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Student guidelines

The University Works program aims to provide full-time Ontario Tech undergraduate students who demonstrate a financial need with useful career-related experiences to help them achieve their personal and academic goals.

University Works (UW) program guidelines

  • Pay structure
    • Students in the UW program are paid a base wage of $17.25 an hour.
    • Students in the summer UW revised rate $20.00 an hour (includes vacation pay). 
    • Rates above the base wage are the responsibility of the employer.
    • Students are not paid for any sick days or vacation days taken.
    • The University will pay statutory holiday pay according to the Employment Standards Act.
  • Working hours
    • Fall/winter weekly maximum: 12 hours for Sept. 2024 to April 2025 and revised 10 hours starting Sept. 2025.
    • Summer weekly maximum: 35 hours.
    • Employees who work less than a 5-hour shift will receive a 15-minute paid break.
    • Employees who work five hours or more will receive a 15-minute paid break in addition to an unpaid lunch break at a minimum of 30 minutes.
    • Student employees are allowed to work up to a maximum of seven hours a day.
  • Student eligibility
    To be eligible for the University Works program, students must:
    • Be registered in full-time undergraduate studies in the current academic year (Sept. to April).
    • Have a demonstrated financial need.
    • Have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in their last full-time semester.
    Additional eligibility notes:
    • Students registered with Student Accessibility Services must be enrolled in a minimum full-time course load of 40 per cent.
    • Students holding a TA/RA position during the employment term are not eligible for the UW program.
    • Students currently on an OSAP restriction are ineligible for the program.
    • Students on a Co-op or Internship are ineligible for the program.
    • Students in Professional or Graduate level programs are not eligible for the program.
    Summer employment eligibility notes:
    • Students must be returning to full-time undergraduate studies at Ontario Tech in the upcoming fall semester.
    • Students enrolled in more than one course from May to August are not eligible to participate in the summer UW program.
    • Students who have an outstanding balance from the winter term are not eligible until their balance is paid in full.
  • Mandatory training
    • Once hired, mandatory training instructions will be provided to students through their Ontariotechu.net email.
    • Students must complete all mandatory training within the first two weeks of employment.
    • If the student has previously been an employee within the University Works program and has completed the training, they do not need to complete it again.

Roles and responsibilities

  • The Student Awards and Financial Aid (SAFA) Office
    • Coordinates the process of requesting, approving and advertising jobs for Ontario Tech employers.
    • Determines student eligibility via application forms and provides communications regarding the UW program.
    • Provides training to the students and outlines the details of the program.
  • The employer
    • Interviews and hires qualified students.
    • Informs the SAFA office of hires.
    • Ensures the student receives orientation, AODA training, safety and job training.
    • Ensures the student understands the terms of employment (i.e. pay rate, start and end dates, performance expectations, dress code, etc.).
    • Must notify the SAFA office if the student is terminated or resigns from their position.
    • Ensures the student's timesheets in Web-Time (my.ontariotechu.ca/) reflect the hours worked - will not apply in the summer program.
    • The employer is responsible for collecting and submitting the three page contract (signed by both the student and employer) to universityworks@ontariotechu.ca in the first week of employment.
  • Student responsibilities
    • Understands and meets the terms of employment.
    • Fulfills their job requirements outlined by their employer.
    • Completes all mandatory training within the first two weeks of employment.
    • Ensure their timesheets are submitted through Web-Time (my.ontariotechu.ca/) in accordance with the submission schedule - will not apply in the summer program.
    • The University Works program aims to provide valuable work experience; however, students should not replace current full-time/part-time employees.
    • Students cannot act as Research Assistants (RA).