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College Work-Study: Purpose and Facts

 

Purpose of the CWS Program

The College Work-Study (CWS) Program is designed to provide employment opportunities for students who are enrolled as undergraduate, graduate, or professional students and need to earn money to support their education. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in eligible programs and must demonstrate a financial need. Employment under this program must be available to the extent of available funds. Students are responsible for finding a qualifying CWS job.

Termination from CWS Program:

  • Students are terminated from the CWS Program at the end of the academic year (Spring term).
  • A student will also be terminated if their enrollment drops below half-time or if they are deemed ineligible for Federal Aid by the Office of Financial Aid due to a decrease in award funds or other eligibility issues.

At a Glance: Key Facts About CWS

 

Eligibility:

  • To participate, students must have CWS eligibility as part of their financial aid award package.
  • To apply, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be eligible for CWS funds.
  • Financial need, as determined by the FAFSA, is required to receive CWS funding.
  • Students must apply for financial aid through the FAFSA application each academic year to be considered for CWS employment.

Employment Hours:

  • It is recommended that students work no more than 20 hours per week during regular semesters.
  • During student/faculty holidays, students may work full-time if approved by the employer. Payroll taxes and overtime cannot be covered by CWS funds.

CWS Award Limits:

  • Once a student reaches their CWS award maximum, they must be terminated from the CWS program.
  • The student may contact the Office of Financial Aid to check if they have remaining CWS eligibility.

Eligibility Evaluation:

After reaching the maximum award, students will undergo an eligibility evaluation:

  • Eligible: The student may request additional CWS funding.
  • Ineligible: The employer can either hire the student using 100% employer funding, or the student must stop working, and the department will terminate the student from the ISU Human Resource system.

Multiple Employment:

Students can work for more than one department simultaneously under the CWS program, but the combined earnings must not exceed their CWS award and their combined hours must not exceed the ISU limit to hours worked. Payroll taxes and overtime cannot be paid with CWS funds.

Responsibilities:

  • Both the employer and employee are responsible for ensuring that the student does not exceed their CWS award limit.
  • CWS wages are paid bi-weekly via paychecks.

Job Opportunities:

Job opportunities are listed on Handshake via the Career Center’s webpage. Students can contact the Career Center for assistance using Handshake.