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We have had several situations where students have
volunteered to work for departments with the expectation of
eventually being hired as "paid" student employees. Apparently the
students, or at least their parents, are under the impression that they were
hired as student employees and should be paid for their efforts.
Volunteering can be very beneficial. Although
students are not being compensated financially, they often gain valuable
knowledge and experience that will help them in the future. To the departments,
volunteers are a valuable resource when budgets don't allow any additional
hiring. It is critical however, that it be made clear to these students that
they are volunteers and will not be compensated for their time.
This will eliminate students coming in later asking to be paid for the time
worked.
Of course, we recommend that students be hired
through work study funds or through your departmental budget whenever possible.
However, if you come across students that express an interest in being part of a
project, whether it be for their personal or academic knowledge, desire to be
involved or looking to add something to their resume; the fact that they will
not be compensated needs to be clearly stated. An excellent way to handle this
situation is to send the student the attached letter of understanding that
clearly defines their role and thanks them for their efforts.
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