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Student Employee Guide: Expectations

A guide for student employees at the University of Idaho Library, with expectations, links to resources, and training resources.

Basic Job Expectations for Student Workers

General Expectations for Student Workers

Our goal for your library employment is to provide a safe, enjoyable work environment where you can learn skills that will help you succeed once you leave the University of Idaho. It is your responsibility to follow the below expectations for library student workers. 

Excellent Service

  1. Place people before paperwork
  2. Provide friendly, positive service
  3. Be available, approachable, and offer assistance
  4. Always be pleasant, no matter how busy you are

Adherence to Library Policies and Procedures

  1. Know and follow library policies and procedures, especially for your department
  2. Understand when to refer questions to your supervisor, and do so appropriately
  3. Refer research questions, especially those of medical or legal nature, to a librarian
  4. Never disclose coworker or patron contact information, schedule, or borrowing history

Professional Behavior and Conduct

  1. Be responsible in performing job tasks accurately and efficiently
  2. Arrive at work ready to work
  3. Dress appropriately and professionally
  4. Working under the influence of drugs or alcohol is prohibited
  5. Submit time cards on time

Positive Attitude

  1. Accept assignments willingly
  2. Cooperate with others to achieve mutual goals
  3. Contribute to a pleasant, professional work environment

Initiative

  1. Do priority work first
  2. Look for and perform additional tasks
  3. Offer suggestions for improvement

Reliable Attendance

  1. Arrive on time
  2. Arrange for a replacement during anticipated absences, if required by your unit or area
  3. Notify your supervisor before your shift if you are ill or must miss your shift

Contributing to a Safe Work Environment

  1. Treat others professionally and equally
  2. Follow the UI Student Code of Conduct and Library Code of Conduct while at work
  3. Tell your supervisor if you experience or witness harassment, discrimination, or unsafe behavior

Grounds for Dismissal

Grounds for Dismissal

Very rarely do we encounter any problems with student workers! However, occasionally the behavior of a student worker will require his or her supervisor to refer to the following statement on "Grounds for Dismissal." It is your responsibility to be aware of these dismissal conditions and procedures. If you have any questions, please direct them to your supervisor.

You as a student worker may be dismissed for any of the following reasons:

  1. Poor job performance.
  2. Refusal to do assigned tasks.
  3. Excessive tardiness or absenteeism from work.
  4. Failure to report to work for an assigned shift without prior permission from your supervisor.
  5. Unauthorized use of library materials, facilities, or supplies.
  6. Failure to maintain a positive service-minded approach toward patrons, staff or co-workers.
  7. Reporting to work under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
  8. Sexual misconduct, harassment, or discrimination. 

In general, the three steps leading to dismissal of a student employee are:

  1. First written warning: student employee is issued a written warning outlining the violation of a work rule such as improper work performance, poor attendance and punctuality, misuse of property, unacceptable personal action, etc. If no further warnings occur for a time period of one year from the date the warning is issued, this warning will be removed from the student's record. If a second warning occurs within the one year time period, the first warning will remain part of the record.
  2. Second written warning: student employee is issued a second written warning about work rule violation and notified of consequence of termination if violations continue.
  3. Termination: Student employee is issued a written notice giving reason for termination. A copy of termination letter is forwarded to the Student Employment Office with any additional supporting documentation.

The three steps leading to dismissal do not need to be for the same violation. Certain infractions of policies and procedures, such as falsification of a timecard, will lead to immediate dismissal.