Guide to hiring OPT-authorized students for volunteer positions

Utilizing ASU graduates for degree-specific volunteer tasks is a win-win. A student who has been authorized for Post-completion Optional Practical Training must maintain status by obtaining employment directly related to their field of study. Offering a volunteer position could benefit a recent ASU graduate by helping them maintain their status while searching for that perfect job.

Post-OPT students must not accrue more than 90 days of unemployment, and must work for 20 or more hours per week. (Specific guidance due to COVID-19 may apply. Refer to ISSC’s updates related to COVID-19.)

If you have any questions, please contact issc.employment@asu.edu.

When offering a volunteer opportunity to a student authorized for Post-completion Optional Practical Training, please consider the following.

Do:

Create an offer letter which includes:

Department letterhead — may be signed by a departmental HR representative or the hiring professor.
Description of the tasks the student will be performing, making it clear that the tasks are directly related to the student’s field of study.
The start date.
The number of hours required each week (must be 20 or more).

Don’t:

Reduce a student’s hours below 20 per week.
Request a student to perform tasks unrelated to their field of study.
Violate labor laws.

Novel coronavirus information