SAIC Student Employment

Jobs of various skill sets are available in many SAIC departments for students from all class levels. Previous experience is not necessarily required. Job types include:

• Administrative and clerical: Academic and studio departments, student services, and support
• Gallery, exhibitions, and events: SAIC galleries, art installation, visiting artists events
• Hands-on: Instructional shops, classroom, and equipment support
• Library and media: Libraries and collections, film, radio, TV, multimedia, and newspaper
• Technology: Computer resources, equipment authorizations, software training and support

Students should access Handshake at saic.joinhandshake.com to apply for all jobs with these departments. Students may not work more than 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters.

Federal Work-Study (Need-Based) Student Employment

Federal Work-Study eligibility is awarded for fall and spring semesters to degree-seeking students demonstrating financial need as determined by a federal needs analysis application (FAFSA). Students must reapply by filing the FAFSA by March 1 each year before the upcoming award year. The financial aid award year at SAIC always begins with the summer term. Students are responsible for securing and maintaining satisfactory performance of student employment jobs. Although the financial aid award letter lists the amount a student is eligible to earn each semester, it does not guarantee placement in a job.

Institutional (Non-Need) Student Employment

All continuing students may not exceed 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, and 40 hours during winter and summer, all jobs combined. Federal Work-Study eligibility is not required to work and is not in use during the summer and winter terms. F-1 visa holders are eligible to work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring terms, and 40 hours per week during the summer and winter terms.

Access Your Earning Eligibility Report in Self-Service

Students should electronically request an Earning Eligibility Report in Self-Service. Go to Student Homepage > Other Services Non-Mobile > Earning Report > enter term. This report shows domestic students their total Federal Work-Study eligibility amount, how much Federal Work-Study is already authorized for use and still available, and for both international and domestic students, if they have properly completed the I-9 process to begin working on their first day of employment. Students are not required to have Federal Work-Study, however, supervisors are asked to give Federal Work-Study students priority first if considering hiring a domestic student. Students should provide this report to supervisors during the interview and job application process and can send the PDF by email to them.

International students in F-1 status are not awarded Federal Work-Study eligibility but can work in on-campus jobs that require Federal Work-Study eligibility. Students may not work off campus without authorization from International Student Affairs. Working off-campus without authorization is a serious violation of the F-1 visa status.

On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week for international students during fall and spring terms and 40 hours during winter and summer terms. Students are required to complete a federal I-9 form and must apply for a U.S. Social Security Number if they do not already have one. Students applying for a Social Security Number must do so within two weeks of employment and should provide Student Payroll with a letter or receipt from the Social Security Administration showing that they have begun the process. 

If evidence of having applied for a Social Security Number is not provided within two weeks of employment, the student may be terminated from their on-campus position.

Note: Students in F-1 status are eligible to apply for a Social Security Number through the Social SecurityAdministration only if they have an on-campus job and only after 10 days of presence in the U.S.

See International Student Affairs for more information.

To begin your on-campus job search, log in to Handshake and search for on-campus jobs. If you are logging in for the first time, you will be asked to complete a quick survey about your preferences. All available on-campus jobs are listed exclusively on Handshake. Students are automatically signed up for Handshake through their ARTIC account, and you can sign in to Handshake using your saic.edu username and password.

Handshake is also your primary online source for internships and job opportunities for off-campus employment. Students are encouraged to explore opportunities listed throughout the platform in addition to jobs pre-approved by CAPX.

Working as a Teaching Assistant is an ideal way to get experience and additional mentorship from faculty members. These positions range from assisting a professor in a classroom to providing technical help in a fabrication studio to teaching a class on your own.

Positions are available in most SAIC studio and academic departments as well as fabrication studios and output centers. Three to six hours of class time are required per week per class, along with additional preparation time outside of class.

Earning eligibility is not required but a graduate student must be enrolled for at least six credit hours (unless it is their last semester to graduate) to hold one of these positions. Post-bacc students are not eligible, regardless of past experience or expertise.

Each department posts its available positions on Handshake, one semester in advance—every November for spring and winter terms and every April for summer and fall terms. Watch for email reminders along with reminders posted in the CAPX bi-weekly email newsletter.

A wide range of diverse organizations, businesses, and studios are eager to host SAIC students as interns. The internship course is designed to provide students an opportunity to gain experience as interns in professional arts and design environments and prepare for professional life after SAIC.

Faculty provide in-depth mentorship and act as a liaison with the internship site helping students meet their learning goals as outlined for the semester. Through group meetings and online discussions, students engage with a peer cohort of students participating in a variety of internships. Students work on-site at internships for a total of 140 hours (approximately 14 hours per week) for the term. Students may register for 1.5 credits for courses 4001/5001, which reduces the internship hours to 70 hours.

A wide variety of internship opportunities, both paid and unpaid, are available on Handshake. Students are not, however, restricted to internships listed on this platform. Additionally, Federal Work Study can be used for positions with not-for-profit organizations. Students are encouraged to meet with a CAPX advisor for assistance with researching and applying for
Internships

Learn more about internships at the CAPX internship page.

Students should work closely with an advisor from CAPX (Career & Professional Experience) for assistance with career services such as updating resumes, preparing for job interviews, obtaining an internship, and other career-oriented services. They work with students at all levels and tailor their coaching to serve students' individual needs. They can help students identify strengths, skills, and values and can assist in exploring career options, fellowships, and grant opportunities; connecting with alumni and professional networks; developing professional portfolios and establishing an online presence; applying for internships, jobs, and other professional opportunities; and preparing for job interviews.

Schedule an Appointment

Make an appointment with a CAPX career advisor, faculty career advisor, or peer career advisor via the appointments tab on Handshake.

I-9 sessions are available only on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Please review and complete the I-9 packet before your visit and remember to bring your unexpired original documents. All first-time student employees at SAIC, including TA and RA positions, must complete an I-9 before approving a work authorization. The I-9 packet includes:

I-9 Packet and Drug-Free Workplace Certificate
Instructions for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification

Students should also complete the Federal and State W-4 forms online in UKG at ukg.artic.edu. Complete these immediately to meet federal regulations. Employees must present documents evidencing their identity and work authorization from the lists of acceptable documents accompanying the I-9. If an employee fails to comply with these legal requirements, they will not be able to work for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Once you have secured a job and completed your I-9 requirements (first-time student employees), your supervisor will complete a Student Employment Work Authorization for you online. You will receive an email requesting that you approve the authorization and terms for employment in Self-Service. You are ready to begin working once you have approved the authorization in Self-Service. It is suggested that you and your supervisor complete the authorization process at least one day prior to beginning employment to ensure that you are able to record time worked.

Online timesheets must be submitted through UKG Workforce Management every other Monday by 10:00 a.m., with dates indicated in the student payroll schedule. After the student submits the timesheet, their supervisor will review the hours for accuracy. They will then approve the time card for payment. Workforce Management is located within ukg.artic.edu.

Please Note: Note: Graduate students with teaching assistant or instructor of records positions are paid via a stipend. They are not required to record their hours in UKG.

Direct Deposit is available to those students with savings or checking accounts. Direct Deposit offers students a more timely and efficient manner of electronically depositing their paycheck directly into their bank account and is greatly encouraged by SAIC. Students should enroll in Direct Deposit by completing the required bank information in UKG.

Students who choose not to enroll in Direct Deposit will have paper checks issued on the scheduled payroll dates. Students will have their paper checks mailed to their student mailing address as indicated in Self-Service.

Students employed by the Art Institute are eligible to save on a tax-deferred basis by enrolling in the Art Institute's Tax Deferred Savings Program. Build your savings in a 403(b) while deferring payment of income taxes on contributions and investment earnings.

SAIC Tax-Deferred Savings Program
Tax Deferred Savings Program Notice of Availabilty 

SAIC students, who hold regular full-time, part-time, special projects, temporary staff, or faculty positions at SAIC or AIC are not eligible for student employee positions. If a student applies for and receives a financial aid award package that includes student employment earning eligibility, they will not qualify for this award if they are employed in a regular full-time, part-time, special projects, temporary staff, or faculty position at SAIC or AIC while enrolled at SAIC. A student eligible for student employment, who applies for and is offered a regular full-time, part-time, special projects, temporary staff, or faculty position, will not be able to work in a student employment position at SAIC, and have to discontinue their student employment if working as a student employee at the time they begin employment at SAIC or AIC as a regular full-time, part-time, special projects, or temporary staff or faculty member.

The only exception to this policy will be made for students who are staff or faculty members and who have a TA position. For these students who hold regular full-time, part-time, special projects, temporary staff or faculty positions at SAIC or AIC, their TA position will be paid as a temporary staff job through the staff employee payroll rather than the student employee payroll. In order to hire a person as a TA, a Position Requisition and Personnel Action form will need to be completed, including the appropriate signatures, and forwarded to Human Resources. 

For assistance with this process, please speak to the hiring department's administrative director.