Helena College offers Montana State and Federal Work-Study Programs. The Work-Study Programs provide on- and off-campus employment opportunities to students in order to help meet their educational expenses. The Work-Study Program is funded through part of a total financial aid award based upon financial need. Students must be eligible in order to qualify for employment.
Students who participate in the Work-Study Program are paid biweekly. Students earn their Work-Study award on an hourly basis, the same way they would at a regular job.
Job Search & Responsibilities
The Work-Study Program provides students flexibility and responsibility. The Scholarship & Work Study Officer does not provide job placement for students; thus, jobs are not guaranteed for any student who is eligible for a Work-Study award.
Helena College operates its Work-Study Program in a “free market” environment, which means that the College does not assign you to a specific job. You are free to apply to any open position. The job search process allows for open communication between the student and supervisor and encourages students to contact only those departments and/or supervisors of jobs of interest. If a student has trouble finding a job or has not received responses from one or more supervisors after several attempts by email or phone, he/she should contact the Scholarship & Work Study Officer for assistance.
Although many employers post vacancies on the Work-Study Positions webpage throughout the academic year, most job openings are posted at the start of the school year in July and August. Don’t wait! Begin applying to positions early.
We recommend that you apply for several positions. The more positions you apply to the better your chances are of obtaining a job. Applying to just one position and waiting to hear back before applying to additional openings is not a good strategy.
If you do not hear back from an employer, follow up no more than a week or two later to reinforce your interest in the position and inquire about the status of your application.
To check your eligibility and obtain applications, please contact the Scholarship & Work Study Officer or the Financial Aid Office.
For more information regarding the Work-Study Program at Helena College, please review the Student Employment Handbook. If you are a supervisor looking for information here is the Work-Study Supervisor Handbook.
Work Study Positions for 2024-2025
Admissions & Records Work-Study
Department: Admissions & Records
Date Posted: 8/7/2024
Semester/Year: Fall 2024/Spring 2025
Location: Donaldson Campus
Hours: Up to 20 hours per week
Hourly Pay Rate: $14.00
Position(s) Available: 1
Supervisor: Marika Adamek , Assistant Registrar—406-447-6909
Duties include but are not limited to filing and record management, answering a multiline phone, accepting documentation from students attending or applying to the college, making phone calls on behalf of the Admissions Counselors and Registrar, and answering questions of students and the public that enter the Welcome Center. The Work Study may assist students during registration on our computers, assist in mailings that both Admissions and Records generate, and assist with Recruitment efforts through data entry, assembling packets, and answering questions regarding the admissions process and Helena College programs.
Other requirements: knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook, and Canvas recommended, but not required.
America Reads Work-Study
Department: Financial Aid Office
Date Posted: 11/25/2024
Semester/Year: Fall 2024/Spring 2025
Location: Local Elementary Schools
Hourly pay rate: Starting at $13.00
Hours: Up to 20 hours per week
Position(s) Available: 2
Supervisor: Valerie Curtin , Executive Director of Compliance & Financial Aid—406-447-6913
Duties: Literacy Tutors may be employed in a pre-reading or reading program for individual students or groups of preschool through elementary students, and also Family Literacy programs. Math Tutors may be employed to serve children in kindergarten through ninth grade.
Media Arts Studio Aide & Monitor
Department: Gen Ed: Humanities Fine Art
Date Posted: 2/20/2025
Semester/Year: Fall 2024/Spring 2025
Location: Donaldson Campus
Hourly pay rate: $13.00
Hours: Up to 20 hours per week
Position(s) Available: 1
Supervisor: Seth Roby , Fine Arts Instructor, 406-447-6992
This position would be for a student to be present and available of the lab in the media arts room located on the Donaldson campus, for students to use. Currently the Media Arts students can only gain access to the lab during class hours. The room remains locked outside of those hours, this work study position would allow the lab to accessible during outside class hours.
Duties: Include cleaning the room,assisting students use the lab, oversee the tools and studio space. Have hours outside of the media arts classroom time to be free to work. Monitor computer usage, printers, scanner, and other technology usage as well in the studio when students use them. be the contact for the instructor and report regularly the on goings of the media arts studio. Assist with any set up or prep material for upcoming lessons, making sure students clean up afterwards.
Requirements: Strong communication skills, positive attitude, detail oriented, ability to work independently and meet deadlines. Knowledge of Media Arts equipment and studio operations preferred but not required. Able to work any day of the week that the media art room is not being used for classtime. Has good time management and a willingness to help students in the arts.
Cashier’s Office Work-Study
Department: Business Services
Date Posted: 8/7/2024
Semester/Year: Fall 2024/Spring 2025
Location: Donaldson Campus
Hourly pay rate: $14.00
Hours: up to 20 hours per week
Position(s) Available: 1
Supervisor: Cari Schwen, Executive Director of Fiscal Services—406-447-6920
Duties: Include but are not limited to: answering customer questions, providing information on procedures or policies; counting money in cash drawers at the beginning of shifts to ensure the amounts are correct and that there is adequate change; issuing receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers; maintain clean and orderly working areas; receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits; direct customer complaints; calculate total payments received during a time period and reconcile this with total database transactions; perform general office duties including sorting mail, copying, faxing and filing; and handing confidential information. To be able to perform the duties specified above, the cashier assistant must be computer literate, have a good knowledge of Microsoft Office, have an accounting/math background, and have exceptional communication skills. Attention to detail is required as well as reliability, punctuality, and willingness to learn.
General Education Division Manager Work-Study
Department: General Education Division
Date Posted: 8/7/2024
Location: Donaldson Campus
Hours: 10 hours per week
Hourly Pay rate: $13.00
Position(s) Available: 1
Supervisor: Kylie Carr , General Education Division Manager, 447-6971 (Ex. Director General Education & Transfer in interim until this position is officially filled in fall 2024, Robyn Kiesling 447-6930)
Duties: Work directly with the Gen Ed Division Manager to support the needs of the Directors, faculty, staff, and students in the division. Duties can include, but are not limited to: Assisting with events hosted by the division (Bryant program, career roundtables, recruitment events, academic info sessions, student services info sessions, HC showcase and reception, eLearning trainings, academic workshops, etc.) General office and clerical support needed by the division (copies, shredding, timecards, office supplies, scanning, etc.) Student-to-student connection and promotion of events and academic support offered within the division. General assistance in marketing and promotional needs for the division, i.e., creation of flyers and other promotional materials needed. General customer service within the division.
Required skills: Excitement about being a part of a large academic division and a willingness to adapt to the needs of the division. Good customer service skills, great attitude, and reliability. Willingness to learn enough about the college to refer and direct students to the office that will fulfill their needs. Basic knowledge of, and/or willingness to learn, the technology used by the college: Canvas, MyHC, Teams, and Outlook Calendar for scheduling, as well as other Microsoft 365 products.
General Education- Peer Leader
Department: General Education Division
Location: Donaldson Campus
Hours: 10 hours per week up to 20 hours
Hourly pay rate: $13.00
Position(s) Available: 2
Supervisor: Robyn Kiesling ,Ex. Director General Education & Transfer, 447-6930
Duties: This is a new position for students interested in becoming Peer Leaders and working directly with instructors and students in First Year Seminar (FYS) Classes. Peer Leaders may be connected with more than one FYS course and cohort of FYS students. Peer Leaders will work directly with FYS instructors as active members of the instructional team. Peer Leaders do not help instructors grade student work and are not connected to FYS students’ grades in any way. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following. Help plan and deliver activities designed to create community within the classroom (both in person and online classrooms). Create connection to and support of academic resources and student services (tutoring, academic coaching, advising, student wellness, ASHC, scholarships, financial aid, etc.) Participation in student led discussion in FYS courses. Support of student discussion leaders. Serve as an intermediary link between the student and the instructor. Support of research activities and connection to library and research services offered at Helena College. Support instructors by providing a student perspective and general feedback for the continuous improvement of the FYS course.
Required skills: Excitement about becoming a student Peer Leader. Willingness to connect and collaborate with FYS instructors, academic support staff, and student services staff to support FYS students. Curiosity and willingness to explore and keep learning. Ability to support students in the same curiosity. Open to new opportunities and to try new things. Ability to support and encourage students to be open to new opportunities and try new things. Good understanding of academic and student support services at Helena College (or willingness to learn about HC services) and ability to support and encourage students to utilize services when needed. Good communication and willingness to ask for help. Peer Leaders are an important part of the FYS instructional team and instructors don’t expect that they will know everything right away. Instructors do expect that Peer Leaders will participate in the FYS work and ask for help when needed. Great attitude and reliability. The FYS instructional team and the FYS students will rely on Peer Leaders. Basic knowledge of, and/or willingness to learn, the technology used by the college: Canvas, MyHC, Teams, and Outlook Calendar for scheduling, as well as other Microsoft 365 products.
Holter Museum of Art: Front of Museum Assistant
Location: 12 E Lawrence Street, Helena, MT 59601
Date Posted: 10/15/2024
Semester/Year: Fall 2024/Spring 2025
Hourly Pay Rate: $15.00
Hours: Up to 20 hours per week
Position(s) Available: 1
Contact: Hannah Harvey, Museum Curator
Description: The Holter Museum of Art is looking for a work-study student who is friendly, detail-oriented and able to multi-task to serve our organization’s front of the museum team. In this position will be interacting with the public, greeting visitors, tracking visitor data, educating visitors on exhibitions and programs, and generally helping with front of museum activities and needs.
Responsibilities: Greet people entering the building, answer questions, update them on current exhibitions, programs and events, provide directions, encourage donations, and alert staff when someone is there to meet or visit with them. Answer the phone and deliver messages as needed. Responsibilities also include ccustomer service skills and clerk duties for people purchasing items in the store and taking admission fees. Tracking visitor data and aassist in daily cleaning activities. Assist in setting up for events when necessary, as well as with data entry, mailings, and other administrative tasks. This position will also serve as the face of the Holter, offering friendly service to those entering the building or calling on the phone and any other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Must be enrolled as a student at Helena College. Applicants must be ooutgoing and energetic. Computer and technology proficiency and savvy. Must have the aability to work independently, must be detail oriented and have the aability to stay calm in hectic situations
Holter Museum of Art: Front of Museum Assistant
Location: 12 E Lawrence Street, Helena, MT 59601
Date Posted: 10/15/2024
Semester/Year: Fall 2024/Spring 2025
Hourly Pay Rate: $15.00
Hours: Up to 20 hours per week
Position(s) Available: 1
Contact: Gianna Sherman, Museum Curator
Description: The Holter Museum of Art is looking for a work-study student who is friendly, detail-oriented and able to multi-task, likes to work with their hands to serve our organization’s exhibitions and education team. In this position, you will be working with the Curator, Registrar and Education teams to assist in projects around the museum and assisting teachers during education programs. This is an active position and you must be able to follow directions and work well with others.
Responsibilities: Assisting in the education programs by preparing materials, keeping supplies stocked, and helping teachers in classrooms when necessary. General maintenance of galleries by patching, painting, and cleaning galleries. Assisting Curator and Registrar with handling artwork during installation and reinstallation of exhibits. Assist with setting up for events. Assist in daily cleaning activities in the classrooms and art storage closet. Working the front desk when needed to substitute. Assisting with data entry, mailings, and other administrative tasks. Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Must be enrolled as a student at Helena College. Must be ooutgoing and energetic as well as enjoy working with hands and in a moderately physical environment. Applicant preferred to have had some experience working with hand tools. Muct be ccomputer and technology proficiency and savvy. Applicant must also have the aability to work independently, be detail oriented and have the aability to stay calm in hectic situations.
Library Learning Hub Work-Study
Department: Library Learning Hub
Date Posted: 1/13/2025
Semester/Year: Spring 2025
Location: Donaldson Campus
Hours: Up to 20 hours per week
Position(s) Available: 2
Supervisor: Kris Goss, Director of Library Services—406-447-6942
Duties: Answer phones, greet and assist Library Learning Hub (LLH) users. Help students/users with the copier, printing, and computers. Perform clerical and housekeeping tasks as assigned – scheduling, shelving, word processing, copying, sorting, filing, dusting, etc.
Required skills: Good customer service skills, accuracy, and reliability. Willingness to learn enough about the college to refer and direct students to the office that will fulfill their needs. Basic knowledge of, and/or willingness to learn, the technology used by the college: will need to be able to use and assist with OneSearch catalog, the library circulation system, Moodle, MyHC, and Outlook Calendar for scheduling, as well as other Microsoft 365 products.
Marketing & Communication Work-Study
Department: Marketing & Communication
Date Posted: 10/1/2024
Semester/Year: Fall 2024/Spring 2025
Location: Donaldson Campus/Airport Campus on occasion
Hourly pay rate: $14.00
Hours: Up to 20 hours per week
Position(s) Available: 1
Contact: Abigail Rausch, Director of Marketing, Communication, & Alumni Relations - 406-447-6954
The Helena College Marketing & Communications Department is seeking energetic, creative thinkers with strong writing skills interested in sharing the stories of our campus community.
Duties include: Brainstorm student-focused materials and digital content, Assist with email and collateral production, Create newsletter and social media content following brand guidelines, Assist with maintaining the online calendar, Scout campus for branding and signage issues, Work with the marketing manager on projects as they come up, Alumni programming development, Assisting with First Thursday planning and promotion.
Other duties could include photography and videography based on applicant's interest.
Qualifications: Strong writing, editing and communication skills required, Social media experience on multiple platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube) preferred. Self-starter, Creative thinker with a positive attitude, Detail oriented, Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
Extras (but not necessary): Experience communicating with diverse audiences, Community engagement, Writing experience, Graphic design experience, Marketing experience, Photoshop experience.
Parking Monitor Work-Study
Department: Facilities & Maintenance
Date Posted: 8/7/2024
Semester/Year: Fall 2024/Spring 2025
Location: Donaldson Campus/ Airport Campus
Hourly pay rate: $13.00
Hours: Up to 20 hours per week
Position(s) Available: 1
Supervisor: Tommi Haikka , Assistance Director of Facilities & Maintenance—406-447-6936
Duties: the applicant needs to be able to perform several duties, such as parking lot patrol, administering parking permit program, issuing parking ticketing recommendations to the Executive Director of Operations and/or Facilities Director. The work study may be under the instruction of the Personnel Officer and the Facilities Director, or his designated representative.
Expectations: the successful candidate will be expected to maintain a regular schedule of work always arriving at the designated times. The work study maybe at times, given responsibilities of access to sensitive areas of staff, employees and classrooms. However, they will not be allowed to enter the Faculty area without express approval from the Facilities Director.
This position will be 20 hours/week that will be flexible to the work study’s learning demands and holidays.
The Salon at Helena College Work Study
Department: Cosmetology
Date Posted: 1/22/2025
Semester/Year: Spring 2025/Summer 2025
Location: Donaldson Campus
Hours: 15 -19 hours per week (some Saturdays)
Hourly Pay Rate: $15.00
Position(s) Available: 1
Supervisor: Dawn Anderson, Director of Cosmetology- 406-447-6937
Duties and Responsibilities: We are looking for an experienced professional who excels at organization, is customer service orientated, and who loves to help students pursue their cosmetology career!
As the front desk receptionist, you will have the opportunity to support educational aspects of the school by presenting a professional, knowledgeable "face" of the student salon. You will be working with students and the public to ensure smooth day to day operations, while being part of the educational and professional growth of our students! You will also support student retail sales of product used on clients.
Some day-to-day responsibilities included but are not limited to: Dependability and reliability are a must in this position with an excellent attendance record with minimal late arrival or leaving early. Answering phone lines while assisting customers, students, and staff being a role model for students and embodying professionalism, maturity and exceptional organizational skills. Balance and reconcile daily cash and make safe drops each night. Maintain and update booking software program to coordinate student and client schedules as well as assisting with documenting and tracking student services lists. Respond to all inquiries regarding services, admissions, and general school information from clients, students, staff, and delivery companies. As well as maintain a high level of cleanliness and organization to the Salon lobby while assisting students with selling retail products to their clients as well as rebooking them.
New Tiered Payscale for Work-Study
The three tiers have been determined by
- The range and complexity of job duties,
- The knowledge and skills requirements necessary to perform the job, and
- Equity (wage relationships with other student employees doing similar work).
Student Earning Ceiling
The chart below reflects the estimated number of hours a student may work per week to fully utilize his/her employment eligibility during the academic year. These figures are based on a possible 30 weeks of work for the academic year (excluding breaks).
Student Employment Week
Student Employment Week is April 13-19, 2025.
Why We Celebrate
Helena College employs a wide variety of student workers who perform invaluable services with passion, commitment, and initiative. All while developing important skills and experience they will carry with them into their future careers upon graduation. Our student employees contribute so much to the campus community and providing access and support to our students’ success.
In addition, through the Federal Work Study Program, several local nonprofit agencies hire Helena College students to work in community service positions for their organizations.
We encourage all departments to recognize them for their hard work not only during Student Employment Week, but throughout the year to let them know that their efforts are valued.
Student Employee of the Year Nominations
Supervisors nominate their student workers for Student Employee of the Year.
Click on the form below to nominate your employee! Form submissions will open February 20th, 2025 and will close March 21st, 2025 at 5pm!
Purpose
The Helena College Student Employee of the Year Award was established to recognize and help promote the outstanding contributions and achievements of Helena College students who effectively combine campus work with their academic commitments. We look to supervisors within the college to nominate student employees who they feel are especially worthy of recognition based on their performance.
Nominee Criteria
Nomination forms should be completed and submitted to the Scholarship & Work Study Officer. To be considered, nominations must be complete and submitted NO LATER THAN 5:00 pm, March 21st, of each year. Additional letters of nomination may be submitted by following the instructions at the bottom of the nomination form.
To be eligible for consideration, the nominee must be:
- Currently enrolled in at least 6 credits as a Helena College student;
- Working at least 10 hours a week on- or off-campus as a Work Study student;
- Employed with the same department/office for at least 6 months during the selection period which is the academic year July 1 st to June 30th; and
- Must be maintaining good academic standing.
- Nominees are not restricted to students employed through the Federal/State Work Study Programs. All student employees are eligible for consideration.
Please keep the following guidelines in mind:
- Must be nominated by a Helena College employee by using the forms link above.
- Please submit a one page letter of recommendation and upload it to the forms link above.
- A committee comprised of the Work Study Committee and a representative of Helena College Student Government Association will select the Student Employee of the Year. The student employee selected will be announced during the Student Employment Week.
Tips for nominating your student employee
- It is best to type up the letter of recommendation letter before completing the nomination form. Please note that you may only attach one document that is no more than 2 pages in length. These may also be emailed to the Scholarship & Work Study Officer dana.palen@helenacollege.edu.
- Nominations will be reviewed for minimum eligibility requirements. Only students meeting the minimum eligibility requirements will be reviewed further. The Student Employee of the Year should be maintaining academic performance while working.
- Reviewers will be reading for specific examples of how this student demonstrates the following: Team work/Collaboration, Commitment, Excellence in Attitude, Initiative & Creativity, and Problem Solving. Avoid only using general statements.
- The nominators of the students selected as Student Employees of the Year will be notified in advance to the awards ceremony to ensure they will attend.
Should you require additional information, please call (406)-447-6914.
Past Student Employee of the Year Awards
2018-2019 Student Employee of the Year
Lakota Lawson- Admissions & Records
2017-2018 Student Employee of the Year
Stanley Munson- Financial Aid Office
2015-2016 Student Employee of the Year
Gregory Matteucci- Machine Shop
2014-2015 Student Employee of the Year
Lori Cooper- Student Support Center
Notice to all Helena College Work Study Students:
All payroll information/changes may be made at Cyberbear.
Instructions: Login to Cyberbear using the above link. Below the sign in boxes under the Need Help With Your Account? heading click What's My NetID? Enter the requested information to retrieve your NetID and then click the Forgot Password link to obtain password to login.
To obtain calendars of time periods and time sheets go to HR Forms page under Payroll.
Please contact the Helena College Financial Aid Department at 406-447-6916 with any questions.
Helena College provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or political beliefs.
