ACA FAQs for undergraduate, graduate student workers

Can a person hold both a nonstudent and student position?

No, except graduate students who often hold faculty teaching and research positions to continue their education. The student employment program was established to help students secure part-time employment to earn supplementary income to meet educational expenses. To open more positions for persons receiving an ASU education, student-worker positions are limited to students who are not employed as part-time or full-time faculty or staff members at ASU.

What are the correct job characteristics of an undergraduate or graduate student position?

As noted in the employment matrix, student positions are limited to variable positions. We will change existing student positions for you.
Also, student positions are limited to part-time work, which is less than 40 hours or a full-time 40-hour workweek. Do not make a student position PRN.

Is service performed under federal- or state-sponsored work-study programs counted in determining ACA eligibility? 

No. Any hours worked while in a work-study program will not be used to determine whether students are eligible under the Affordable Care Act.
Note: Hours under any work-study program, however, will be counted when determining the employment maximums under the new employment guidelines for all students.

How many hours per week can an undergraduate student work for ASU?

International student workers with an F1 Visa are limited to 20 hours per week during the academic year and cannot exceed the rolling average of 25 hours per week for their 12-month measurement period. All undergraduate student workers are limited to a rolling average of 25 hours per week for the year. This maximum applies to the combined total of all jobs, including hours associated with stipends paid for services. Student-workers hired before Oct. 1, 2013, cannot average more than 25 hours per week during the standard Affordable Care Act measurement period beginning Oct. 2013 and ending Sept. 2014. Student-workers hired Oct. 1, 2013, or later cannot average more than 25 hours per week beginning the first of the month following their date of employment and continuing for 12 months. After their initial measurement period following ASU employment, they will be measured during the standard Affordable Care Act measurement period of October through September each year.
Learn more about the limitation on work hours policy.

What does a rolling average of 25 hours per week for the year mean?

An average of 25 hours per week for the first 12 months of ASU employment or, in subsequent years of employment from October through September.

Can undergraduate student workers work more than 25 hours per week during the summer?

Yes, provided they do not exceed an average of 25 hours per week for all positions, including stipend-paid positions, at ASU in either their first 12 months of employment or from October through September in subsequent years of employment.

Are hours associated with stipends applied toward ACA eligibility and the rolling average of 25 hours per week FTE maximum?

Yes. Departments must assign hours associated with all stipends paid through payroll for services provided by undergraduate and graduate students. These hours are subject to IRS audit to ensure compliance with the Affordable Care Act.

Can student workers exceed an average of 25 hours during the measurement period?

No. Student workers who exceed the 25-hour average must work with their supervisors to reduce their hours or terminate one or more jobs. Terminating all jobs does not reduce the average under ACA. See ACA Break-in-service Rules. Students who average more than 25 hours per week by the 11th month of their measurement period will be terminated from all ASU student jobs for a minimum of 26 consecutive weeks or six months.
Review Graduate Appointments and Assistantships for more information.

What is the maximum FTE allowed for all graduate assistantships and internships?

To ensure that student’s education and training are not compromised by commitments to additional employment:

• Students holding assistantships or Graduate Intern appointments during the academic year may work up to a maximum of 0.50 FTE for all positions combined.
• Students holding hourly student worker positions only — no assistantships or graduate Intern appointments — during the academic year may work a maximum of 25 hours per week.

All positions combined, including stipend-paid positions, cannot exceed 0.625 FTE during the measurement period as defined below:

• Student-workers hired before Oct. 1, 2013, cannot average more than 0.625 FTE or 25 hours per week during the standard Affordable Care Act measurement period beginning October 2013 and ending September 2014.
• Student-workers hired Oct. 1, 2013, or later cannot average more than 0.625 FTE or 25 hours per week beginning the first of the month following their date of employment and continuing for 12 months. After their initial measurement period following ASU employment, they will be measured during the standard Affordable Care Act measurement period, which is October through September each year.

Note: Only graduate students can hold both a nonstudent and student position.

Can graduate students work more than 50% during the summer?

Yes, provided they do not exceed the rolling average of 0.625 FTE or 25 hours per week during the measurement period: 
•    Students holding assistantships or internships may work up to a maximum of 1.00 FTE during the summer. 
•    Students holding hourly student worker positions may work up to a maximum of 40 hours per week during the summer.

Can students with a graduate assistantship or internship also hold another part-time job at ASU during the academic year?

Yes, provided all appointments and positions do not exceed 0.50 FTE during the academic year.