Volunteer vs. Employment

• Working at an on-campus job.
  • Examples include working in a department, Sodexo (our on-campus dining company), bookstore, library.
• Applying for work authorization for off campus employment during your students with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (U.S.C.I.S.) then working only after the authorization has been approved. and you have the EAD card. This work authorization is for emergent circumstances only and one must prove economic hardship.
• Doing an internship off campus that is essential to your program and filling out the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) forms with our office then working only after we have approved it.
• Applying for your Optional Practical Training with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (U.S.C.I.S.) then working only after the authorization has been approved and you have the EAD card.

The U.S. Department of Labor defines volunteers as being an individual who volunteer or donate their services, usually on a part-time basis, for public service, religious or humanitarian objectives, not as employees and without contemplation of pay, and are not considered employees of the organization that receive their services. Volunteers cannot volunteer with for profit private sector employees.

To be a volunteer, you have to meet the following criteria:

• Services are voluntary and will be rendered without compensation.
• It is non-profit organization outside of campus. If you do not know if an organization is non-profit, ask us!
• The opportunity will not displace or replace regular employees in the role of the performance of their standard duties.
• Students should not engage in volunteer work if there is any expectation of current or future compensation or benefits.