Penn State offers a variety of job opportunities for undergraduate students. The jobs range from selling programs at football games to joining the stage crew for on-campus performances, and even life-guarding at the pool. Many students choose to pick up a part-time job in college, in addition to taking classes and participating in extra-curricular activities. Federal work-study positions are also available for eligible students.

Groundskeeping at Penn State Erie

At Penn State Erie Andrew Greene, a student in the Division of Undergraduate Studies, is a part-time groundskeeper, having assisted the grounds crew for the past two summers, as well as during the school year. Andrew helps with intercampus deliveries, setup for events and routine programs, as well as lawn mowing, trimming, weeding, lining athletic fields, leaf cleanup, and snow removal. "I enjoy working here mostly because of the people that I work with, they make it enjoyable.  I also enjoy working outside, that’s probably the best part,” he says. “We work hard to make this campus look nice and it does." 

Working at the Child Care Center: "The kids are excited to see me."

Also at Penn State Erie, Mary Feick, a marketing major, has served as a student aide at the Child Care Center since May 2004. “I love coming to work because the kids are excited to see me,” she says. “I really like getting to know each child's personality.” Mary helps support the classroom teachers by assisting in the implementation of daily program activities. She is also responsible for routine tasks of child care such as feeding and diapering.

“Students help to provide a warm and safe environment for children ages six weeks to six years,” says Eunice Moore, director of the Child Care Center. Each semester, the center employs fifteen to twenty student aides.

Lab assistant: "one of the best student jobs"

Mike McCullough, a Labor and Industrial Relations major at Penn State University Park, has worked as a rover/lab assistant and team leader since 2004. He visits several computer labs, checking printers and computers and helping with user problems. “My job has been flexible to my needs as a student while allowing me to support myself financially,” he says. “I've worked with a diverse team to support Penn State's classroom and computing labs and I have gained technical knowledge, interpersonal skills, and friends that will last a lifetime. Many of my fellow employees agree that this is one of the best student jobs found at Penn State.”

Information Technology Services typically employs fifty to sixty students. As rovers gain experience, they're eligible to become a team leader, a position whose duties include interviewing prospective rover candidates and training new hires, as well as covering some shifts for the Classroom and Lab Computing's full-time staff.

Tutoring and mentoring with PEPP

Several students at Penn State Greater Allegheny, Penn State Berks, and Penn State Delaware County serve as Learning Assistants for the Penn State Educational Partnership Program (PEPP). Through PEPP, students provide tutoring and mentoring to targeted elementary, middle, and high school students. PEPP is open to all majors and typically employs forty or more learning assistants at each PEPP campus every year. “ My experience with PEPP has been fantastic,” says Courtney Oswald, a former education major at Penn State Greater Allegheny. “I love PEPP and I love my kids. Working with PEPP has made me realize that I want to teach in an elementary school even more then I wanted to when I entered college. PEPP is a great experience because it prepares you for a real classroom setting.”

Some other examples of on-campus opportunities include:

• Assisting a faculty member with research,
• Delivering campus newspapers to different locations on campus,
• Preparing or serving food in the dining commons or an on-campus eatery,
• Officiating intramural games or managing intramural tournaments,
• Joining the University Police student divisions, and
• Tutoring your peers through the University Learning Center.

For information about the specific job resources at your campus, contact the student aid representative or campus employment specialist at the Penn State campus you are attending.

In addition to on-campus jobs, you may also consider a part-time job in your community. For information about opportunities near your campus, see your campus or local town newspaper.