Ideas for Student Employment Month of April
and National Student Employment Week
(Always the second full week in April)

The following ideas were compiled over the years by WSASEA members:

• encouraging supervisors to take their student employees to lunch, or to host a departmental open house for all student employees

• placing an ad in the campus newspaper thanking your student employees

• contacting your institution's public relations department to prepare local news releases regarding this occasion/proclamation (and take the opportunity to plug the value of student employment!)

• arrange for air time on a campus or local public radio or television station to discuss how the community benefits from students' work efforts

• encouraging supervisors to submit nominations for WSASEA's Student Employee of the Year (if you missed the nomination deadline for this year, plan ahead for next year!)

• prepare "Certificates of Excellence" for your student employees

• create and present your student staff members with a proclamation that celebrates their unique contributions to your office ("Be it hereby proclaimed that Jane shall be known hereafter as the Superhero of Student Employment!")

• in cooperation with other local institutions, hanging a Student Employment Month banner in the downtown area of your city

• holding a lunchtime "open forum" on student employment--invite an alum who had a successful student employment experience to speak

• requesting a city or county proclamation declaring a Student Employment Week (WSASEA has traditionally requested a state proclamation from the governor's office and distributes it to members)

• running an ad in a local business newspaper thanking employers for their support and reminding them to contact your office to post available positions

• providing Student Employment Month posters and balloons or other favors to employers for display

• hosting a reception for on- and off-campus employers to show appreciation to them for their support of your students

• having your institution's president send a letter to on-campus student employees, expressing appreciation for their contribution

• requesting discounts from local stores (campus bookstore?) to students showing April pay stub

• printing a note of thanks on the students' April pay stub or attachment

• planning a special Student Employment Recognition night, where students can meet with alums in their field of interest

 The following ideas were presented by from Susan LeBow Young, Manager, Student Employment Office , University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, on the studemp listserv 3/00

 Low Cost

• Treat Day - full-time staff bring in treats/lunch for student workers.

• Take pictures - post employee pictures (in your office, around campus, on your office website or University homepage) and list what wonderful things they do for your department. 

• Coupon Booklets - this is always a hit with students!  Insert coupons for a free can of soda, movie night at the boss' house (everyone needs to redeem for this one), one dozen home baked goodies, etc.  Be creative in designing your own coupons.

• Notes Home - send a note to the families of your student workers.  Let them know what the student does, how their work impacts your department, and how terrific the student is.

• Buy low cost, blank certificates and make up awards for students: best telephone voice, best web-surfer, etc.

• Friendship Plants - take cuttings from a plant in the office and give to each student as a live "connection" to the office.

• Bright Ideas - spray paint a light bulb gold, screw into a jar of Play-Doh and make a label around the jar naming who is receiving the "Bright Idea" award.

• Good Egg Award - buy plastic Easter Eggs, fill with goodies and give out with "Good Egg" certificates.  List what the student did to deserve this award.

 Free

• Pat on the Back - Draw an outline of your hand on a piece of paper.  Photocopy enough copies for all students in your office.  On each hand write a note that tells the student why they deserve a "Pat on the Back".

• Use this week as an opportunity to start an award recognition program.  Look around the office or at home for a white elephant item.  Name the item for the award (Employee of the Month/Week, Great Idea Award, Gotcha Award - catch someone in the act of doing something good) and then make the first presentation of it during Student Employment Week.

• Make a banner to hang for the whole week in your office.

• Decorate an office bulletin board or the office door for the week in recognition of your students.  

Web sites for freebies:

Awesome CyberCards

Blue Mountain Virtual Greeting Cards

Toon O Gram

Virtual Presents

Mail a Meal

Virtual Florist

The Cardmaster

Volition's Postcards