April 13 – April 19, 2025 • Sponsored by National Student Employment Association
In 2025, National Student Employment Week (NSEW) takes place from Sunday, April 13, to Saturday, April 19. According to National Today, NSEW “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.”
National Today goes on to report that NSEW is sponsored by the National Student Employment Association (NSEA), noting how “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.”
Shannon Williams serves as the community-based learning coordinator at Inver Hills Community College. Shannon understands how important student employment can be in a student’s quest to achieve success in college.
“Our student employees are such a valuable part of our team!” she said. “We have more than ninety student employees across campus and at community nonprofits. Student employees are an integral part of building community, providing feedback that helps us to improve our services, and just making the college an overall fun place to work. Students who work on campus can expect to gain skills in leadership, communication, problem-solving, customer service, and so much more.”
Nate Eddy is a financial aid representative at Inver Hills. Nate works with students to help them pay for their college educations. He explains that student employment helps build real-world job skills that are transferrable to post-graduation employment all while working around a student’s busy academic/extracurricular schedule.
“Inver Hills offers a wide variety of employment opportunities at $15 an hour both on campus and with local nonprofits,” Nate said. “Students can work up to twenty hours per week while classes are in session and up to thirty hours per week while classes are not in session. Students get more connected with the campus community and build relationships that can help further their educational and personal experience here at Inver Hills by applying for student employment!”
Tiffany Reichstadt: Student perspective
Student worker job title: Office of Accessibility Resources assistant student employee
Age: 28
Hometown: North Branch, Minnesota
Current residence: Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
High school and year graduated: Rosemount High School, Class of 2014
Major and degree earning at Inver Hills: Completing generals with the goal to enroll in a nursing program
Extracurricular activities and clubs at Inver Hills: Disability Club, Psi Beta, Phi Theta Kappa; volunteered at the Amazing Wellness Race 2025: “Honestly, it was so fun, and I am so glad I got the chance to do it.”
Inver Hills planned graduation date: 100 percent unsure, but learning to be okay with that.
Transfer plans: Might have to transfer to a different college, but still trying to figure that out; hopefully that won’t happen for another year
Career plans: Pretty sure she wants to pursue nursing, but she’s learning that even within the field of nursing there are so many options. “I am trying to enjoy my time learning new things about the field, and where I might best fit in.”
Other degrees, diplomas, and/or certifications: Working toward her CNA certification
One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:
FANTASTIC
Tiffany Reichstadt • Q & A
What are your primary duties in your student worker job?
- Customer service: Greeting people coming into the Learning Center
- Phone calls: Answering the phone when people call
- Documentation: Scan, copy, and shred documents as requested.
- Maintain cleanliness: Wiping down tables, pushing chairs in, picking up trash in the Learning Center; Ensure sensory space is clean and organized and maintain fidget bins.
- Hang flyers as requested
- Sometimes make signs for tutors and resource pages
How has your on-campus job helped you pursue your academic goals?
My job has allowed me to have more time to study and complete homework while also giving me the opportunity to connect with the tutors on a deeper level. This has really helped ease my anxiety, making it easier for me to ask for the help I need. I’ve come to realize that so many people at Inver Hills, students, professors, advisors, and everyone else are incredibly welcoming and supportive
Three words to describe you as a college student:
HARDWORKING. KIND. CURIOUS.
What advice would you give students who are thinking about applying for a job on campus?
I can’t speak for every work-study job here since I’ve only worked in one so far, but I’ve been told that all work-study positions are designed to be flexible with our schedules so that we can attend classes. Additionally, you don’t have to work 20 hours a week; some work-study jobs are understanding of the fact that we’re college students, and for some, being parents or dealing with life’s unexpected challenges is part of the picture. They’re willing to work with you.
If you could make one thing happen on earth right now, what would it be?
It’s important to remember that we never truly know what others are going through or the battles they face each day. If someone is having a tough time, it’s okay—we all have those days. And if someone has had a positive impact on your life, don’t hesitate to let them know. I know sometimes my anxiety holds me back from expressing gratitude, but imagine how much brighter someone’s day could be if you took a moment to share how much they’ve meant to you. A simple kind word can make a world of difference.
More about student employment at Inver Hills…
Getting a job on campus begins when you receive an award notification letter that lists your student employment eligibility.
On-Campus Job Listings
Learn more about how student employment works by visiting Paying for College.
Nicholas Moran: Student perspective
Student worker job title: Activities and recreation center attendant
Age: 22
Hometown: Rosemount, Minnesota
Current residence: Rosemount, Minnesota
High school and year graduated: Rosemount High School, Class of 2021
Job while attending Inver: Currently serving in the Army National Guard as a 35F, or Military intelligence analyst; “I am a Specialist (SPC). I enlisted in 2021, deployed to Iraq for pretty much all of 2024, and now I’m back home/to school!”
Major and degree earning at Inver Hills: Individualized Professional Studies (IPS) A.S.
Extracurricular activities and clubs at Inver Hills: Engineering Club
Inver Hills planned graduation date: 2025
Transfer plans: North Dakota State University (NDSU) for Computer Engineering B.S.
Career plans: Computer engineer
Other degrees, diplomas, and/or certificates: U.S. Army Intelligence Analyst School
One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:
EVOLVING
Nicholas Moran • Q & A
What are your primary duties in your student worker job?
The fun ones are assisting/running student life events on campus, setting up and or teaching sports such as pickleball and volleyball. Other daily duties include unlocking/locking facilities in the activities center, ensuring proper use of facilities by students, and simple cleaning of equipment.
How has your on-campus job helped you pursue your academic goals?
My on-campus job allows me to more comfortably build my schedule and maintain an easy work/school-life balance. Not having to leave campus for a job saves me time, energy, and gas money.
Three words to describe you as a college student:
MOTIVATED. EXTROVERTED. ADAPTIVE.
What advice would you give students who are thinking about applying for a job on campus?
Do it! This job has enabled me to get to know the community of our college a lot better. I have made friends while also being able to have fun and earn some money.
If you could make one thing happen on Earth right now, what would it be?
This might sound like a Miss America answer, but world peace —to have no more war and all the suffering that comes along with it.
History of National Student Employment Week¹
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.
LEARN MORE…
Learn more about student employment at Inver Hills by contacting:
Office of Financial Aid
Inver Hills Community College
College Center
651-450-3495
finaid@inverhills.edu
Career Development & Community-Based Learning
Inver Hills Community College
College Center: Top Floor
651-450-3683
careerdevelopment@inverhills.edu
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