Updated Process: Student Officers Performing Additional Work

Effective January 1, 2026, additional work performed by students who hold Student Officer of Instruction or Student Officer of Research appointments (e.g., Teaching Assistants, Readers, Graduate Research Assistants, Departmental Research Assistants) must be paid either as additional compensation or through a student casual position using Hire Multiple Jobs (MJB), depending on the nature of the work. This update aligns and standardizes existing practice for casual and work-study roles and represents a change from prior processing for Student Officers. 

What Is New
Historically, additional work performed by Student Officers was processed exclusively as additional compensation, even when the work was categorized as administrative or academic support (non-instructional/non-research) in nature. With this realignment of processing, the Hire Multiple Jobs (MJB) functionality in PAC provides a consistent and streamlined way to hire Student Officers into casual positions when the additional work is substantively different from their academic appointment. 

How to Utilize the Enhancement
The appropriate approach depends on the nature of the additional work. 

Casual Position via Hire Multiple Jobs (New)
Hire the student into a casual position when the work is work for which a student would be hired as an hourly student casual-administrative or hourly student casual-academic support if they did not also hold a student officer appointment. Hourly student casual-administrative work includes general administrative work and other functions (e.g., working in the libraries or gym). Casual-academic support includes work that directly supports instruction or research but is not itself instructional or research service.

Examples include:

• Teaching Assistant working in the library shelving books or in Dodge Fitness Center
• Reader tutoring at the Center for Student Advising or in the Double Discovery program
• Graduate Research Assistant working as a seminar rapporteur

• Departmental Research Assistant providing technology support for an online course

  Using a casual position in these cases allows departments to more accurately track hours worked and support compliance with applicable hour limitations.
   

Additional Compensation (No Change in Process)
Use additional compensation when the work is an extension of the Student Officer role. Examples include a Teaching Assistant teaching an additional section of the same or similar course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a change from prior practice?
Yes. Previously, most additional work for Student Officers was processed as additional compensation. Effective January 1, 2026, casual hires via MJB may be used when the work is student casual-administrative or student casual-academic support.

Can a Student Officer hold both a Student Officer appointment and a casual position at the same time?
Yes, provided the additional work is substantively different and all PAC and policy rules are met. A student may not hold two Student Officer appointments concurrently. The total number of hours a Student Officer can work per week in all positions, including their appointment and work for additional compensation, must not exceed 20 hours. 

Will Student Officers receive more than one paycheck if they hold a casual or work-study position?
Yes. When a Student Officer also holds a casual or work-study position, compensation will be paid according to the applicable payroll schedules for each role. Student Officer pay is issued on the semi-monthly schedule, while casual and work-study pay is issued on the biweekly schedule. This is an expected outcome and does not change total compensation.

When should additional compensation still be used?
When the work is an extension of the Student Officer appointment the student holds and a secondary Student Officer appointment cannot be processed (e.g., teaching an additional section).

When should a casual position be used?
When the work is administrative or academic support work for which a student would be hired as an hourly casual if the student were not a Student Officer.

What if I’m unsure which option applies?
Please contact the HR Service Center before submitting the transaction for guidance. 

Additional questions may be directed to the HR Service Center online at https://columbia.service-now.com or by phone at (212) 851-2888.