Updated Policies on Unpaid Internships

by   |  08.25.25  |  Announcements

In an effort to strengthen our internal processes and align with U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) compliance, we are re-evaluating policies related to unpaid internships. As part of this initiative, the following changes will take effect in the upcoming fiscal years.
Effective FY ’26: Unpaid Internship Policy
  • Individuals participating in an unpaid internship must be enrolled at a higher education institution.
  • Unpaid interns may not work more than 25 hours per week during the academic semester.

  • Changes for F-1 and J-1 Students

    Per U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations:
    For any work performed on campus by a student holding an F-1 or J-1 visa—whether paid or unpaid—an employee-employer relationship is considered to exist. This means that all F-1 and J-1 students must obtain proper work authorization before engaging in any form of on-campus work, including internships, assistantships, and unpaid or volunteer roles. The requirement applies regardless of whether compensation is provided.

    Students must work with the appropriate campus office to ensure they are authorized to work before any duties begin. F-1 and J-1 students are responsible for informing their hiring manager or supervisor of their immigration status prior to beginning any work on campus. This disclosure is essential to ensure proper hiring procedures and timely authorization.

    Hiring managers are encouraged to include ACU F-1 and J-1 students in their programs. These students are eligible to work on campus, but they must be hired as student employees and paid hourly at a minimum rate of $8.00 per hour, in compliance with university and federal guidelines.

    Failure to comply with federal regulations may jeopardize a student’s immigration status and could result in institutional consequences.For questions or assistance with employment authorization, please contact:

    Lucy Dawson, PDSO
    Associate Director
    Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars
    124 Hardin Administration Building
    lld09a@acu.edu
    (p) 325-674-2237
    For questions or assistance with the hiring process, please contact:
    ACU Human Resources
    213 Hardin Administration Building
    325.674.2359
  Effective FY ’27: Cost-of-Living Stipends

Cost-of-living payments are nominal stipends intended to assist participants with basic living expenses.

  • Stipends cannot be tied to productivity, hours worked, or performance.
  • Budgets for cost of living stipends must be equally distributed among all participants.

Please begin to consider any future impact to your budget now so that you can make adjustments for FY27.