Select Page
A student assisting a parent during registration
Student Employment
The Office of Student Employment is a resource for students to find on-campus and off campus jobs while enrolled at least half-time (6 hours) here at Oakwood University.
We actively employ an attitude of service, strategic vision and leadership in providing quality, student-driven services to support the Oakwood University community. Our purpose is to also promptly and consistently inform students of new opportunities by posting job vacancies on our website. Our goal is to aid and assist in the job search, and to be a firm foundation for your future.

The Student Employment Program serves three purposes:

  • To provide employment for students enabling them to earn a portion of their expenses and funds while pursuing a University degree;
  • To enhance the educational development and growth of students by providing employment related learning experience;
  • To provide academically related employment experience which may be of value vocationally in post-college years.
Employment Time Frame
Each semester the employment period begins the first official day of classes and ends the last day of final exams.
Student Employment Requirements
A student establishes eligibility for participation in the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. In order for an eligible student to received FWS, they would have to be employed by one of the designated departments who have FWS slots.

Students must have the following items complete
Students must have the following items complete in order to receive Student Employment.

  • Must be Financially Cleared
  • 1-9 Employment Eligibility Form
    • Only original documents are accepted
    • Acceptable documents are located on the last page of the I-9 application
  • Federal W-4 Form
  • A-4 Alabama Department of Revenue
  • Payroll Deduction Form
  • Direct Deposit Form
    • It is our policy that students bring in official paper work from the bank with the routing and account number.  Ex: Voided check
  • Current Course and Fee Statement
General Guidelines
  • All student employment jobs are part-time.
  • Fringe benefits such as sick leave, vacation pay, and holiday pay are not part of your compensation.
  • You will not be paid to study.
  • You will not be paid funds for hours worked in excess of the maximum semester amount listed on your contract or after the semester ends.
  • You and your supervisor are responsible for keeping up with the number of hours you are authorized to work. If you exceed your total award for a term, part of your other aid for the academic year may be canceled.
  • Students who accept jobs are expected to work the entire period of the assignment, to be punctual, and to perform efficiently. Student should notify supervisors in advance when illness or unforeseen circumstances prevent attendance.
  • You must terminate your employment immediately upon withdrawal from Oakwood University.
  • You must maintain a minimum of six credit hours to prevent cancellation of your employment.
Progressive Corrective Action
The progressive corrective action procedure is designed to identify and correct problems that may affect your work performance or the overall performance of your department. This process provides you and your supervisor with an opportunity to talk about specific problems, to determine when and how these problems can be corrected, and to agree to set goals and follow-up dates.Progressive Corrective Action refers to these steps:

Step 1 – Counseling and/or verbal warning

Step 2 – Written warning

Step 3 – Suspension

Step 4 – Discharge

Depending on the situation, steps 1, 2 or 3 may be repeated, skipped or not followed in sequence. Each case is considered on an individual basis by your direct supervisor. The University retains the right to terminate your employment at any time for any reason not prohibited by law, without prior notice. In the case of serious infractions, you may, for example, be suspended and/or discharged on the first offense. Such serious infractions include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Insubordination
  • Unauthorized possession or concealment of weapons while on the premises
  • Possession, use, sale, or purchase of non-prescribed drugs and intoxicants on University premises; working under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or intoxicants.
  • Fighting or other inappropriate conduct while on the premises
  • Theft
  • Destruction of University property
  • Sleeping on the job
  • Falsification or improper alteration of records, including time cards and time records
  • Disclosure or misuse of confidential information
  • Misuse of the University’s electronic information systems.

Other situations that may warrant corrective action include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Repeated tardiness and/or unexcused absences
  • Continued refusal to follow the dress code guidelines
  • Continued lack of accuracy in work assignments
  • Inappropriate or rude behavior while dealing with a customers or staff members
  • Repeated unapproved disappearances from the office
Student Jobs
Employee Services is excited to announce the automation of the student hiring process. Students can apply online for all available student worker positions. Students will need to login to MyOakwood and click the Student Employment tab. Instructions will be provided there. All students must use the automated system to apply or reapply for student employment.
FAQs

Where is the Office of Student Employment and how can I contact you?
The Office of Student Employment can be found the Career Connection Center – between Public Safety Headquarters and the tennis courts on Oakwood Road. Call us at (256)726–7134 or email us at ose@oakwood.edu

How do I become eligible to work on campus?
Be enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours 
Be 70% cleared
Have a minimum 2.0 GPA 

Can I work more than one job?
NO. Effective Fall 2012 school year, students can only work one job.

How will I know what jobs are available?
Sign into MyOakwood> Student Employment

What is Institution Work Study?
This is an agreement between the Institution and the Students to have their pay credited to their Oakwood University student account until they are 100% clear financially, at which time their pay will be deposited in their personal bank accounts. The pay rate for students receiving Institutional Work Study is $6.20 (85% of minimum wages. The Department of Labor allows the institution to pay a student no less than this percent). Students may access My.Oakwood.edu and click on “Student Accounts” to track wages placed on their account.

What is Federal Work Study?
The FWS Program provides funds that are earned through part-time employment to assist students in financing the costs of postsecondary education. Financial need is determined by the Department, using a standard formula established to evaluate the financial information reported on the FAFSA and to determine the expected family contribution (EFC). This is free monies that do not have to be paid back to the Department of Education.

What documents are required for me to begin working?

  1. Proof of enrollment
  2. I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form (copies & faxes not acceptable of documents and must be unexpired.). You can find this list by clicking on OSE Forms then I-9 Form Employment Eligibility Verification page 5.
  3. A-4 Alabama Department of Revenue Form
  4. Federal W-4 Form
  5. Payroll Deduction Form
  6. Direct Deposit Form
  7. Signed contracted on file in the Office of Student Employment.

Also available at our website.

 I just began work today and can’t clock in, what should I do?
Keep a very accurate account of the times that you clock in, clock out, and the number of hours worked each day. Keep doing this until you are in the system, and turn your hours in to your supervisor at the end of the week. To expedite the process have your supervisor send an email to ose@oakwood.edurequesting you to be added to TimeClock. Name and ID and department code should be added in the email. Why? Because all contract do not indicate if the student is a new worker.

Can I work during chapel?
No. Seniors can check with Student Services to determine if you are eligible to be exempt from chapel. If so, you can make arrangement with their supervisor to work if necessary.

How many hours can I work during the school semester?
17 hours weekly.

Can I work during thanksgiving/winter/spring/summer break?
Some departments are not open and/or have no budget for these times. Check with your supervisor to find out if you can work during a break, and make sure that you are aware of the beginning and end dates of your contract. Your hours could be less based on each departments needs. The maximum hour cannot exceed 28 hours.

How long can I work after I graduate?
You must terminate your Work-Study employment immediately upon withdrawal or completion from Oakwood University.

General Guidelines:

  • All student employment jobs are part-time.
  • Fringe benefits such as sick leave, vacation pay, and holiday pay are not part of your compensation.
  • You will not be paid to study.
  • You will not be paid funds for hours worked in excess of the maximum semester amount listed on your contract or after the semester ends.
  • You and your supervisor are responsible for keeping up with the number of hours you are authorized to work. If you exceed your total award for a term, part of your other aid for the academic year may be canceled.
  • Students who accept jobs are expected to work the entire period of the assignment, to be punctual, and to perform efficiently. Student should notify supervisors in advance when illness or unforeseen circumstances prevent attendance.
  • You must terminate your employment immediately upon withdrawal from Oakwood University.
  • You must maintain a minimum of six credit hours to prevent cancellation of your employment.

What do I need to know about being interviewed?
To ensure your interview is a success, here are a few tips:

  • Dress professionally. Your appearance makes a lasting impression.
  • Be punctual. Arrive a few minutes early and make sure the potential employer knows that you are present.
  • Bring a list of references, both past employers and personal, to present if requested.
  • Know the interviewers name and title, if any.
  • Extend a firm handshake.
  • Establish good eye contact.
  • Be positive, friendly, and businesslike.
  • Listen carefully. Answer questions completely but concisely.
  • Be honest. If you don’t know something, don’t be afraid to say so openly.
  • Find out all you can about the job.
  • Don’t exaggerate or downplay your best qualities or experience.
  • Show interest and enthusiasm.
  • Send a thank-you note. A brief, well-written note can strengthen a potential employer’s positive impression of you.

What kind of contract can be used for a student that will be working a special contract or assignment or one-time payment or grant?
The student must be enrolled and 70% cleared.  This process is initiated by the Supervisor completing a Student Requisition form, having it signed by the appropriate signatories, and submitting it to the Office of Student Employment.  Afterwards, the student employee must complete the e-verification process, tax forms, and direct deposit forms prior to the authorization from OSE.  Once this process is complete OSE will notify the department that the student is clear to work. It is the policy of Oakwood University that all student employees are not to work prior to getting final approval from the OSE.  The Student Requisition Form is located on OSE website under OSE forms along with the forms that are also needed.

HBCU Library Alliance Summer 2018 Library Preservation/Conservation Internship Program

About the Internship

HBCU undergraduate students interested in the humanities, arts, and sciences will have the opportunity to learn and practice hands-on library preservation skills during this full-time, eight week internship under the mentorship of professional conservators and library staff at a host site. Successful internship candidates will demonstrate a strong interest in libraries and archives and an attention to detail, as well as interest and academic success in history, the arts, and/or the sciences.

Students learn to cook and strain wheat starch paste for use in book conservation.
Image courtesy of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program of Art Conservation
Interns will work on a range of possible projects, including:

  • surveying the condition of library collection materials;
  • conservation stabilization and treatment of historical documents, such as humidification and flattening, surface cleaning, and mending tears;
  • historical research;
  • digitization projects;
  • environmental monitoring; and/or
  • constructing custom storage enclosures for fragile archival materials.

Interns will then use their new expertise to implement a library preservation project designed in collaboration with their mentor and their home institution’s library staff, building on the success of their summer experiences with an opportunity to perform meaningful work preserving significant HBCU library collections at their institution.

 

PARTICIPATING HOST SITES

Participating Host Sites

The five (5) participating host sites are:

  1. American Philosophical Society Library The American Philosophical Society Library is a national center for research in the history of the sciences, early American history, and Native American ethnography and linguistics. The Conservation Department provides complete collection care, ranging from preventive care to single-item treatment, for all books, manuscripts, photographs, and works on paper and parchment held by the Library – numbering 350,000 bound volumes , 13 million manuscript pages, and 250,000 images.
  2. Duke University Libraries, Durham, NC Duke University Libraries (DUL) is committed to diversity in its patron communities, services, collections, staff and spaces. One of its guiding principles is to build, maintain, and provide access to an international and multilingual collection, representing the broadest possible spectrum of cultures, ideas, and information. Significant collections include the University Archives, the John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture, the Human Rights Archives, and the Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History & Culture. The core mission of the Conservation Services Department is to ensure that library materials can be used by patrons both now and in the future.
  3. The Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin, TX The Ransom Center is an internationally renowned humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin. Its extensive collections provide unique insight into the creative process of writers and artists, deepening our understanding and appreciation of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts. The Center’s Preservation and Conservation Division provides a full range of preventive and conservation treatment options for the long-term care of its collections.
  4. Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, Wilmington, DE Winterthur Library collections promote the interdisciplinary study of American material culture, including art, architecture, decorative arts, and everyday life, dating from colonial times into the twentieth century. Its resources include printed books and serials; trade and auction catalogs; manuscripts, diaries, letter books, and family papers of artists, craftspeople, and merchants; design and architectural drawings; historic photographs; printed ephemera; a large collections of modern photographs; and institutional archives. Winterthur’s Library Conservation Lab is located within a larger Conservation Department with additional specialties in paintings, textiles, objects, furniture, works of art on paper, and scientific research and analytics.
  5. Yale University Library, New Haven, CT The Gates Conservation Laboratory at the Yale University Library opened in the fall of 2015 and is home to the conservation and exhibitions services program for the Yale Library’s collection of 14 million books, manuscripts, archival documents, photographs and artifacts, held in 16 libraries or collections on campus. The lab is staffed by a team of four conservators, four technicians, and one exhibits program manager, who provide expertise in book, parchment, paper and photograph conservation for both circulating materials and rare, special collections. The collections of the Library, especially those of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, document much of the human record, from Egyptian papyri to early Civil War photographs, and archives of writers, artists, and musicians of the Harlem Renaissance to those of student organizations on the Yale campus.
TO APPLY
Undergraduate students must return the following required materials as a single PDF to me at sphoenix@hbculibraries.org no later than Monday, February 19th.

  • Cover letter and statement of interest to include your two top selections for a host site (not more than 2 pages);
  • Resume/CV (not more than 2 pages);
  • Unofficial transcript, listing courses taken;
  • A letter of recommendation from your college or university’s Library Director or designee; and
  • A second letter of recommendation from a mentor, professor, or employer.
Students practice historical marbling techniques to develop their connoisseurship and hand skills. Image courtesy of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program of Art Conservation

Undergraduate students will be selected by a panel which includes HBCU Library Alliance Board Chair Monika Rhue, Johnson C. Smith University (NC); Board member Dr. Tasha Lucas-Youmans, Bethune-Cookman University (FL); Project PI Dr. Melissa Tedone, Associate Conservator at the Winterthur Museum Garden and Library (DE); an intern supervisor from one of the host sites; and me. This is an exciting opportunity to expose HBCU students to library preservation/conservation at national sites and to expose these sites to the talent, skills and knowledge of our distinguished HBCU students. Contact me immediately at sphoenix@hbculibraries.org with your questions or if you need additional information. I look forward to receiving student applications! SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) sphoenix@hbculibraries.org