Student Employment

Student Service Positions

Student service positions exist in various departments both within the Program and throughout the School of the Arts. These positions allow students to earn income while learning more about the Program and the School. They are reserved primarily for second year students; however, some positions are available to students in their first and third year.

At the start of the spring semester of the first year, students will be introduced to the positions and the process of applying for them. It is an online application process, with in-person interviews for those chosen by supervisors. The students chosen for these positions are announced in late April-early May of their first year to begin work in the fall semester of their second year.

Below are important details about this program.

Scholarship distribution by year

  • 1st year: initial financial aid package, includes scholarship
  • 2nd year: 1st year scholarship matched (at the very least)
  • 3rd year: no scholarship support due to greatly reduced tuition

Service Positions by year

  • 1st year: some positions open for second round
  • 2nd year: most positions open to these students; get preference 
  • 3rd year: most manager positions open to these students

Fund Distribution
Scholarship is first applied to tuition & fees, evenly distributed in fall and spring. Service positions paid biweekly directly to student through timesheets.

Both scholarship and SSP contingent on Satisfactory Academic Progress; academic or behavioral discipline may result in loss of scholarship and SSP.

These jobs are the best way to enhance funding over scholarship. 

  • International students eligible to apply; no CPT or OPT needed. 
  • Jobs available in Theatre and Film Programs, at Lenfest, and in SoA-wide departments.
  • Time commitment: between 5 and 20 hours per week.
  • Pay rates: $22 or $25 an hour.
  • Jobs last 30 weeks (full year) or 15 weeks (one semester).
  • Employment limit for any and all campus jobs (e.g., TA, work study, SSP): 20 hours per week.

Service positions are budgeted in allocations. It's the product of the number of hours the work requires (e.g., 10 hours/week) times the pay rate (e.g., $22/hour) times the length of the job (e.g., 30 weeks).

What is important to note is that the allocation attached to each job is the maximum amount of money you can earn; it is not guaranteed. For example: a job that is scheduled for 10 hrs per week at $22 per hour for the full year can earn you up to $6,600. 

If you work less hours over the week, you will make less money. Conversely, work more hours per week than scheduled, you will use up your allocation before the year ends.  

  1. Visit arts.columbia.edu/student-payroll.
  2. Follow application instructions to get into the JobX system.
  3. Indicate all positions of interest.
  4. Submit clear, professional, proofread, statement of interest for each position
    (1 page max).
  5. Upload professional resume that highlights skills relevant to the position.
  6. Rank order your preference for applied jobs.

Questions? Email: [email protected].

  1. Be honest. Ensure your skills match skills needed for the position.
  2. Be even more honest. Apply to only those positions you actually have time and inclination to do.
  3. Don’t wait until last minute. Take time to craft strong application.
  4. Copyedit! Craft a clear, concise application; no errors or typos.
  5. Once hired, look for email from [email protected].
  6. Before your first day of work please complete federal and state tax forms. Can’t be paid without it.
  7. International students must have a valid social security number (SSN). Visit ISSO's website for more information.

Keep track of your hours. Supervisors have budgeted weekly hours to last length of year (or semester). Use them too fast and you’ll leave supervisor stranded. 

Allocations cannot be refilled. If you do not have the funds in your account to cover your shift, do not work! Your allocations will not be replenished, which means you are working for free!

Allocations do not cover school breaks. Full-year jobs last for 30 weeks. That does not include winter and spring breaks. If you work over breaks, your allocation will run out. 

Communicate with your supervisor. If your supervisor is giving you more work than originally scheduled, have a conversation. When your allocation is used up, you will have to stop working.

This is at-will employment. The potential earnings are attached to you when you are hired, so if you don't use them, necessary work isn’t being done and another student can't be hired.

Work Study

Work study is allocated by the Office of Financial Aid. To be eligible, each year students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Financial Aid PROFILE, accessible here by the deadline.

Once allocated, students can use their work study to work for the Theatre Program. Contact the Associate Director of Production if interested. Be mindful that details such as hourly rate and job responsibilities may be different for work study than for student service positions. Also, be aware that hours worked under work study cannot be used toward a service position, or vice versa. It is important that students keep track of their own allocations to make sure hours do not run out before the end of the academic year. For other work study opportunities on Columbia’s campus, a job listing can be found here.

Teaching Assistantships

When requested by Barnard’s Department of Theatre, teaching assistantships are open to rising second year students from any concentration in good academic standing. These positions provide valuable teaching experience. Job requirements include meeting regularly with faculty, preparing course materials, leading discussion sections, supervising rehearsals, and being available for student discussions outside of class. Applications are generally solicited at the end of the spring semester for positions that start in fall. The compensation is split between a scholarship that goes toward tuition and a monthly stipend.