BRIEF

Policy Summary

Berkeley Lab employs persons in one of many different appointment types. This policy defines the terms and conditions of a student assistant appointment.

Who Should Read This Policy

This policy applies to non-represented employees. Represented employees should consult their collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

To Read the Full Policy, Go To:

The POLICY tab on this wiki page

Contact Information

For more information, contact your division's HR Field team.

Feedback on HR policies and procedures is welcomed. Send comments to hrpolicies@lbl.gov.

POLICY

A. Purpose

Berkeley Lab employs persons in one of many appointment types. This policy defines the terms and conditions of a student assistant appointment.

B. Persons Affected

This policy applies to non-represented employees. Represented employees should consult their collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

C. Exceptions

Requests that exceed what is allowed under current policy or that are not expressly addressed by current policy are considered exceptions to policy. A request for an exception to policy requires, at a minimum, the approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

D. Policy Statement

1. Student Assistant Appointment*
   
   1. Student assistant appointments are reserved for individuals who are at Berkeley Lab for purposes of obtaining an education, training, or work experience while pursuing their career objectives.
   2. Student assistant appointments are also reserved for non-University of California (UC) graduate students, or UC graduate students who do not have a campus approved Graduate Student Researcher appointment.
   3. Student assistants must be enrolled in a full-time academic program. However, students enrolled in school-sponsored internship programs may be registered less than full time when a Berkeley Lab appointment is part of the internship.
   4. The duties and responsibilities of a student assistant may be related to their field of study. In addition, the duties and responsibilities of a student in a school-sponsored internship program must conform to their institution's program requirements to ensure the student receives appropriate academic credit.
   5. Enrollment in a university's extension education courses does not allow a student to qualify for a student assistant appointment.
2. Employment of Minors as Student Assistants. Berkeley Lab may employ student assistants under 18 years of age. See the Employment of Minors and Near Relatives policy.
3. Effort. Student assistants may work up to 50% time during their academic year and 100% time during the summer and other significant academic breaks. They may be appointed to fixed or variable-time schedules.
4. Salary. Student assistant salaries are based on academic progress. Increases are allowed on the achievement of the next academic milestone as indicated on the Berkeley Lab Compensation website.
5. Benefits. Student assistants are not eligible for membership in the University of California Retirement Plan. Student assistants are covered by the Berkeley Lab Workers' Compensation Program and are eligible for Core benefits provided their appointment is at least 75% for at least three months.
6. Vacation and Sick Leave. See the Vacation Leave and the Sick Leave policies.
7. Holidays. Student assistants appointed to a fixed-time schedule at 50% or more earn holiday pay prorated in accordance with the Holidays policy. Students on a variable time schedule are not eligible to earn holiday pay.
8. Recruitment. Student assistant positions do not need to be recruited.
9. Complaint Resolution. Student assistants are not eligible to use Berkeley Lab's Employee Complaint Resolution policy to challenge termination of their appointment.
10. Termination of Appointment
    
    1. Student assistants must be terminated if they graduate or are no longer enrolled in school, or if their registration is less than full time. Full-time student status is defined by the school's policy.
    2. Once a student appointee graduates, their appointment may continue up to an additional three months before separating from Berkeley Lab employment. However, a student assistant appointee who has been accepted to a qualifying educational program and will begin the program within the next 12 months may continue to work at Berkeley Lab as a student assistant in the interim. This employment must be terminated if the student assistant appointee fails to enroll within that time. The student assistant appointee's effort must be in accordance with Section D.3 of this policy, even when between degree programs.
    3. Student assistants may be released at any time at the discretion of Berkeley Lab. The employee shall be notified of the release in writing.
    4. A student assistant appointment will automatically terminate on the last day of the appointment unless there is an earlier separation or formal extension of the appointment in writing.

*As of July 1, 2020, the student assistant appointment will appear as the "casual/restricted" employee classification in UCPath. Berkeley Lab policy, rather than UC policy, will apply to casual/restricted appointments at Berkeley Lab.

E. Roles and Responsibilities

F. Definitions/Acronyms

G. Recordkeeping Requirements

H. Implementing Documents

None.

I. Contact Information

For more information, contact your division's HR Field team.

Feedback on HR policies and procedures is welcomed. Send comments to hrpolicies@lbl.gov.

J. Revision History

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

Source Requirements Documents

University of California Personnel Policies for Staff Members (PPSM), PPSM-3: Types of Appointments

Implementing Documents

None.