Co-op Student Employment
Find a Co-op PositionCo-op Placements
We are your resource for on- and off-campus Work Study Co-op placements. If you’re looking for resources for non-Work Study co-ops, contact Northeastern Employer Engagement & Career Design.
Co-op opportunities can be found on NUworks.
Pre-Hire Paperwork
If you receive an on-campus or work-study-funded co-op offer, you must complete the Form I-9 with our office. Both sections of the Form should be completed before your first day of work.
Section 1 of the I-9 form can be completed online via the Student Employment site.
To complete Section 2, you will be required to provide supporting documentation to an authorized Student Employment representative at 375 Richards Hall.
Allow up top 3 business days for our office to process your Form I-9.
If you have questions regarding the I-9 form, please email seoi9help@northeastern.edu.
You and your supervisor should complete and submit the following forms two weeks before your start date:
- Co-op Job Description Form (This form is intended for new or unclassified Co-op positions on campus. Please submit completed forms to seo@northeastern.edu.)
- Co-op Placement Sheet
Getting Paid
Direct Deposit
All on-campus student employees and all off-campus work-study student employees are required to enroll in direct deposit. To enroll in direct deposit, log into the Student Hub, select “My Links”, then “Student Financial Services”, then “Direct Deposit Form.” Paychecks will be deposited into the account you designate.
Payrates
Co-op payrates are classified according to the University’s FY23 Co-op Rates. Pay rates will vary depending on the level of experience, and the responsibilities for each position, but will always adhere to the state minimum wage. Please note that students conducting specialized research or highly-skilled work are typically paid at a higher rate.
If you have been awarded Federal Work-Study, which is a finite amount, your pay rate determines the number of hours that you are able to work.
Pay Schedules
Student employees will be required to complete their timesheets and submit them, electronically, for approval in Workday via the Student Employment website.
As an hourly paid employee, you should submit your online timesheet to your supervisor each week that you work. The deadline for timesheets to be submitted to your supervisor is Sunday at 10:00 a.m. each week. Your supervisor is responsible for reviewing, approving, and forwarding your timesheets by Monday at 10:00 a.m.
Students are paid on a bi-weekly schedule.
Taxes
The W-4 Form indicates how much in taxes will be withheld from your paycheck. To provide this information, you’ll need to update your tax information via Workday. To do so, go into your applications and select the Pay app. Then select “Withholding Elections” and update the form. Please note that you will have access to the Pay app only after you’ve been hired. By completing this information on Workday, this takes place of the paper W-4 Form and allows you to make any necessary changes, electronically.
Learn more to access your 2022 W-2 online, starting January 31st, 2023.
On the Job
Co-ops are real, verifiable employment. Co-ops are a great way to build your resume, and good performance may help you secure references for future employment.
You should show up on time to each shift and be ready to work. If you are not sure what work needs to be done, ask your supervisor. If you have ideas about how to improve a process, share them!
If you are going to be late, contact your supervisor to let them know. If you need to request time off or a change to your schedule, speak to your supervisor as soon as possible.
If you need to quit your job for any reason, let your supervisor know as soon as possible. Whenever possible, you should give your supervisor at least two weeks’ notice before your last day.
Report a Concern
If you have a concern related to your workplace, you can request to speak with a staff member to discuss your reporting options, or you can access the following resources directly:
Know Your Rights
Equal Opportunity Employment
Northeastern University is committed to providing a living, learning and working environment free of discrimination and harassment. This policy applies to all members of the university community, including students, faculty, staff, affiliates, and volunteers when acting on behalf of the university, whether on or off campus, as well as to contractors, parents, and visitors when they are on university property.
Reasonable Accommodation
Northeastern University (the “university”) recognizes that individuals may be entitled to reasonable accommodation in respect of a legally protected characteristic to participate in employment. The purpose of this policy is to meet requirements of applicable human rights legislation and to provide employees and applicants with reasonable accommodations as required by law.
Policy on Pregnancy & Pregnancy-Related Conditions
The university recognizes that employees who are pregnant or have a condition related to pregnancy may need a reasonable accommodation to have equally effective opportunities to participate in employment. The purpose of this policy is to meet requirements of the Massachusetts state anti-discrimination law and to provide employees with reasonable accommodations as required by applicable law.
Policy on Student Work Hours
- Students may not work more than 20 hours per work while classes are in session. During university break periods, students may work up to 40 hours per week.
- Student workers may not work during their scheduled class times.
- Massachusetts state law requires that an unpaid break of at least 30 minutes be taken after six consecutive hours of work.
Wages
Student employees must be compensated for their work in accordance with University pay range descriptions. Please select your campus location.
MA Payment of Wages Law
The Massachusetts Payment of Wages Law specifies the timeline for when employees must be paid.
- All hourly employees must be paid at least weekly or biweekly.
- All employees must be paid within six days of the end of the pay period during which wages were earned.
- If an employee resigns, the employer must pay for all hours worked on the next regular pay day following the end of employment. When an employer discharges an employee, it must pay the employee all wages owed on the day of termination.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I apply for on-campus co-ops?
Co-op opportunities can be found on NUworks.
Can I keep my part-time job while going on CO-OP?
Yes, but if your CO-OP position is on-campus, please make sure you communicate closely with both your CO-OP supervisor and part-time supervisor, and make sure they are aware of your other on-campus positions and hours entered. There will be overtime charges if your total hours (CO-OP + part time) exceed 40.
Can I email a scan of my document for I9 section 2 since I won’t arrive in Boston until September?
For the safety of your identity, please do not email scanned copies of your Section 2 documents. Furthermore, we do not accept scanned copies. Please bring original documents to the Student Employment Office once you arrive in Boston. Our office will be open during move-in week.
I will not be on campus prior to my start date to submit my I-9 documents in person. Can I complete a remote I-9 or email the documents to you?
No, we cannot verify your I-9 supporting documents remotely. You will have to wait until you arrive on-campus before you can complete the process with our office. We cannot accept your supporting documents via email.
I do not have my original documents. Can I present a scan, picture or photocopy?
No, we can only accept the true, physical document. We cannot accept scans, pictures or photocopies of I-9 supporting documents.
Am I allowed to start working while my I-9 documents are processing?
Students should not start working until their hire has been confirmed in Workday, to avoid any possible delay in pay if there are issues with the hire request or I-9 processing.
Why am I unable to submit a timesheet?
Students are paid on a bi-weekly pay schedule. Every pay week, the timesheet will be temporarily locked for processing payroll. If you have trouble entering time, please try again on Friday. Make sure you enter your hours by 10AM Sunday morning every week so you can get paid on time.
How can I view my paystubs?
To view your 2022, paystub history go to Workday and search “My Payslip” in the search bar.
To access paystub history prior to 2022, please navigate to Student Hub –> My Links –> Financial Services –> Student Employee Self Service and search “Pay Slips”.