants' (work study students) work hours are limited to no more than an average of 19 hours per week over a four and one-half month period of time. Student assistants must be enrolled at least six hours and provide verification of award of financial aid to the employing department prior to approval of the appointing PAF. Paperwork and appointments are handled by the Office of Student Financial Aid.


2. Tutors and student reader/graders' work hours are limited to no more than an average of 19 hours per week over a four and one-half month period of time. They are paid on an hourly basis. Students with these titles must be enrolled.


3. Graduate research assistants and undergraduate research assistants are limited to total employment of 20 hours per week. Appointments for fewer than 20 hours per week should be on an hourly basis. Enrollment for at least six hours for each long session and a total of three hours during the summer sessions is required for the title of graduate research assistant. Enrollment for at least nine hours for each long session and a total of six hours during the summer sessions is required for the title of undergraduate research assistant. The primary duty for the graduate research assistant and the undergraduate research assistant is to assist faculty members or research staff on assigned research projects.


4. Student interns paid by UTSA are limited to total employment of no more than 20 hours per week. Student interns must be earning academic credit for their appointments, which must be approved and coordinated by the appropriate academic unit. A student intern must be enrolled in an approved internship course to qualify for this position. An approved internship course form should be forwarded to the employing department prior to the creation of the electronic appointing PAF.


5. Graduate assistants are limited to total employment of 20 hours per week and may be paid on an hourly or monthly basis. Enrollment for at least six hours for each long session and a total of three hours for summer sessions is required for this title. The primary duty of a graduate assistant is to assist with faculty or administration on assigned projects not directly related to research. This title does not qualify the student employee for resident (in-state) tuition.


6. Teaching assistants are auxiliary members of the instructional staff at UTSA and are employed in that capacity to meet instructional needs of the university at the undergraduate level. They are limited to total employment of 20 hours per week. Concurrent appointments for teaching assistants are discouraged. However, with the advance approval of the department chair, the dean of the college and the dean of Graduate Studies, a student employee may concurrently hold more than one appointment so long as the total percent time does not exceed 50 percent time or 20 hours per week. Enrollment of at least six hours for each long session or a total of three hours during the summer session in which they teach is required for the title of teaching assistant. Teaching assistants are paid on a salaried basis regardless of the number of hours appointed each week. The primary duty of a teaching assistant is to provide instructional service. All duties performed by a teaching assistant shall be under the supervision and direction of designated regular faculty. Teaching assistants are subject to the Regents' Rules and Regulations, the UTSA Handbook of Operating Procedures, and the college in which they hold employment. Appointment procedures and qualifications are outlined in the Faculty Appointment Manual maintained by the Office of the Provost.


7. Assistant instructors are graduate students who have been admitted unconditionally to doctoral candidacy, must have completed all the doctoral degree course work except the dissertation, and are registered for dissertation courses. Graduate students who meet this criteria may be appointed as assistant instructors. The percentage of time devoted to instruction is determined by the department chair in consultation with the dissertation advisor. The primary duty of an assistant instructor is to provide instructional service. All duties performed by an assistant instructor shall be under the supervision and direction of designated regular faculty. Assistant instructors are subject to the Regents' Rules and Regulations, the UTSA Handbook of Operating Procedures, and the college in which they hold employment. Appointment procedures and qualifications are outlined in the Faculty Appointment Manual maintained by the Office of the Provost.


4. Selection of Nonclassified Student Employees

Selection of all student employees must be in conformity with UTSA's Affirmative Action policies. Each department or unit employing students is responsible for ensuring that all recruitment and employment activities are free of discrimination.

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