What happens once you have the job?
 1. You must complete an I-9 before you begin employment. An authorization to work form will be provided to you from the 2nd floor of Expressway Tower (corner of Yale Blvd and Central Expressway feeder), Human Resources Department to be attached to the Payroll Authorization Form. To complete the I-9, you will need at least two forms of identification. An acceptable list of documents is available here: http://www.smu.edu/hr/FORMS/R&R Forms/I-9 Acceptable Documents.pdf. Once you complete the I-9, you do not need to complete it again for SMU.

 2.Your Employer will provide a Payroll Authorization Form (PAF) - the hiring department will have one or you may obtain one from the Payroll Department or the Student Employment Office.  (the W-4 is no longer attached)

3.The W-4, is a separate form that must also be completed by you.  If it is first time employment, it is necessary for you to complete a W-4. If you claimed exempt status you must complete a new form every year otherwise it will automatically default to single status with zero exemptions at the beginning of the new year.You and/or your employer may download the form from the payroll site or you can pick one up directly from the payroll department or the Student Employment Office.

4.You must complete a Direct Deposit Form that can be downloaded from the student employment page or picked up in the payroll office so that your payroll check can be directly deposited into your checking/savings account.

What is work study?
"Work-Study" is a type of need-based financial aid. It is an award that is different from others in that it is never applied to your student account. 

• When you receive a work-study award, the money awarded is set aside to help the University pay you throughout the year. A unique federal aid program, a work-study award is a partnership between the University and the federal government.
• For work-study students, a large percentage of every paycheck comes from the federal government and the remaining percentage is paid by the University. 
• The benefit to the hiring department is clear; work-study students are simply less expensive to employ. As a result, departments typically try to hire Federal Work-Study eligible students first because of the budgetary savings. 
• In addition, when you fill out your renewal FAFSA next year, money earned as a work-study employee is not factored in as "income". As a result, it has less impact on your financial aid package next year.
• Although the financial aid office doesn't consider this money as income, the IRS does. You will still have to file a tax return.
• Important I - Your work-study award is never applied to you student account. If you elect not to work, or if you don't work the entire year, you won't owe SMU for the remaining award. Additionally SMU does not guarantee you will earn your entire award amount. 
• Important II - Your job is designed to provide you with spending money. It can be tucked away in a savings account for a rainy day, or you can purchase items of "need" as your paycheck allows.
• Important III - The Work-Study amount on your award letter is not the maximum you can earn. Employers on campus can begin paying 100% of your pay after you have reached your award level.
• Important IV - If you are not eligible to participate in the work-study program, you can still find a job on campus. The procedures for locating a job are exactly the same, and there are hundreds of students who work on campus.
• Please stop by the Division of Enrollment Services Student Employment Office or email stu_employ@mail.smu.edu for assistance. 
• Visit the Career Center in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center for off campus positions that are posted daily.

Do I need to complete an I-9 before I start work ?
Yes. Go to the 2nd Floor of Expressway Tower on Yale Blvd and Central Expwy, to Human Resources Department to secure a work authorization form.