National Student Employment Week – April 9-15, 2024

U.S.

History
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate
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National Student Employment Week (NSEW) is celebrated every second week of April, from April 9 to April 15 this year. It sets aside seven full days of recognition, appreciation, and encouragement for the student employees and employers. Every year, the second week in April is dedicated to highlighting student employment practices across colleges and universities that help undergraduate students develop invaluable practical skills and, importantly, pay for their tuition expenses. Sponsored by the National Student Employment Association, NSEW is designed to honor students and their employers, and target university/college campuses to develop career-enhancing opportunities, increase participation, and celebrate their employed student body.

History of National Student Employment Week

National Student Employment Week was inaugurated by the National Student Employment Association. Although there are no sources indicating when the first NSEW was held, it is believed that the earliest employment of students began around the same time as the founding of Harvard College in 1636.

The National Student Employment Association is an organization working to promote student employment through research, professional development, opportunities, and the exchange of information. Every year, the National Student Employment Association celebrates the second week of April as National Student Employment Week to create a direct opportunity for student employment professionals to recruit undergraduates in positions relevant to their careers.

Universities and colleges celebrate this week by appreciating jobs well done. Every year, this week brings a chance to recognize the importance of the student workforce in the education sectors and honors the student employees who have continued to set a good example.

Many campuses nationwide reveal the National Student Employee of the Year during this week. Students nominated by their supervisors based on their employee contributions throughout the year are judged on qualities like reliability, initiative, professionalism, and uniqueness, to name a few. One student is crowned as the Employee of the Year, saluted for his/her hard work, and rewarded enormously.

National Student Employment Week timeline

1636

Harvard College is Founded

Higher education in the U.S. begins with the establishment of Harvard College.

1767–1770

First American M.D Degree

In 1767, The King’s College in New York establishes the first medical department of the state and awards the first American M.D degree in 1770.

1890s

Major Graduate Programs

Harvard, Columbia, Michigan, and Wisconsin start to build strong graduate programs with powerful and highly sought-after alumni.

1929

The Great Depression

Only rich schools like Harvard have endowments large enough to absorb the losses and negative impact of the Great Depression on higher education in the U.S.

National Student Employment Week FAQs

What is a student employee?

The “Houston Chronicle” defines a student employee as follows: “Student employment means having a full or part-time job while going to college as a full-time student. A student working a job while attending school is a student employee. A regular student employee is a student who has a job on-campus. Jobs around campus may include working in the dorms, classrooms, and cafeterias.”

Do student workers get paid?

According to Zippia: “Student employees in the United States make an average salary of $19,523 per year or $9.39 per hour. People on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $15,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $23,000.”

What is a student assistant job description?

According to Betterteam student assistants “Perform administrative tasks required by university staff. Do research for lecture preparation. Proofread academic papers written by university staff. Liaise with students and staff on behalf of the supervising staff member. Source references for academic work.”

National Student Employment Week Activities

Play your part
If you’re a supervisor, plan a week of activities to appreciate your student staff members. Make a thank-you note, a video, or upload a picture on social media of your working students to laud them for their efforts. If you’re one of the students, come up with fun awards and host a ceremony. Or make posters of the student employees to paste around the departments.
Arrange a day of freebies
Be it the Friday or Monday of Student Employment Week, arrange treats such as snacks, goodies, and ice cream to give away to student employees and employers.
Throw a party
On the weekend, plan a special party for the student workers and employers on campus. Arrange trivia challenges, host a contest, and create certificates of appreciation to honor them.

5 Facts About Student Loans That Will Blow Your Mind

National total student debt is over trillions
Currently, the average student loan is $28,950 — this amounts to a national student debt of $1.6 trillion.
Senior citizens are still paying off loans
According to research, more than 3 million senior citizens aged 60 and older are still in debt of $86 million in student loans.
Student loans demotivate individuals from having kids
13% of the Americans aged 20 to 45 owing student loans say they are refraining from having kids because of it.
Is college worth it?
When asked, around 50% of the millennials who have student-loan debts believe college was not worth it.
College fees have skyrocketed
From the late 1980s to 2018, fees for undergraduate degrees have increased by 213% for public schools and 129% for private schools.

Why We Love National Student Employment Week

It recognizes the hard work of students
Appreciation and acclaim are powerful motivating factors. This week is dedicated to honoring student workers for their outstanding contributions as employed students.
It expresses gratitude to student employers
The week applauds not only the student workers but the employers as well for their dedication to the success of their student employees.
It draws attention to universities and colleges
National Student Employment Week enhances awareness of student employment and its importance in the community, for students, and campuses.