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Some students find paid positions on-campus to help cover the cost of their studies. These positions usually offer a stipend or salary and may offer some form of tuition benefit or tuition scholarship. The Office of Residence Life, for example, currently employs a number of graduate students in various positions. Students interested in these opportunities may write to the Office of Residence Life, 304 Steele Hall, Syracuse University, Syracuse NY 13244-1220, USA.

A number of offices on campus hire administrative graduate assistants from a number of programs. Holding such a position, if related to the student’s area of academic interest, can enhance the graduate learning experience significantly. Applicants who wish to explore such options should contact their academic departments to determine whether there are particular offices offering these opportunities.

The Office of Human Resources publishes a weekly listing of positions available at all levels on campus. Spouses of prospective graduate students may wish to write to the office or consult its website, www.sujobopps.com, if they plan to seek employment in the area. The address is Office of Human Resources, Skytop Office Building, Syracuse University, Syracuse NY 13244–5300, USA.

Immigration regulations limit part-time employment opportunities for international students. Students with an F-1 visa may work on campus without permission from U.S. immigration. They must get a statement from the Office of International Services indicating they are able to work part time on campus during the academic year and full time during holidays and summers. This statement is used by the University’s payroll department.

Normally, international students with F-1 visas may not be employed off campus during the first calendar year in the United States. After the first 12 months, they may apply to U.S. immigration for permission to work off campus if they can prove an unexpected political or monetary crisis has caused changes in their financial circumstances. If approved, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service issues an Employment Authorization Document as proof of employment eligibility.

Students on an exchange-visitor (J-1) visa may be given permission to work on or off campus by their sponsor. Such students must request a letter of permission from their sponsors to be used by employers to authorize employment. Summer job opportunities are very few, and it is unusual for U.S. immigration to give permission for summer employment. International students should make arrangements for summer financial support before coming to the United States.

To ask about permission for employment, either on or off campus, and to find out current regulations about proof of employability, students should contact the The Lillian and Emanuel Slutzker Center for International Services, 310 Walnut Place, Syracuse NY 13244–2380, USA; telephone +315–443–2457; fax +315–443–3091; international.syr.edu; email lescis@syr.edu.

This page current as of: August 7,. 2006