FEDERAL
WORK STUDY
Federal work study (FWS) students are placed in employment positions and will receive a paycheck in exchange for work rendered. The paycheck is considered to be financial aid because the payroll funds used in this program are provided by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the Title IV financial aid programs. This is considered to be “work aid.”
The FWS program is a need based program. Funds are awarded to eligible students based on a calculated need. Need is determined by taking the estimated cost of attendance (COA), as established by the institution, and subtracting the Effective Family Contribution (EFC), as determined by the U.S. Department of Education, and subtracting any other form of financial assistance the student is expected to receive. The formula is NEED = COA – EFC – OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. Students may not earn an amount greater than their calculated need. Once the student has earned an amount equal to their need, their employment contract will end and their employment will cease.
FWS students are expected to pick up a blank time sheet each month from the Business Office. The completed time sheet must be turned in no later than the first Friday of each month. Your supervisor will notify you should your timesheet be due on a date different from what has been stated. Falsification of any information on the time sheet will lead to immediate dismissal and the student will be reported to the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education for investigation. Because the funds used to pay FWS student comes from the federal government, falsifying time sheet information is considered a felony offense and will be treated as such.
Paychecks can be picked up at the Business Office on the last business day of the month. Paychecks must be picked up by the FWS student and the student should be prepared to show proper identification. Paychecks will under no circumstances be released to any other individual other than the FWS student.
FWS positions are considered to be part-time positions. Therefore students may not work any more than twenty (20) hours per week. A work schedule will be established by the FWS student’s supervisor.
Each month FWS students will receive a statement from the Office of Financial Aid. This statement will provide the student with several important pieces of information on remaining balances. First, the statement will show how much of the student’s maximum allowable earnings has been earned and provide a remaining balance. It will also show an updated estimate of work hours available based on the student’s pay rate and the remaining maximum allowable earnings. It is advisable that the student share this monthly statement with their supervisor so the remaining work hours can be used to the student’s and the department’s best advantage.
FWS students are expected to represent Isothermal Community College as would any other employee of the college. They will be evaluated by their supervisor at least once during the award year. They are expected to abide by all the college’s rules and regulations. Violation of any of the rules and regulations can lead to immediate termination. Serious violations can lead to permanent expulsion from the college.
FWS students wishing to cease their employment should notify the Financial Aid Office and their supervisor in writing. The written statement should contain the student’s name, social security number, address, phone number, and the date they wish their employment to cease. The supervisor will be sent a termination evaluation form which will become a part of the FWS student’s financial aid file.
To be considered for any Federal Work Study position available at ICC, the student must complete and return a Federal Work Study Application each academic year to the Financial Aid Office. The application may be obtained online or requested from the Financial Aid Office.