Federal Work Study (FWS)

Employing Federal Work Study Students

The FWS program provides part-time jobs for undergraduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for educational expenses. Employing FWS students can result in significant savings for your college or department. Since most of the cost of employing an FWS student is federally funded, work-study students are a budget-friendly way to meet your departmental needs.

As a student employer, you have access to a talented pool of FWS job applicants with various personal, academic, and career interests that can meaningfully contribute to meeting your department鈥檚 business needs.

Work-study positions enable students to:

  • Gain valuable work experience in a professional environment
  • Build their resumes
  • Make connections across campus
  • Have a more enriching college experience
  • Be more competitive in the workforce post-graduation.

FWS positions can be on-campus or qualifying community service jobs, off-campus. Community service jobs must be approved annually and are primarily managed by the Center for Career & Professional Development. 

Benefits of Employing an FWS Student

Employing FWS students has several benefits:

  • FWS employees are 鈥渞eal鈥� employees and are valuable to help with time-limited or seasonal tasks.
  • Work-study students diversify your work environment. Their input can provide useful information for improving communications and processes, offering real-life feedback, and more.
  • A department only has to cover 25% of the cost of the student鈥檚 wages; 75 of the wages are federally funded.

FWS Allocation

The Provost, each VP, and the Dean are given a Spending Authority (SA) Allocation to cover FWS payroll expenses for all hiring units under their authority. Each is responsible for sub-allocating spending authority to their hiring units and ensuring none exceeds the allocation.

Each hiring unit must determine how many students they can hire within their SA allocation. Hiring units must stay within the SA allocation and the student鈥檚 awarded amount.

If you do not have an FWS Spending Authority Allocation, contact your Vice President or Dean to inquire about FWS funds.

Hiring Department Responsibilities

The hiring department or student supervisor is responsible for the following:

  • Create FWS job descriptions on Handshake and follow employment guidelines and policies.
  • Select student candidates and initiate student interviews.
  • Offer FWS jobs and follow HR hiring procedures.
  • Collect class schedules each term to ensure students are not overlapping their class and work schedules.
  • Monitor FWS expenditures to ensure:
    • The student鈥檚 earnings do not exceed the FWS award.
    • The department is not spending more than their FWS Spending Authority Allocation.
  • Ensure the employee is eligible each semester for student employment.
  • Each department determines the pay scale for its student employees. The departments have the right to pay FWS students based on skill. The pay may vary by department. 

Student Eligibility Requirements

Students must meet the following eligibility requirements to maintain their FWS employment.

  • Degree-seeking
  • Enrolled at least half-time (6 undergraduate credit hours)
  • U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • Meet financial aid eligibility requirements

FWS Restrictions

  • FWS students can work up to 20 hours per week.
  • The work schedule and class schedule cannot overlap.
  • Students must remain within the FWS award allotment and cease working if the award is exhausted.
  • Students must cease working if enrollment drops below half-time status.
  • Students must cease working if they no longer meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.