Working During Holidays and University Break Periods

Guidance for Student Employees & Grad Assistants

With approval by their manager, all student employees and graduate assistants (domestic and international) are eligible to work up to 40 hours per week during certain break periods that are at least a week in length. Break periods are defined below.

• Winter Break: the period between the Fall and Spring academic terms
• Spring Break: as noted on the academic calendar
• Summer Break: the period between the Spring and Fall academic terms (regardless of enrollment in summer courses)

The break periods between academic periods are understood to begin at 12:01 am (midnight) immediately after the first day of Commencement and end at 11:59 pm (midnight) immediately before the first day of classes of the upcoming term (not to include summer).

Student employees and graduate assistants are not generally expected to work during semester breaks or university designated holidays; however, the work expectation depends on the type of position and the nature of the work performed. A graduate assistant (GA) position may require work during holidays and/or school breaks. Managers and GAs should communicate time off requests/expectations in advance of any anticipated absences.

Working Above 50% Effort
Graduate Assistants seeking to work additional hours above their assistantship (greater than 50% effort) must submit the Academic Department Request of Graduate Assistant >50% Effort form for review and approval. This form is generally initiated by the graduate assistant and will route to the employing unit(s) and academic department before processing in Workday. Approval and processing in Workday should be received in advance of starting the additional work.

Note for monthly paid Graduate Assistant employees:
It is best practice not to place monthly paid GAs (GAT/GAL/GAR titles) on leave during a semester break or university holiday(s), unless a GA temporarily leaves the designated work location for personal reasons and/or is otherwise not performing the functions related to the assigned position. For assistance determining if leave is appropriate based on specific circumstances, contact grad-employment@tamu.edu.

Note for international student employees:
F-1 international students are permitted to work over 20 hours per week during the break periods listed above without obtaining authorization from International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS), as long as they maintain a valid F-1 status.

J-1 international students are required to obtain ISSS authorization in order to work on-campus. If a J-1 student's current on-campus work authorization is part-time, this permits a maximum of 20 hours per week, so the student would need to obtain updated ISSS authorization to work more than 20 hours per week during the break periods listed above. Visit the International Student & Scholars Services webpage for full details.