Roanoke Rovers
Pooled Student Employment at Roanoke College
Roanoke Rovers serve as a flexible, project-based student employee pool aimed at providing short-term assistance to departments for specific projects, event setups, and office coverage needs. Roanoke Rovers are centrally managed by PLACE to ensure an efficient means of allocating trained, professional, temporary student labor needs. Students interested in becoming Rovers apply for this position through Handshake and are selected and trained by PLACE staff. Assignments will be requested by departments and matched to Rovers for work expected to take between 2 and 40 hours to complete.
For more information about the Rovers, view a complete job description, browse the FAQs below, or contact place@roanoke.edu.
Rover FAQs
How are Rovers hired and managed?
Roanoke Rovers are managed centrally by PLACE. This ensures efficient allocation of student labor across departments. Students selected for the Rover program will apply for pooled positions through a posting in Handshake. Students are interviewed, selected, and trained by PLACE staff as a Rover.
Students in the pool can work on an as-needed basis, providing flexibility to both the students and the departments with a minimum expectation of 10 hours per month and maximum of 20 hours per week.
What is the commitment for departments using Roanoke Rovers?
All departments using the Rovers must follow the PLACE Roanoke Rovers request process (do not book floaters independently), use the program for short-term assignments (2 hours to 40 hours), supervise Rovers for the specific task, report Rover time in a timely manner, and give feedback on Rovers and the program. Failure to do so will result in losing access to the student employees.
As PLACE will oversee the supervision of the Rovers and approval of hours worked, departments must submit the Rover Report Form linked above by 5 PM each Friday for ongoing projects or at the end of a project with a Rover. The Rover Report form will detail student hours and includes a formal evaluation at the project's end to help us enhance the program and support student development.
What is the commitment for Rovers?
Rovers must complete all required program training with PLACE or for specific projects, perform duties to fulfill assignments across campus, and provide feedback to PLACE on each assignment. Schedule flexibility is expected, and Rovers can complete projects of up to 20 hours per week (dependent upon other campus employment roles). Failure to show at 2 committed assignments will result in termination from the program.
How do I request a Rover?
Departments can request student workers from the pool via the Rover Request Form linked above, specifying the nature of the work, required skills, and time frame. When students are on the job/project/task, they are supervised by the requesting department. Supervisors are required to report hours worked back to PLACE for confirmation on timesheets and submit the full student evaluation form after every assignment is completed. Repeated failure to submit hours and feedback will result in inability to request Rovers in the future.
Requests should be submitted 5-7 days prior to the start of the project – if a shorter timeline is needed, the request will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
When do Rovers work?
Rovers will be available for request following training at the start of the school year. Special requests may be considered for needs prior to August 24th. Rovers are available for work during office hours Monday through Friday 8-4:30 PM or for special requested events outside of traditional work hours. Requesting departments are responsible for supervision during assignments.
Will Rovers be college van-certified?
Rovers with driver's licenses will receive college van certification for transportation support.