Work Study

Federal Work Study (FWS)

The Federal Work Study (FWS) Program is a federally funded part-time employment program used to assist students in meeting their financial obligations to the University and to encourage community service involvement. The Federal Work Study Program is intended to off-set the costs of the student's education. It is awarded to students who have completed their FAFSA's first until funds are exhausted. Generally, eligible students are pre-awarded work-study and are given a work-study assignment after they attend the work-study mixer. Priority in awarding is general based on a completed FAFSA and students who previously participated in work study in the previous semester. If a student does not come to the mixer or chooses not to do work-study, their Work Study award will be cancelled and given to another eligible student.

Award amounts are determined by the Director of Financial Aid. Students may work a maximum of 20 hours per week under the Federal Work Study Program. If your offer of financial assistance includes employment under the Federal Work Study Program, it must be understood that the amount of money you may expect to earn during the academic year because of work performed. Students may range from $10.00 to $14.00 per hour. Students are paid on a bi-weekly basis according to the student payroll schedule. As part of federal work study requirements, we are required that a percentage of our budget for work study students be used in a community service aspect within the community by placing our students at off-campus locations that are designated as FWS Community Service sites. Some of the duties for our work study students would include tutoring, student mentoring, crime and safety prevention, literacy training, student development, family support, reading programs, after school care programs, office administrative duties, and other areas of community service that lead to community involvement and improvement. The Office of Financial Aid will host a Work Study Mixer in the fall semester for students who are interested in work-study. Students will have the opportunity to meet various departments and participate in on site interviews. The work-study mixer is mandatory for both students and supervisors. Students will be notified about the mixer via email no later than one week prior to the event. The Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Financial Aid has the authority to modify the contract should the student exceed their original authorized Work Study award amount provided that the student has an additional unmet financial need.

Interested in participating in the Federal Work-Study Program? Make sure that you attend the 2024-2025 Federal Work-Study Mixer on August 21, and August 22, 2024 as there will be a plethora of on-campus and off-campus departments interested in interviewing students of all majors! This is your time to gain experience in your potential field and earn funds for school while doing so! (ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN FEDERAL WORK-STUDY FOR THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR)

View the Work-Study Handbook