Scope: This document outlines the guidelines that Library Technical Services student supervisory staff should follow when hiring and considering raises for student assistants. It is the policy of LTS to hire Cornell student employees for daily tasks and special projects whenever possible, including during the summer and winter breaks. In special cases, LTS may consider posting a temporary position, but these must be justified with the heads of the appropriate departments before funds can be approved for the position. Once approved, the position can be posted, and the employee hired, according to Library Human Resources procedures.
Contact: Lisa Maybury
Unit: Receiving & Government Documents
Date last updated: 07/10/2019
Date of next review: July 2020
Current Student Hourly Wage Scale
A. Current Student Hourly Wage Scale
Grade Level I Min. Wage = $11.80 Max. Wage = $13.55
Grade Level II Min. Wage = $12.05 Max. Wage = $14.85
Grade Level III Min. Wage = $12.65 Max. Wage = $16.40
Grade Level IV Min. Wage = $13.80 Max. Wage = $21.55
B. Raise Guidelines
To be competitive with other departments, LTS student supervisors will add 2.5% to the above minimum hiring wage for all new and returning students. For instance, Grade Level I will start at $12.10/hr, a Grade Level II will start at $12.35/hr, etc. Students returning after a full year of service (2 semesters) will receive an additional 3% merit increase that year and each subsequent year that they work in LTS.
LTS senior management (SMT) prefer merit increases be limited to 3%. If a supervisor feels that a particular student deserves more, they will need the approval of SMT.
Supervisors may choose to hire students at a higher initial pay rate, and some factors that may influence this decision include:
a.) The position may require training and/or supervision of fellow students, or the responsibility to work unsupervised for much of the time.
b.) The candidate brings relevant experience or skills/knowledge to the position, and requires less training.
c.) The position may require a late-night schedule, or traveling to a far end of campus, and the library would like to provide incentive.
d.) The desire to maintain the same (or better) pay-level if a student comes from (or concurrently holds) a different job.
For more information on the appropriate tasks associated with each pay-grade level, see: http://studentemployment.cornell.edu/jobs/wages-and-classifications/student-job-grade-levels
C. LHR Guidelines
- When a new student is hired, provide LHR staff with a copy of the Student Employment Application, appointment form, and the position description.
- Before any merit increases can be given we need to complete the Student Performance Evaluation.
- When a student has terminated employment permanently, we will provide LHR staff with a Student Termination Report. (an important step as LHR staff frequently receive phone calls about student employees).
All of the above forms can be found at the Library Human Resources website (Home)