Federal Work-Study (FWS) enables eligible students to acquire work-study jobs, the wages for which are largely funded by the federal government. FWS recipients find their own jobs, either on campus or in the community. Although FWS appears as part of a student’s financial aid package, earnings do not credit directly to the Bursar; rather, the student earns a paycheck based on an hourly pay rate (wages vary but are never below minimum wage).
FWS is a type of campus-based award. This means that federal funds are provided to individual universities to administer at their discretion (although always within federally governed parameters); FWS amounts and eligibility requirements may therefore vary from university to university.
FWS is a need-based award and thus counts towards fulfilling a student’s overall need figure.
Undergraduate Student Federal Work-Study Details
- Eligibility:
- A student must be enrolled in a degree seeking program of study.
- The FAFSA must be filed by May 10th, 2009.
- A student must indicate that he/she is interested in work-study on the FAFSA
- For the 2009-2010 academic year, an incoming freshman must have an original need figure (when the Expected Family Contribution is subtracted from the Cost of Attendance) of at least $12,500.
- Incoming freshmen must accept their offered FWS award; returning students are not required to accept their award.
- Returning students must have used their FWS award in the previous academic year and have enough unmet need to accommodate the FWS award.
- Award Amounts: For the 2009-2010 academic year, the standard FWS award is $1500; an FWS award represents the maximum amount a student can earn at their FWS Job.
Work-Study Authorization Cards
- In mid-August, you will receive an email from our office with instructions for printing your Authorization Card on-line.
- Please note, if you have been selected for Verification, are not enrolled, or have already submitted an Authorization Card, you will not be able to print your card on-line.
- An FWS recipient must submit a Work Study Authorization card to their employer before they may begin working. If you are unable to obtain your Work-Study Authorization card, please contact our office at fws@indiana.edu.
Finding a Job & Changing Jobs
- Student's should visit the Career Development Center website (www.indiana.edu/~career) for job listings and information about the bi-annual Jobs Fair.
- Students who have switched FWS jobs, or would like to obtain a second FWS job, should contact the FWS coordinator at fws@indiana.edu.
Graduate Student Federal Work-Study Details
- Graduate students are never automatically packaged with FWS; rather, FWS is awarded to them when a department/organization contacts our office with an intention to hire them.
- Graduate student FWS typically takes the form of an assistantship offered by the student’s academic department; graduate students may also find graduate FWS positions through the GradGrants Center (http://www.indiana.edu/~gradgrnt/index.html).
- A graduate student must file a FAFSA, be enrolled in a degree seeking program of study, and have enough unmet need to accommodate the FWS award.
APPEALING FOR A FEDERAL WORK-STUDY AWARD
- Students who were not originally packaged with FWS may consider appealing for the $1500 award if:
- Unmet financial need is $1500 or more
- Federal Work-Study employer confirms intent to hire
- Appeals may be submitted by emailing fws@indiana.edu on or after October 1st, 2009. FWS Appeals will be accepted up until November 1st, 2009.
- Please note: Appeal process is contingent upon available funding levels for the FWS Program.
Federal Work-Study Employers
In order that our office remain in accordance with federal regulations, departments and agencies that employ FWS students must fill out a Federal Work-Study Job Description Form for each position that a FWS student will be occupying. A student may not begin employment in a FWS position until our office has received a Job Description Form for that position.
