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International Student Summer Employment Guidelines
2026 International Student Summer Break: May 4 - August 18
Student Employee Categories for Summer Months
All international student employees should fall into one of the following three categories for the summer.
Terminations
Reasons for terminating a student include:
- The student is graduating in May.
- The student’s employment authorization has ended, and the student has not taken required actions to extend the employment authorization.[1]
- The student is not returning to Clemson for fall enrollment.
- The student is not working for the summer and will not resume employment in your department in the Fall semester.[2]
[1] Student employees who are on the “International Employee Work Authorization Expiration” report must be terminated no later than the expiration date listed. If these students wish to extend their program end dates, they must do so in accordance with the deadlines established by the Immigration Services Office and provide the extension information to International Employment. Federal employment eligibility end dates for F-1 students correspond with the program end date listed on the student’s Form I-20. Employee on this report are not permitted to accept or continue employment after the expiration date listed.
[2] The effective date of the termination should be entered as soon as feasible, corresponding to the student’s last day of employment in your department.
International Student Break
These students must meet all the following criteria. Process steps are included on the next page.
- The student was an active employee in your department in the Spring semester.
- The student is not expected to work during the summer months.
- The student has enrolled in Fall coursework and is expected to resume employment in your department in the Fall.
- The student is not listed on the weekly “International Employee Work Authorization Expiration” report.
Active Employment
Their employment will continue for the summer months in your department.
- Active employees who are continuing in the summer do not need to be terminated or placed on break, unless they have an upcoming employment authorization expiration.
- Active employees who are currently working 20 hours or less and need to increase hours for summer will need to submit a completed Data Entry Change form to the Data Center. If hours are increased above 20 per week, they will need to be reduced to 20 per week no later than August 19.
- If an employee is on a break from one department and will work in the summer for your department as an additional job, you will need to submit an International Hire Request for approval after the home department has entered the break action for the student.
Special Notes
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New International Students or Rehires
New employees for the Summer or Fall or employees currently in “Terminated” status in PeopleSoft must meet with an International Employment representative for hire or rehire approval before May 26, 2026.
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9MA Student Employee Pay
Nine-month graduate assistants (9MA) will receive their 18th payment of the academic year on 5/15/2026, paying them through 5/16/2025. To accurately pay them in full on 5/15/2026, do not process termination, adjustment, or break actions until after payroll is confirmed for the 5/15/2026 payday (on or after 5/11/2026; no later than 5/17/2026).
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Transition from PeopleSoft to Workday - New Student Hires, Rehires and Additional Hours
The last day to submit an International Hire Request (IHR) in PeopleSoft is May 15, 2026.
The last day for International Hire Request Approvals in PeopleSoft is May 27, 2026.
The last day for hires to be entered in PeopleSoft is May 29, 2026.
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Transition from Graduate Assistantship to GSH or GSSE for Summer
You may process pay group and title changes without approval from International Employment. These changes must be complete by May 17.
Procedure for International Student Break
If you have a student employee who will not work for the summer, but is expected to return for the fall semester, complete the Student Change/Hire Form and email it to the Data Center.
The Start Student Break and the earnings distribution change may be included on the same form. Enter an Effective Date equal to the first day not working.
Return from International Student Break
No later than August 18, Budget Centers/Departments must end the break status for any student employee returning to work in Fall 2026.
If a student is not returning to work in the Fall, a termination must be entered in Workday. Specific training will be provided on how to return students from leave in Workday, at a later date.
Timeline
Before May 4 | Submit appropriate requests for student breaks.
May 4 | International students may begin work up to 28 hours per week.
Around August 10 | Submit Return from Break requests for Fall. Terminate students who will not return.
August 18 | Reduce hours to 20 or less for international student employees with work hours above 20.
Around August 21 | International students who have not been "returned from break" will be terminated.
Maximum Hours
While federal law allows international students to work full time during authorized break periods, Clemson University limits student employment hours to a maximum of 28 hours per week. International student hours can be increased effective May 4 using the Student Change/Hire form. International Hire Request approval is only needed for a new hire, rehire, or additional job; it is not needed to increase hours. All international student hours must be reduced back to 20 or less on or before August 18.
Requesting Additional Jobs, Summer Jobs
The 20-hour limit has been removed from the International Hire Request Form for summer. Please use the International Hire Request form to request additional or summer jobs for a student employee. Submit International Hire Request forms for these changes up to May 15. After this date, process these changes in Workday after go-live on July 1.
Questions?
The International Employment team is available to assist you. Please reach out to our office with any questions.
Email International Employment
