Students & Volunteers

Student Assistant Program

The Student Assistant Program is intended to provide part-time employment to enhance students’ career development. Student Assistants are expected to possess essential qualities including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and the ability to work well with others. 

While work hours will be determined by funding, students may not work more than 20 hours per week during the school year.  During school breaks in the spring, summer and winter periods, works hours maybe increased based on need, funding and approval by the supervisor.  Students cannot work more than 1,500 hours in a 12 consecutive month period following the initial date of employment. Nor can students work more than 194 days in a 365-day period following the initial date of employment.

Student Assistants are responsible for: 

• Completing work assignments in a manner consistent with supervisory direction and performance standards.
• Maintaining the minimum enrollment requirement of six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter units for undergraduate students and four (4) graduate semester or six (6) quarter units for graduate students. Note: Required units must be applicable to student's major once a major has been declared.
• Maintaining an overall 2.0 GPA, and continuing to make successful progress in achieving education goals. (Required documentation, e.g., transcript, must be submitted to substantiate educational progress). Successful progress in achieving educational goal is defined as achieving an Associate of Arts or Science degree then continuing to obtain a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree. A Master’s degree is optional.

The Student Assistant Program is a recruitment tool for Caltrans addressing human resource needs by:

• Providing an opportunity to preview potential future employees;
• Providing students part-time employment related to their field of study;
• Providing students with career direction; and
• Supplementing Caltrans’ resource needs while fulfilling the above objectives.

Student Assistants will be performing technical work that will provide job experience in tasks related to their field of study. Students with undeclared majors will be assigned duties in accordance with their scholastic interests.  It is the goal of the Student Assistant Program that students are not to be hired solely to perform clerical tasks.

Student Assistant Placements may include (based on budget and District resource): 

Engineering

Engineering students (electrical, electronic, computer engineering, civil, and mechanical) may work closely with staff in areas such as design, construction, maintenance, new technology, and research related to California roadways, structures, and highway equipment. Students may assist in drafting computer-aided design, calculations (engineering and standard), computer programming, plan review, project documentation, organization of reference materials, fabrication of test fixtures, preparation of test articles, acquisition and analysis of data, and preparation of final report and presentations.

Planning and Archaeology 

Planning and archaeological students (and those in related fields) may be assigned to work with staff to assist in the following: literature reviews of transportation publications, statewide and regional planning documents; internet searches; gathering, compiling, analyzing, and monitoring information; responding to public inquiries; providing logistical support for conferences, workshops, and meetings involving local, regional, state, federal, and private entities; the development of plans, studies, projects, methodologies, presentations, and monitoring systems in support of the mainstreaming of Advanced Transportation Systems efforts; development of outreach, training, and marketing materials for mainstreaming new transportation technologies into state and regional planning and programming processes; hazardous waste initial site investigations (not including handling of "hazardous waste materials"); environmental impact information as it relates to proposed transportation projects; field evaluations, architecture, or historic architecture impact of proposed transportation projects; and transportation/environmental reports/exhibits.

Maintenance 

Maintenance students may learn landscape restoration, planning, planting maintenance, and heavy equipment operation (with appropriate license and medical clearance), while working side-by-side with State employees.

Equipment Service Center 

Equipment Service Center students may learn mechanical, welding trades, warehousing principles, computer inventory, design engineering, CADD principles, and utilization of administrative technical skills related to planning, computer, and/or general business issues depending on their job placement.

Business Administration and Communication

Business Administration and Communication students may be assigned tasks utilizing administrative technical skills related to planning, fiscal, personnel, computer, public relations, and/or general business issues.

Application Process

Caltrans has partnered with the Community College Foundation (TCCF) to hire student assistants.  In order to apply, students must follow the instructions as outlined by the Community College Foundation. 

TCCF will be your Employer of Record. This means that TCCF:

• issues your paycheck
• maintains your personnel file
• handles employment issues such as workers’ compensation and unemployment claims for your work site (e.g. verification of your employment would be done through TCCF)
• can help you edit your resume and offers great tips on interviewing and landing that job

How to Apply

• How to Become an Intern
• Intern Job Search

Locate the “search for Available Job Openings” and select the following:

• Organization/Division: (Select) Caltrans
• City: (Select) San Bernardino
• State: (Select) CA
• Major: (Select) Major

NOTE: In order to apply, you will be asked to register to the TCCF.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a student
• Must be enrolled in a minimum of six semester units (or quarter equivalent) at an accredited higher education institution
• 2.0 Cumulative GPA
• Resume (attach to application)
• Transcripts (attach to application)
• Satisfy Employment Eligibility (required by federal law)

Students who do not bring the following documents cannot start work:

1. Transcript identifying:

• total number of college units completed to date
• the student’s major
• the student’s current enrollment status

NOTE: During the school year, an undergraduate student must be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter units. A graduate student must be in enrolled in a minimum of four (4) graduate semester units or six (6) graduate quarter units.

• Recent high school graduates can submit high school diploma or enrollment letter to college in lieu of transcripts. They must also include high school transcripts for GPA information.
• Original Social Security Card or other documents listed on the I-9 form that establishes employment eligibility.
• Picture identification.
• Resume (attach to application).
• Option: Voided check, if automatic bank deposit is desired.

The students hired for this position will be hired through The InternSource (a program of the not-for-profit The Community College Foundation) and work for the California State Department of Transportation. The Community College Foundation is an equal opportunity employer to all regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, or sexual orientation. It is the policy of Community College Foundation that the workplace be free from the effects of drug and alcohol abuse.

Contact

Student Assistant Program Office: (909) 806-2559
Email: D8Student.Assistant@dot.ca.gov

Volunteer Program

Caltrans’ Volunteer Program offers non-paid training opportunities that will assist people in fulfilling their career development goals. Participants in the program can work a variable schedule to accommodate their needs, as well as the needs of the Department. Volunteer candidates may choose to work in a field that interests them, in which they have education, or a field they may know little about but in which they wish to gain exposure.

Volunteers may use participation in this program towards meeting experience requirements for various civil service exams. Volunteers are not paid and cannot replace or supplant public employees. Volunteer positions are not advertised.

If you are interested in participating as a volunteer:

1. Email a cover letter and current résumé to askExams@dot.ca.gov
2. Indicate what type of work experience you would like to gain.
3. Indicate what California location(s) in which you would be willing to volunteer.
4. Your cover letter and résumé will be forwarded to the Volunteer Coordinator in the location(s) in which you are willing to volunteer.
5. The Volunteer Coordinator in the location(s) you have indicated in your cover letter will then keep your information on file until a position match is determined for you.
6. If you are selected as a volunteer candidate the hiring supervisor will contact you directly.

Your resume and cover letter will then be submitted to the appropriate hiring authorities in the location(s) where you indicated you are willing to work. Those supervisors who can provide you the relevant work experience that you are seeking will then contact you.