Student Employment

School of the Arts Application System

Please contact [email protected] if you are unable to log-in.

Student Job Application Instructions

Click here for School of the Arts Application Instructions.

School of the Arts Timesheets

Effective February 9, 2026, School of the Arts has adopted the university’s Time & Labor and Absence Management system (TLAM) to process all hourly timesheets.

Log into TLAM directly using the link below or navigate to the MyColumbia Self-Service portal to access TLAM from the “Faculty and Staff” tab.  Under the “Resources” section, click “Timesheets & Absences” within the “Time and Attendance” tab.


TLAM Training Resources

TLAM Short Title Key

Students with multiple hourly positions will have a separate timesheet entry for each role. Each role in TLAM is identified by a unique “Short Title” to help distinguish between positions. A complete key of School of the Arts TLAM Short Titles and their corresponding hourly positions and departments is available below:

School of the Arts TLAM Short Title Key

Student Payroll Guidelines and Timesheet Instructions

Payroll Onboarding Process

Once offered a position, students will be contacted by the SOA student payroll team with onboarding paperwork and I-9 instructions (the federal form used to verify work authorization). All required forms must be completed and returned before work can commence. Students may not start working, and paperwork cannot be submitted to University payroll for processing, until Sections I and II of the I-9 are complete.

Students who do not have a Social Security Number should contact the student payroll team at [email protected] for information on the process to procure one.

Payroll Calendar and Submission Deadlines

Student hourly payroll occurs every two weeks based on the annual FY26 Biweekly TLAM Timesheet Processing Schedule. Hourly payroll is paid on a bi-weekly schedule. Payroll for student officer (Teaching Assistant) appointments is processed on a separate semi-monthly schedule. When a student officer simultaneously holds an hourly position, compensation will be paid according to the applicable payroll schedules for each role.

Columbia University payroll checks will be mailed directly from the bank to employee home addresses listed in the system if the student has not opted for direct deposit.

Click here for Timesheet Entry for Student Casuals and VHO Timesheet Instructions.

Please note: You must submit timesheets accurately reflecting your hours worked before each payroll deadline. Your position supervisor will review and approve timesheets electronically. Failure to submit timesheets on time will result in delays in payment. The available timesheets will be determined by your start date, and you will only be able to fill in the last two (2) bi-weekly pay periods from the current pay period in TLAM. If you have time to report prior to this time frame, paper timesheets will need to be completed, signed by the appropriate timesheet approver, and emailed to [email protected] for processing.

Hour Limits During the Semester(s)

During the fall and spring semesters, student casual employment may not exceed 20 hours per week across all university positions.

Students on appointments (Teaching Assistants) who hold additional student service positions and/or casual pay positions are limited to 15 hours per week during the term of the appointment. The appointment counts as 5 hours per week.

Hour Limits During the Summer and Semester Breaks

When students are not enrolled they may work up to 35 hours per week.

School of the Arts Service Positions

The majority of School of the Arts student casuals are funded through service positions allocated by the School of the Arts Financial Aid office. Students who receive a Service Position allocation will be hired as a student casual by the School of the Arts’ Business Office (Human Resources) and will require completion of the appropriate payroll documentation. Student casuals will submit hours worked through TLAM for processing to receive compensation during the semester/s in which the student is completing the service position, and payment will be issued either via check or direct deposit. Service positions are compensated at an hourly rate for a maximum number of hours. Students may not work over the maximum cumulative hours allocated without prior approval from their supervisor and Program DAA.

Hours worked are contingent upon your availability. We encourage you to plan ahead and determine your schedule with your supervisor so that you are able to schedule enough hours to work up to your maximum allocation. The position supervisor reserves the right to remove students from the service position for poor performance, excessive absences or tardiness, and/or inappropriate behavior or misconduct. A portion of these funds may be paid through the Federal Work Study program and completion of the appropriate payroll documentation is required. 

Direct Deposit

Sign up for the free direct deposit program, and your funds are automatically deposited to your bank account(s) each payday. You elect a single direct deposit bank account or multiple accounts. Accounts can be selected based on a percentage of the total, flat dollar amounts, or as the balance of pay. You can enroll, edit or inactivate your current election with immediate impact on your next paycheck.

To enroll in direct deposit:

  1. Log into MyColumbia with your UNI and password
  2. Go to the Faculty and Staff tab
  3. Under the "Personal Data Tab", choose "View and/or Update Personal Data"
  4. Click on Payroll  & Compensation
  5. Click on Direct Deposit
  6. You can then add account details by selecting the "+" button under accounts (remember to click "save" when you're done!)


The system will send a confirmation email to your Lionmail account when you have successfully set up direct deposit. For further instructions, please review the Direct Deposit in PAC video. 

To update your home or mailing address in the system:

  1. Log into MyColumbia with your UNI and password
  2. Go to the Faculty and Staff tab
  3. Under the "Personal Data Tab", choose "View and/or Update Personal Data"
  4. Click on Personal Details, and here you can add or amend your address entry


If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

NY & NJ Sick Leave

Columbia University complies with the New York City Earned Safe and Sick Time Act and the New Jersey Sick Leave Law.