Appropriate Use of Students
Every student participating in the Work College Program is provided a position description outlining their specific duties and learning opportunities. A position retains a degree of flexibility to adapt to a department's changing needs. However, it is inappropriate, and against both College guidelines and Federal Work Study regulations, to use a student's work-learning position for personal or non-College-related gain, such as babysitting, running errands, housekeeping, home maintenance, or other tasks unrelated to the position itself. A student can only be paid for work they were contracted to perform through their department.
This same principle applies to international students under F-1 status, who are subject to additional federal restrictions on off-campus work; see Off-Campus Work under International Students (F-1 Status) for more detail.
The policy below establishes further guidance for faculty and staff on this topic.
Policy for Faculty and Staff Engaging Students Outside of Work College Program Assignments
| Responsible Office |
Work College Program |
| Responsible Party |
Dean for the Work College Program |
| Last Revision |
July 30, 2025 |
| Approved By |
Administrative Committee |
| Approved Date |
August 5, 2025 |
| Effective Date |
August 19, 2025 |
Purpose
To establish policy and caution faculty and staff regarding the risks of asking students to perform tasks outside their assigned work-learning position at Berea College.
Policy Statement
Faculty and staff may not request or imply that a student perform work outside their work-learning position, particularly informal or personal tasks, without clearly outlining expectations, compensation, and whether the arrangement is personal and independent of the College.
Procedures and Guidelines
- All work assigned through the Work College Program must be documented in the student's position description and approved through standard channels.
- A student may not be asked to perform personal errands, babysitting, house-sitting, event setup for private functions, or other non-institutional tasks under the guise of their work-learning position.
- If a faculty or staff member wishes to privately hire a student for a personal task, the following must be made clear in writing and signed by both the faculty or staff member and the student:
- The arrangement is not affiliated with the College.
- The terms, including pay and scope of work, are clearly communicated.
- The College holds no liability and is not responsible for disputes, compensation, taxes, or workplace safety in these arrangements.
- Careful consideration should be given before hiring an F-1 or J-1 international student for work or volunteering outside their work-learning position. These students require specific permission to work outside of Berea College, and frequent informal "hiring" of an international student could result in a violation of their immigration status. Direct specific questions or concerns to Malakye Anderson at andersonm@berea.edu.
- Students often trust faculty and staff as mentors or supervisors, which can create a power dynamic that makes it difficult for a student to decline informal work. Faculty and staff should avoid putting a student in this position.
- Per the Fair Labor Standards Act, even "volunteered" work that benefits the institution must be compensated, and a private arrangement may create confusion or a false expectation if not handled carefully.
Questions concerning this policy should be directed to the Work College Program at workcollege@berea.edu or 859-985-3611.
Regulatory References