Student employment is a high-impact practice that prepares students for a rapidly changing global society and success beyond graduation. A strong student employment experience helps connect students to campus and can positively impact retention. Student employment at UNC Asheville is intended to be educationally and financially helpful while providing valuable work experience. Whether you are a student or a supervisor, we are here to provide comprehensive information and resources to help you navigate all aspects of student employment from start to finish.

Contact Information Student Employment Portal Hiring Process Timesheets and Payroll Resources for Students Resources for Supervisors
incoming students gathered in a room for Embark orientation
a group of incoming students gathered for Embark orientation
Two students posing together
incoming students being led on a campus tour

Contacts for Student Employment

Student Employment

If you have any questions about student employment in general or the Student Employment Portal, please contact us at:

studentemployment@unca.edu

Human Resources

If you have any questions about the I-9 Form or Supporting Documentation, please contact Human Resources:

hr@unca.edu

Payroll

If you have any questions about setting up Direct Deposit or Timesheets, please contact Payroll:

payroll@unca.edu

Student Employment Portal

The Student Employment Portal is the centralized location for the student employee application, hiring, and job creation process. To access it, log in to OnePort, click “Employment,” and then click “Student Employment.”

Students use the portal for :

  • Searching & Applying for Jobs
  • Completing Required Hiring Forms
  • Checking Your Hire Status

Faculty and staff use the portal for :

  • Creating an Employer Profile
  • Accessing Your Control Panel
  • Posting Hourly & Flat Rate Jobs
  • Reviewing Applications
  • Starting a Hire Request
  • Checking a Hire’s Status
  • Completing the Fund Manager Review

The Student Hiring Process

All steps of the employment hiring process will be completed in the Student Employment Portal. 

Hiring Managers/Supervisors must have an employer profile in order to access the Portal. If you are not a fund manager, please submit a Profile Request Form. When your profile is created, you will receive an email with additional information about the Portal for future reference.

someone sitting down for an interview on an office
  • Supervisor creates a job posting.
  • Students review open job postings and apply.
  • Supervisor interviews student(s) to determine who to hire.
  • Supervisor initiates a Hire Request for chosen student(s).
  • Students must complete all required hiring documents and steps. The status of each document can be reviewed on the Student Employment Dashboard. Required documents and steps include: 
    1. I-9, NC-4, W-4, and Direct Deposit online forms accessible on the student’s Student Employment Portal Dashboard once a Hire Request has been initiated
    2. An in-person meeting with Human Resources to provide the physical, original I-9 supplemental documentation required to establish identity and employment authorization
  • Fund Manager reviews and either edits, returns, or approves the Hire Request
  • Student Employment reviews and either edits, returns, or approves the Hire Request
  • Student can now begin working! The student and supervisor will receive an email confirming when the Hire Request has been completed. 

Information and Resources for Students

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Students cannot begin working on-campus until all of their required hiring paperwork has been submitted and processed with HR and Payroll. Completion and approval of employment paperwork before a student begins on-campus work is a requirement of law and University policy.

Student Employees

  • Who are student employees? Student employees are current undergraduate students who work on-campus. 
  • Where can students find and apply for open student employment positions? All student employment positions can be found and applied for on the Student Employment Portal.
    • Open OnePort and in the left side menu click “Employment” then “Student Employment” to navigate to the Student Employment Portal. Click the “Students” tab and then “Find an On-Campus Job.” From here you can search for positions.
  • How many hours can a student employee work each week? During the academic semesters, Non-FWS student employees can work a maximum of 28 hours per week inclusive of all on-campus paid positions. During winter and summer breaks, this increases to a maximum of 40 hours per week inclusive of all on-campus paid positions.

Federal Work Study (FWS) Student Employees

  • What is Federal Work Study (FWS)? FWS is a federally funded, financial aid employment program available during fall and spring semesters. Eligibility for FWS is determined by a student’s submitted Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).   
  • Requirements to be Hired into a FWS Position
    • Student is degree-seeking
    • Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credit hours) during the fall and/or spring semester
    • A US citizen or permanent resident
    • Eligible for FWS based on their FAFSA
    • Accepted their FWS award in OnePort
  • Are students with Federal Work Study awards guaranteed an on-campus position? No. Students still need to meet the position requirements, apply, interview, and be offered the position.
  • Where can students find and apply for open student employment positions? All student employee positions can be found and applied for on the Student Employment Portal. All hourly student employee positions are able to be paid by a FWS award and can be found/applied for through the Student Employment Portal.
    • Open OnePort and in the left side menu click ‘Employment’ then ‘Student Employment’ to navigate to the Student Employment Portal. Click the ‘Students’ tab and then ‘Find an On-Campus Job.’ From here you can do a quick or advanced search based on the type of job you need. 
  • How many hours can a student work each week in a FWS position?  Students can work a maximum of 20 hours per week in their FWS-funded position during the academic year. FWS is not available during the summer break.
  • How is FWS funding dispersed? Students earn their FWS funding by working on campus. All hourly student employee positions, unless specifically noted in the job post, can be funded by Federal Work Study. FWS positions are paid an hourly rate, determined by the Financial Aid Office, on a biweekly basis. There are no parameters on how the pay is used after being deposited to the student’s bank account.
  • Not sure if you’re eligible for FWS or if you’ve accepted your FWS award? Contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@unca.edu or 828-251-6535. 

International Student Employees

  • Student has work authorization/a Social Security Number (SSN). See details on how to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) below.
  • International students must maintain legal F-1 or J-1 status while engaging in on-campus employment.
  • Student is a degree-seeking undergraduate student who is enrolled at UNC Asheville for the current semester or, if working during academic year breaks, enrolled for the following semester at UNC Asheville.
  • Once an international student has work authorization, what on-campus employee positions can they apply for? International students can apply for any on-campus position. The position must be for the university or a contracted company such as Chartwells/Dining Services.
  • How many hours can an international student work on campus? 
    • Part-time (20 hours per week or less) during the fall and spring academic semesters, which are set by the UNC Asheville academic calendar and include finals weeks.
    • Full-time (more than 20 hours per week but not exceeding 40 hours per week) between academic semesters.
  • On-campus employment eligibility for international students expires:
    • when an international student graduates/on the last day of their final quarter (per UNC Asheville academic calendar) even if their I-20 expiration date is after that date
    • if an international student transfers to another university, their work authorization expires on the day of their SEVIS record release date
    • if an international student violates their F-1 status and their SEVIS record is terminated
  • Who is the best contact for more information or additional questions? 
    • Contact the Study Abroad Office at studyabroad@unca.edu or 828-251-6535.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Students cannot begin working on-campus until all of their required hiring paperwork has been submitted and processed with HR and Payroll. Completion and approval of employment paperwork before a student begins on-campus work is a requirement of law and University policy.

The Student Employment Portal must use a student’s legal name because of the legal, required hiring documents the student must complete within the portal. If it becomes an option to use a student’s preferred name, we will implement that change as quickly as possible.

  1. Log in to your Student Employment Portal Dashboard. 
  2. Select “Student Employees” in the top menu and click the ‘Find a Job’ option in the drop down menu. 
  3. Search for active job postings by selecting a specific, predefined ‘Quick Search’ or input your own specifications through the “Advanced Search” option.
    1. If you are eligible for Federal Work Study (FWS), all on-campus, hourly jobs are open to you unless specifically stated in the job description.  
  4. Click the checkbox next to the job you want to submit an application for and then the “Apply for Selected Job” button. 
  5. Fill out and submit the job application. You will receive an email confirming the application was successfully submitted.
    1. All applicants are encouraged to meet with the Career Center to have their resume and/or cover letter reviewed prior to applying for an on-campus position.
    2. Supervisors will communicate directly with applicants regarding any next steps.

Congratulations on being selected for an on-campus job! Once the Hiring Manager / Supervisor initiates your Hire Request, you will be able to complete any incomplete, required hiring documents. 

  • Log in to the Student Employment Portal and review your Employment Eligibility Forms & Student Details table on your Dashboard.
  • Once a Hire Request has been initiated for you, any incomplete required hiring documents will be highlighted in pink and have an active, clickable URL on the right side of the Employee Eligibility Forms & Student Details table.
  • I-9, W-4, NC-4, and Direct Deposit Forms: Click each active URL to complete each online form. 
  • Meet with Human Resources to complete the I-9 Supporting Documentation portion of the I-9 Form. To schedule your meeting, use this link. Your I-9 Supporting Documentation must be the original, physical document. Replicas, photos, or emailed documentation can not be accepted. If you have any questions about the I-9 Form or Supporting Documentation, please contact HR at hr@unca.edu.
  • When all required hiring documents show as complete on your Dashboard, the Hire Request will continue through the review and approval process. 

The student and supervisor will receive an email confirming when the Hire Request has been completed. 

Common Question: Why aren’t there any links on my Dashboard to complete required hiring documents? The links to required hiring documents and steps outlined above will only populate on your Dashboard when a Hire Request has been initiated for you by the Hiring Manager / Supervisor.

Payroll and Timesheets

Student employees are required to track, enter, and submit accurate hours worked by the conclusion of each pay period through the bi-weekly online timesheet in OnePort. The 2025 Bi-weekly Payroll Calendar shows the start and end dates of each bi-weekly work period and the corresponding pay date including any adjusted dates for holidays and breaks. The time sheet submission deadline for student employees is midnight on the last day of the bi-weekly pay period, every other Sunday at 11:59 p.m.

Completing Your Timesheet

  1. Log into OnePort.
  2. Click “Employment” in the menu on the left.
  3. Choose “Timesheet (Temp/Student Employee).” 
  4. Make sure your role is chosen and click “TimeSheet”. If you have more than one on-campus job, you’ll need to select the specific role that you’re inputting hours for in the drop down menu.
  5. Input all hours worked.
  6. Double-check your hours are correct and click “Submit for Approval.” 

If you have any questions about your timesheet, please contact Payroll at payroll@unca.edu. Falsifying timesheets, including adding hours to a timesheet that were not worked on that date, is a violation of federal and state law. 

Submitting a Late Timesheet

If a student employee misses the deadline to submit their completed timesheet (every other Sunday at 11:59 p.m.), they will need to complete a Late Timesheet within the following bi-weekly pay period to be paid.

late timesheet form
  1. Complete the online late timesheet form for the position and pay period necessary.
    a. If you do not see the position or the pay period in the drop down menus for which
    you need to submit a late timesheet, please contact
    studentemployment@unca.edu.
  2. Your supervisor will receive an email once the form is submitted to review and approve
    the late timesheet.
  3. Once approved, the late timesheet will automatically route to Payroll for processing.
  4. If you do not see the position for which you need to submit a late timesheet, please contact studentemployment@unca.edu for student employees or hr@unca.edu for temporary employees.

Information and Resources for Supervisors

Everything a supervisor needs for student employment hiring will be done in the Student Employment Portal, including posting jobs, reviewing applicants, hiring students, ensuring required hiring documentation is complete, and confirming a student is approved to begin working. 

Hiring Managers/Supervisors must have an employer profile in order to access the Portal.

  • If you are a Fund Manager, your employer profile has already been created.
  • If you are not a fund manager, please submit a Profile Request Form.
  • When your profile is created, you will receive an email with additional information about the Portal for future reference.

If you are not a fund manager, please ensure you have submitted a Profile Request Form and received confirmation that your employer profile has been created. 

  1. Navigate to OnePort.
  2. In the menu, select “Employment.”
  3. Select “Student Employment.” 
  4. Under Faculty & Staff, click “Your (Supervisor & Fund Manager) Control Panel.”
  5. You are now on your Control Panel.

Directions for Reviewing and Approving Timesheets

  • Log into OnePort.
  • Click “Employment” in the menu on the left.
  • Choose “Timesheet (Temp/Student Employee).” 
  • The selection criteria should auto-select an “Approve” or “Acknowledge Time” choice. If it does not, choose that option from the list and press “Select.” 
  • The appropriate pay period automatically defaults to the current pay period. Double-check that the biweekly dates listed are accurate and click “Select.” 
  • Review the student employee’s entered hours for accuracy. If everything is correct, approve the timesheet. Do this for each student employee you supervise. If changes are needed, click the option to return the timesheet to the student employee for edits.

Contact Us 

UNC Asheville Career Center
Ramsey Library, Student Success Hub
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 828.251.6515
Email: career@unca.edu
Instagram: @uncacareer