CSUSM Payments to Students Guide

Payments to Students:  Determining Payment Type

Are you compensating the student for employment service to the university?

Determining if a Payment is Compensation (Wages) 

If the primary purpose of payment is to compensate a student for services provided to the university, or if the primary beneficiary of the student's actions is CSUSM, the payment would be considered compensation (Wages) rather than Financial Aid.

Evidence that a payment is compensation includes:

• Student has direction or supervision and a defined workweek and/or schedule
• Receipt of funds contingent upon performance of services
• For research where CSUSM is the primary beneficiary
• If another student/individual would be necessary to complete duties/services, if the first student/individual was unable to complete or perform the duties/services