Federal Work Study Program - Earn While You Learn

2. FEDERAL WORK STUDY WCU FINANCIAL AID

3. Federally-funded, need-based employment program • Federal Work Study allows students to earn a paycheck to help pay for education and education-related expenses • Part-time employment while enrolled at the awarding institution • Community service work and work related to course of study are encouraged • Students are paid bi-weekly • WHAT IS FEDERAL WORK STUDY?

4. Flexible work schedule • Chance to gain work experience and build references for future employment • Opportunity to work in a field related to the student’s major • FEDERAL WORK STUDY – ADVANTAGES TO STUDENT

5. FWS is available to undergraduate students • Full-time and part-time students are eligible to earn FWS • Must have completed FAFSA • Student must have demonstrated financial need according to the FAFSA • Provide required documentation for Employment Authorization • ELIGIBILITY

6. Cost of Attendance (COA: tuition/fees, room/board, education materials, travel, personal allowance, eligible study abroad programs) – Expected Family Contribution (EFC: calculated using formulas based on dependency, marital status, dependents, etc.) = Financial Need • CALCULATING FINANCIAL NEED

7. FAFSA must be complete • FWS must be offered as part of financial aid package • Locate job on JobCat 2.0 • Complete the Federal Work Study Hiring Packet • Provide acceptable documentation to WCU Financial Aid and complete I-9 • Begin working when notified • THE HIRING PROCESS

8. Supervisors are required to post all available positions to JobCat 2.0 and include the following Learning Outcome and Work Study Statement: Learning Outcome: Student employees of WCU have opportunities to enhance their learning in the five global outcomes promoted by WCU for all students: communicate effectively and responsibly, practice civic engagement, integrate and apply information from a variety of contexts, solve complex problems, and clarify and act on their own purpose and values. Student employment is a valuable part of the educational experience for our students and we welcome the opportunity to support and advance your professional and personal development. • JOBCAT 2.0 POSTING

9. Intent to Re-Employ forms are sent to FWS Supervisors in the spring and should be returned prior to Spring Commencement • Intent to Re-Employ forms are processed during the summer • Jobs begin becoming available on August 1st in JobCat 2.0 • Students that have accepted FWS will receive instructions on how to locate a work study job, where to locate the hiring packet, and the hours of operation during which they can visit WCU Financial Aid and complete the hiring process. • Students that were re-employed from the prior academic year can begin working on the first day of classes • New hires can begin working once their supervisor is notified that the hiring process is complete • WORK STUDY TIMELINE

10. In accordance with Federal Work-Study Program regulations, employers must establish a job description and pay rate for each FWS position  • We aim to ensure pay equity among all FWS and non-FWS students employed by the University • Federal regulations require students be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour • The University’s maximum FWS wage is $10.00 per hour • PAY WAGE GUIDELINES

11. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 • Students that perform well can be given a raise in their hourly rate • Supervisor completes a Change Form for Federal Work Study Student Employment • Change Form is submitted to WCU Financial Aid • Given on the next payroll period • RATE INCREASE

12. Students can resign or be terminated from their FWS position • WCU Financial Aid requires a Change Form for Federal Work Study Student Employment to be completed by the student’s supervisor • Termination will occur when student exhausts their FWS award • Student can be switched to non work study if the department has funding • TERMINATION

13. Completed Change Form for Federal Work Study Student Employment to WCU Financial Aid • Student needs to be terminated • Completed current year WCU Federal Work Study Hiring Agreement • This will allow the student to be hired • CHANGING JOBS

14. The process of keeping your work study student as an employee for the next academic year • Prevents us from having to terminate, hire, and complete a new I-9 • Emails go to supervisors on March 1 • Signed intent to re-employ forms due by Spring Commencement • Failure to return by deadline requires a new I-9 • Student will not be able to begin working until a new I-9 is complete • INTENT TO RE-EMPLOY

15. FWS pays the student via direct deposit • FWS is not paid directly to tuition/fees • Students should not begin working until their supervisor has been notified that they are approved to begin the job • Students are allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week • WCU Financial Aid no longer offers FWS for Summer • Aramark does not count as FWS • Check with WCU Financial Aid to see if student is eligible for FWS • PLEASE REMEMBER

16. WCU Financial Aid • workstudy@wcu.edu • x7290 • CONTACT

17. The End GO CATS!