On-Campus Employment

Students in J-1 status need to inform ISSS prior to beginning employment so that on-campus work authorization can be authorized in SEVIS.

For Middlebury College Students

Information on obtaining on-campus employment at Middlebury College will be covered during the International Orientation program. Job postings will be available on-line beginning the first day of classes, with additional opportunities posted as they become available. Student hourly wage amounts vary, depending on the position and your experience. You can familiarize yourself with the Human Resources Student Employment information by visiting their website.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) recommends that new students plan to work only 5-10 hours per week (or less, depending on course load) during the first term. That way, students can determine the amount of time they need to complete their academic responsibilities and whether they can manage more hours in a campus job. It is also important to know that on-campus employment once you complete your program is not authorized. The exception to this limitation is if the position is directly related to your field of study, and you have applied and been approved for the proper post graduation work authorization.

Students in F-1 and J-1 status are limited to working on campus no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session. More than one job may be held but the total number of hours authorized to work does not change; it remains 20 hours per week while school is in session. Students may be full time in their campus jobs during vacation periods (i.e. work weeks when no classes or exams are held as indicated on the academic calendar, not your personal schedule). It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are staying within this guidance. Working more than 20 hours per week when school is in session is a violation of status, and would result in a termination of the SEVIS record and the student’s F-1 status.

Once you have obtained on-campus employment, you must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration. The SSN is a tax identification number, and once you hold employment in the U.S., you must have a SSN to file your State and Federal taxes. For more information about this process, please see the Living in the U.S. website and click on “Social Security Information.”

For Middlebury Institute Students

On-campus job postings are available on Workable. Be sure to choose “United States, California, Monterey” for the location and “Student” for the department.

Guidelines

• If you are a new international student who is in “initial status,” you cannot begin work until the start of the semester in which you begin your studies. This is an institutional policy.
• All international students who obtain on-campus work-study positions must fill out the required human resources paperwork. For J-1 students: In addition to completing the human resources paperwork, you must also receive approval from ISSS prior to beginning your on-campus job.
• You can participate in on-campus work throughout your studies as long as you are maintaining your student status.
• You are limited to 20 hours per week during the academic session.
• You can work full-time (20 hours or more) during official school breaks (i.e., summer vacation and winter and spring break).
• You cannot engage in on-campus employment once you complete your program, unless it is in your field of study and you have the proper work authorization.
• You can continue to work on campus between programs if you are changing levels at the Institute; e.g., if you are moving from a language training program to a degree program or from the undergraduate level to graduate level.

Once you have obtained on-campus employment, you must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration. The SSN is a tax identification number, and once you hold employment in the U.S., you must have an SSN to file your state and federal taxes. For more information about this process, please read our Social Security Information.

Updated on 08/27/2025