Important Campus Resources and Associated Policies

Student Employment

Student Employment at Mount Holyoke College is managed by the Office of Student Financial Services, but intersects with a variety of offices around campus including: Payroll, Human Resources, LITS, Dining Services and student employers across campus.

  1. Student Employment Opportunities where Mount Holyoke College is the employer are posted on WorkDay. There are several job types:
    1. Jobs that will require a student to have federal college work study as part of their financial aid package
    2. Jobs that will require either federal college work study or institutionally funded work study as part of their financial aid package
    3. Jobs that do not require work study as part of a student’s financial aid package
  2. Job Opportunities from outside employers are posted on HandShake and managed by the Career Development Center

Note that international students generally may not work off campus due to visa limitations.

Work study is a need-based component of a student’s financial aid package. A student’s eligibility for work study funding is determined by their financial aid application each academic year. There are some positions on campus that will require a student to have work study funding while others are work study optional.

Generally, students with work study are given preference when hiring if two applicants are otherwise equally qualified.

Students with work study are not required to work on campus. If a student with work study in their financial aid package does not work then there will be no change to other components of their financial aid package, i.e. grants, scholarships or loans. Work study funds are paid to students via payroll based on the hours worked in a student employment position.

Students must actively seek and apply for positions. Mount Holyoke offers a robust student employment program where many students can find and secure employment on campus. However, on campus employment is not guaranteed on the basis of having work study as part of a financial aid package, or otherwise guaranteed.

Students can search for and apply for student employment opportunities on the WorkDay Jobs Hub. Log into WorkDay, use the Menu to find the Jobs Hub, then Browse Jobs.

Students must actively seek and apply for positions. The College offers a robust student employment program where many students can find and secure employment on campus. However, on campus employment is not guaranteed on the basis of having work study as part of a financial aid package, or otherwise guaranteed.

Level 1 positions require students to have work study as part of their financial aid package. Level 2-5 positions are open to all students to apply.

Prior to starting the position, students must complete the following documents:

  1. Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. To complete this form, students will need to provide original identification documents to Student Employment Staff for the forms completion. View page 2 of the form to find a list of acceptable documentation. The I-9 can be completed with just one document from List A, or a combination of documents from List B and C.
  2. Federal and state tax withholding forms, W4 and M4. These forms are completed on WorkDay, Benefits & Pay, Payment Elections.
  3. Direct Deposit Forms completed on WorkDay, Benefits & Pay, Payment Elections.

Student employment schedules are determined by the hiring manager and the student worker. Students may work multiple jobs at Mount Holyoke College, but scheduled hours should not conflict or should be coordinated by the employee. Students should not schedule more than 20 hours per week in all jobs during the academic year. It is the student’s responsibility to notify supervisors regarding changes to their availability, and contact their supervisor ahead of a shift if they are unable to work.

Recommended hours: It is recommended that students work more than 10 hours per week on or off campus during each semester, unless they have met with the dean of students.

Hour limitations: 
Students cannot exceed the following number of hours per week:

  • 40 hours per week for domestic students
  • 20 hours per week for international students, due to immigration regulations

If hired by Mount Holyoke, it is a student’s responsibility to adhere to student employment policies, as outlined in the Mount Holyoke College Student Employment Manual for Student Workers.

Students that work off campus are responsible for assessing the integrity of the position and accepting employment. Mount Holyoke is not responsible for the safety, wage or other aspects of employment outside of the College. Students are welcome to contact Student Employment or the Career Development Center to assist with their review of off campus employment opportunities.

For questions about College policies regarding student employment please contact Student Employment at student-employment@mtholyoke.edu.

For disability-related concerns about student employment on-campus, please contact Disability Services at accessability-services@mtholyoke.edu.

For questions regarding your eligibility for work study please contact Student Financial Services at sfs@mtholyoke.edu.

For assistance with job application materials such as Cover Letter, Resumes, References, Application Forms, or Interview Training please contact the Career Development Center at cdc@mthlyoke.edu.

Student Financial Responsibilities and Financial Aid

Undergraduate student tuition billing statements are issued in July for the fall semester and December for the spring semester. Payment is due on July 31 and January 5, respectively. Billing schedules and deadlines for graduate students are determined annually. Statements are available online through the TouchNet system. Emails are sent to Mount Holyoke email addresses announcing the new statement. Monthly statements are published in TouchNet for any student who has had any account activity in the past month or has a balance due. Students are required to monitor their Mount Holyoke College email account for notices and to view their account on TouchNet.

Students are encouraged to select an authorized user to view their account monthly and arrange required payments. To do this, the student needs to set the individual up through an online process using a valid email address. Instructions are available at: mtholyoke.edu/directory/departments-offices-centers/student-financial-services/billing-and-payments.

There is an opportunity to enroll in a monthly payment at the beginning of each semester. The plan is available online. There is a fee to enroll in the plan and a late fee is charged if an installment is paid late. If two months’ payments are missed, the plan will be canceled and the balance will be due in full. More information about the monthly payment plan is available at: mtholyoke.edu/directory/departments-offices-centers/student-financial-services/payment-plans.

The balance on a student’s account must be paid in full by the due date unless the student is enrolled in the monthly payment plan. A late fee of 1% of the outstanding balance is automatically applied monthly to any past due balance.

Students with a significant past-due balance may be withdrawn from the College for financial reasons. An email warning will be sent to the student prior to a financial withdrawal.

Financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans will reduce the amount due. Financial aid is reflected as pending until all application requirements have been met. Once all requirements have been met and the term has begun, financial aid can be disbursed to the student account according to the Student Financial Services’ disbursement schedule. If required documents are not received by September 30 for the fall semester or February 28 for the spring semester, financial aid will no longer be reflected on the account as pending aid. The balance will be due in full and a financial hold may be placed on the student account.

A financial hold placed on a student account prevents the student from registering for classes or receiving official transcripts. Additionally, they will not be able to participate in the housing selection process in the spring.

Financial Aid Application

Domestic students — U.S. citizens, permanent residents, undocumented, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students and other eligible noncitizens — must apply each year to be considered for need-based financial aid. Information about financial aid application deadlines and requirements is available at mtholyoke.edu/sfs. Student-specific application requirements are made available via the student’s Financial Aid Online account.

Domestic students who did not indicate an intent to apply for financial aid as incoming students must be enrolled at Mount Holyoke for two semesters before being eligible to apply for institutional need-based financial aid. Federal aid may be available during the first two semesters.

International students seeking financial aid must apply at the time of admission. The family contribution is determined when the student is admitted and remains the same while the student is enrolled.

International students who do not indicate an intention to apply for financial aid prior to admission will not be eligible to apply for need-based aid from the College at any time during their enrollment.

Requests for Reconsideration

Student Financial Services accepts requests for reconsideration of the family contribution under certain circumstances. Please refer to the Request for Reconsideration form for additional information about this process: mtholyoke.edu/directory/departments-offices-centers/student-financial-services/financial-aid-forms

Dependency Status

In determining eligibility for need-based financial aid from Mount Holyoke, the College typically follows the federal definition for independent status, with the following important exception: If a student enrolls at Mount Holyoke as a dependent student, they will always be considered a dependent student, regardless of changes in family situation, marital status, time away from the College due to nonacademic leave, or withdrawal status. A summary of the federal dependency criteria is available at mtholyoke.edu/admission/apply-undergraduate-first-year/affording-mount-holyoke/financial-aid/how-aid-works/eligibility-need-based-financial-aid.

Funding Limitations

Residential students who enter Mount Holyoke as first-time, first-year students are eligible to receive a maximum of eight semesters of institutional financial aid. College funding for transfer students, including Frances Perkins scholars who live on campus, is limited based on the total number of credits accepted for transfer at any point. Off-campus (commuting) Frances Perkins scholars may receive funding for up to 128 attempted credits, including any credits transferred to Mount Holyoke. Students should plan their course of study with these maximums in mind. More information about this policy, including information about exceptions, is available at mtholyoke.edu/admission/apply-undergraduate-first-year/affording-mount-holyoke/financial-aid/how-aid-works/funding-maximums

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Eligibility for financial aid for undergraduate students is contingent on maintaining a satisfactory academic record, according to the standards described in the Mount Holyoke College Bulletin and Course Catalog under the academic regulations section: catalog.mtholyoke.edu/tuition-fees-financial-aid-fellowships/financial-aid/#policiestext. Students who lose federal or institutional funding due to not making satisfactory academic progress may appeal to have their aid reinstated by following the instructions available at mtholyoke.edu/admission/apply-undergraduate-first-year/affording-mount-holyoke/financial-aid/how-aid-works/eligibility-need-based-financial-aid.

Merit Scholarships and Non-need-based Aid

Non-need-based scholarships and grants are awarded at the time of admission to first-year students for a maximum of eight semesters and are available only for full-time, on-campus study at Mount Holyoke. These awards are renewed automatically in subsequent semesters, provided the student maintains satisfactory academic progress. Additional policies pertaining to merit scholarships and other non-need-based grants are available at https://www.mtholyoke.edu/admission/apply-undergraduate-first-year/affording-mount-holyoke/financial-aid/how-aid-works/scholarship-policies.

Outside Scholarships

Any outside scholarships received, per College, federal and institutional policy, are considered part of your financial aid package. If you receive outside scholarships, awards or other resources, please complete our outside scholarship/outside resources form as soon as possible. Outside scholarships will be included in your aid offer and may be used to reduce the amount you need to pay for your tuition and fees. mtholyoke.edu/admission/apply-undergraduate-first-year/affording-mount-holyoke/financial-aid/types-financial-aid/outside-scholarships.

Financial Aid and Living Off-campus

Mount Holyoke College is a residential college and undergraduate students are encouraged to live on campus. This does not apply to Frances Perkins scholars. However, if a student is approved to live off campus, room and board charges will be removed. The financial aid budget will be revised to include an off-campus living allowance and the financial aid will be adjusted accordingly. The amount of the off-campus living allowance will depend on the student’s marital status and their planned off-campus accommodations. Please contact Student Financial Services with questions about how living off campus might affect financial aid eligibility.

Financial Aid and Off-campus Study

Financial aid received from Mount Holyoke, including any merit assistance, does not travel to other institutions. To support study abroad, Mount Holyoke offers the Laurel Fellowship (mtholyoke.edu/admission/apply-undergraduate-first-year/affording-mount-holyoke/financial-aid/types-financial-aid/laurel-fellowships-study-abroad), which is need based funding. Federal student aid for study abroad is also available to eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Institutional and federal student aid are also available for students participating in Mount Holyoke’s MHC Semester in D.C., mtholyoke.edu/academics/find-your-program/mhc-semester-dc, and the Dual Degree Engineering Program, https://www.mtholyoke.edu/academics/find-your-program/dual-degree-engineering-programs.

Only federal student aid is available for all other academic-leave programs.

Withdrawals and Leaves of Absence

If a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence, the official withdrawal or leave date will be determined by the Office of Academic Deans. Students will be refunded 100% of their previously paid tuition, room (less room reservation deposit for new students) and board if the official leave/withdrawal date is before the first day of classes. The student retains that semester of financial aid eligibility to use upon their return to the College.

When a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence after the semester has started, Student Financial Services (SFS) is notified by the Office of Academic Deans of the official withdrawal or leave date. For students receiving federal student aid, SFS then completes a federal return to Title IV computation and state aid adjustment, if required. If a student is a recipient of financial aid from the College, SFS also completes an institutional financial aid withdrawal worksheet taking into account 1) any Title IV funds that will be returned as unearned and 2) the College’s refund schedule for adjusting billed charges. Financial aid is adjusted and the remaining credit, or balance due, is determined accordingly. In this case, the semester counts as a semester of financial aid used. More information about these calculations may be found at mtholyoke.edu/directory/departments-offices-centers/student-financial-services/refund-policy-and-schedule.

Graduate students must complete a valid FAFSA for a specific academic year to be eligible for federal aid in that academic year. The unsubsidized Federal Direct Student Loan (FDSL) may be available to help cover billed costs and some living expenses for any term that the student will be enrolled at least half-time, which is four credits.

Information about financial aid and financing for graduate students may be found at: mtholyoke.edu/admission/graduate.

Scholarship and fellowship funding for graduate students is awarded by Mount Holyoke Professional and Graduate Education (PaGE). More information about these opportunities may be found at: mtholyoke.edu/admission/graduate/tuition-fees-aid

Insurance

The following information is provided to inform students about the insurance coverage that the College may purchase, and how the coverage may apply to students. The descriptions of coverage are not intended to, nor do they supplement, amend or modify any insurance policy terms and conditions. The College reserves the right at all times to modify its insurance coverage, terms, conditions and limits without notice to any person or entity, including students, faculty or staff. Students may wish to make adjustments in their own coverage if they feel that it would be appropriate to their interests.

The comprehensive fee covering tuition, room and board provides access to the services of:

Because a student may need more extensive medical treatment, medical insurance is required of all students by the commonwealth of Massachusetts, the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Mount Holyoke College: offices.mtholyoke.edu/health/student-illness-injury-plan.

A fee for Mount Holyoke College’s Student Health Insurance Program appears on the student’s bill annually as the Mount Holyoke College Student Injury and Sickness Plan. If a family or student has other equivalent coverage that meets the requirements of comparable coverage set by the commonwealth of Massachusetts for the student, the student may submit information confirming the coverage via the Gallagher Student Health & Special Risk online waiver form, and if the coverage is acceptable, the insurance charge will be waived. This must be evaluated and action taken annually. Paper waivers are not accepted. More detail is available at Gallagher Student Health Insurance: gallagherstudent.com.

Payment for the Student Injury and Sickness Plan is administered by Student Financial Services mtholyoke.edu/directory/departments-offices-centers/student-financial-services/health-insurance-requirement-and-billing-information/waiving-student-health-insurance.

Health Services may assist with questions regarding claims; please phone 413-538-2089 or email health-admin@mtholyoke.edu. Benefits include emergency services, ambulance, in-patient and outpatient medical, surgical and mental health care, diagnostic testing, specialty consultation and pharmacy. There are copayments, deductibles and exclusions within the plan that will be the responsibility of the insured student. Students will be billed directly for services that are not covered by the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or for the fees that are patient responsibility. During the academic year, students must obtain a referral from Health Services or Counseling Service for coverage of nonemergency services outside of the Health Center.

Intercollegiate and club sports athletes have additional benefits available under certain policies that are purchased on their behalf by the College. Coverage applies to athletes who are injured while in organized competition or practice, which is constructively supervised, or traveling to or from one of these events. The NCAA policy insures varsity athletes for an unlimited amount (subject to policy terms) over the Sports Accident Policy, and benefits range from medical and rehabilitation to lifetime disability income and home health care. These policies do not extend to participants in intramural or any other recreational sports. They cover intercollegiate and College-recognized club sports only.

The College accepts no responsibility for any losses, costs or expenses not covered by the insurance policies listed above, whether by coverage terms or exclusions or the injured student’s failure to comply with policy-required claims procedures.

The College provides limited travel accident insurance, including medical evacuation and repatriation to students traveling worldwide on official College or academic business. Worldwide travel assistance services are also available.

Mount Holyoke College purchases auto liability insurance that protects both the College and the driver from third-party liability and third-party property damage arising from the use of College-owned, -hired/-rented and non-owned vehicles. All persons driving on College business must be credentialed. Information is available at fivecolleges.edu/riskmgmt/driver_credentialing.

The College auto insurance policy may not cover unauthorized drivers. Unauthorized drivers may be personally liable for claims brought against them. The College may also have a right to claim against unauthorized drivers. Note that there is no insurance coverage for students who drive personal vehicles.

The College is not responsible for, nor will it pay any claims for, damages to student-owned vehicles resulting from falling ice, snow, tree limbs or any other natural occurrence or event on its property or elsewhere, whether the possibility of such an event is warned against or not. The College is not responsible for, nor will it pay any losses, claims or damages to student-owned vehicles resulting from vandalism, collision or other acts by any person, other than damage caused directly by its employees.

The College does not have property insurance for student possessions, and it accepts no responsibility for any personal possessions or property of students. Any possessions in student rooms or left in storage areas are left at the owner’s own risk. Students are responsible for insuring their own property against loss and may be able to do so using a parent’s or guardian’s policies or by obtaining a tenant’s policy through a local insurance agent. Alternatively, students could consider purchasing student property insurance directly through URMIA (University Risk Management and Insurance Association). It is recommended that students keep their doors locked and not leave valuable items in storage areas.

The College is not liable for the actions of its students, nor is it possible for the College to obtain liability insurance on behalf of its students. Student-athletes especially should be aware that if they are sued for injuries or damages caused to others in the course of an athletic event, Mount Holyoke’s insurance does not provide coverage. The liability section of a parent’s or guardian’s homeowner’s policy or renter’s policy may provide for the defense of the student and damages awarded, if any, in a suit alleging negligence. Students are responsible for avoiding intentional acts or negligent behavior that could harm others or give rise to adverse legal action. Although Mount Holyoke College will not provide liability protection, it may assist in obtaining a defense if it is not provided for by parental/guardian insurance coverage. If a student is sued for an act or omission and believes that they were acting in the capacity of an employee or agent of the College at the time of such act or omission, they should contact the dean of students immediately. The College will not provide any legal defense for any student accused or arrested for any criminal act, whether on or off campus, even if the student is on a field trip or other College function or program.

Students who are employed by the College and who are injured in the course of their work may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation. If a student is injured on the job, the student should contact their supervisor IMMEDIATELY to report the injury and complete an accident investigation form. Questions should be directed to the student’s supervisor and the Office of Human Resources.

For further assistance, students may contact the College’s risk management office. For more information on other student risk management issues, students may contact the Five College Risk Management website: fivecolleges.edu/riskmgmt.

Director of Risk Management 
Five Colleges Incorporated 
50 College Street 
South Hadley, MA 01075-6404 
Phone: 413-538-3092 
Fax: 413-538-3031

Library, Information, and Technology Services (LITS)

Mount Holyoke’s Library, Information, and Technology Services (LITS) provides library and information technology support for the college. There are three library locations: Williston Library, Pratt Music Library, Language & Culture Commons. The general library collections support the curriculum, with strengths in gender and sexuality studies, interdisciplinary studies, and environmental and sustainability studies. The library spaces include group study rooms and a beautiful, welcoming reading room (a favorite with students) in an English Gothic architectural style.

LITS also boasts a robust archival collection located on the ground floor of Dwight Hall. Archives and Special Collections documents the history of Mount Holyoke College through letters, photographs, scrapbooks, departmental records, and artifacts. Students are welcome to visit and use the primary research materials and Rare Books Collection.

As a part of the institution’s physical facilities and academic and social infrastructure, Mount Holyoke College acquires, develops and maintains computers, computer systems and networks. These resources are owned by the College and intended for College-related purposes, including direct and indirect support of the College’s teaching and research, administrative functions, student and campus life activities, and the free exchange of ideas among members of the College community and between the College community and the wider local, national and world communities.

The rights of academic freedom and freedom of expression apply to the use of College computing resources, as do the responsibilities and limitations associated with those rights. The use of College computing resources, like the use of any other College-provided resource or College-related activity, is subject to the normal requirements of legal and ethical behavior within the College community.

Legitimate use of a computer, computer system or network does not extend to whatever is technically possible. Users must abide by all applicable restrictions, whether or not they are built into the operating system or network, and whether or not they can be circumvented by technical means.

All users of College computing resources must:

  • Comply with all federal, state and other applicable law, all applicable College rules and policies and all applicable contracts and licenses.
  • Use only those computing resources that they are authorized to use and use them only in the manner and to the extent authorized.
  • Respect the privacy of other users and their accounts, regardless of whether those accounts are securely protected.
  • Respect the finite capacity of the College’s resources and limit use so as not to consume an unreasonable amount of those resources or to interfere unreasonably with the activity of other users.
  • Refrain from using those resources for personal commercial purposes or personal financial or other gain not related to the mission of the College.
  • Refrain from stating or implying that they speak on behalf of the College and from using College trademarks and logos without authorization to do so.
  • Be attentive to computer problems that may be the result of malware, viruses, spyware, keystroke loggers or other invasive software.

Respect for intellectual labor and creativity is vital to academic discourse and enterprise. This principle applies to works of all authors and publishers in media. It encompasses respect for the right to acknowledgement, right to privacy, and right to determine the form, manner and terms of publication and distribution. Because electronic information is volatile and easily reproduced, respect for the work and personal expression of others is especially critical in computer environments. Violations of authorial integrity, including plagiarism, invasion of privacy, unauthorized access, and trade secret and copyright violations, may be grounds for sanctions against members of the academic community.

The College employs various measures to protect the security of its computing resources and of users’ accounts. Users should be aware, however, that the College cannot guarantee such security. Users should engage in safe computing practices by establishing appropriate access restrictions for their accounts, including appropriate selection and safekeeping of passwords. Users should also be aware that their uses of College computing resources are not completely private. The normal operation and maintenance of the College’s computing resources require the backup and caching of data and communications, the logging of activity, the monitoring of general usage patterns and other such activities that are necessary for the provision of service. Such audits may review the sizes, kinds and names of software and files, but do not review the contents of documents. While in general content is not reviewed, it is important to understand that all information related to the business of the College is owned by the College. For more information or advice, students can read the acceptable use policies at lits.mtholyoke.edu/tech-support/access-and-internet-connectivity/acceptable-use-policy.

To encourage active engagement and academic inquiry in the classroom, as well as to safeguard the privacy of students and faculty, no form of audio or visual recording in the classroom is permitted without explicit permission from the professor/instructor, or without a letter from Disability Services and signed by the faculty member, authorizing the recording as an accommodation.

Authorized recordings may only be used by a student who has obtained permission and may not be shared or distributed for any reason. Violation of this policy is an infraction of the Mount Holyoke College Honor Code and academic regulations that will result in disciplinary action.

Parking

Student guests to campus who need extended parking must obtain a permit from the Parking Office. Guest passes may also be requested through a guest parking form on the website https://offices.mtholyoke.edu/parking. Guest passes may only be issued once per semester for a 2 week period to comply with the overnight guest policy in the student handbook. The Parking Office will review extended parking permit requests and may deny renewal privileges to extended visitors. There is no charge for visitor passes. You can review all parking policies at https://offices.mtholyoke.edu/parking/rules_regulations. Contact the Parking Office for additional information at 413-538-2514 Monday through Friday 8:30 am-4 pm or email parking@mtholyoke.edu.