Kevin Towns Associate Director Johns Hopkins University The Federal Work-Study Program Kevin Towns Associate Director Johns Hopkins University

What is Federal Work-Study? Federal Work-Study (FWS) provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to each student’s course of study.

About Federal Work-Study For the 2018-2019 academic year, more than $1.1 billion was allocated to the FWS Program to 3,178 school. Approximately 634,000 recipients in 2015-2016 with an average award of $1,726. Of dependent ungraduated recipients, 45% has family incomes below $42,000

What is the purpose of Federal Work-Study? The FWS Program provides funds for part-time employment to help needy students finance the costs of postsecondary education gain work experience lower loan debt

Who can participate in the Federal Work-Study Program? Students who are enrolled at the institution the institution itself; federal, state, or local government agencies; private nonprofit organizations; public nonprofit organizations

Federal Work-Study Regulations Institutions must use at least 7 percent of their Work-Study allocation to support students working in community service jobs, including: reading tutors for preschool age or elementary school children; literacy tutors in a family literacy project performing family literacy activities; or

Off-Campus Compensation for FWS Community Service Agency: If the FWS student’s responsibility is tutoring in a literacy program, the Federal Work-Study Program will pay 100% of the student’s salary. Private/Public Non Profit Organization: If the FWS student partners with an eligible non-profit organization, the Federal Work-Study Program will pay a portion of the student’s salary and the non-profit organization is required to pay the remaining.

Community Service Services which are identified by an institution of higher education, through formal or informal consultation with local nonprofit, governmental, and community-based organizations, as designed to improve the quality of life for community residents, particularly low- income individuals, or to solve particular problems related to their needs.

Community Service is not Working for political affiliations; Involving any partisan or nonpartisan public or party office; Lobbying on the federal, state or local level; Benefiting organizations with membership limits; unions, credit unions, fraternal or religious order Working as a political aide for an elected official; Working for an elected official, unless the official is responsible for regular administration of federal, state, or local government.

How Institutions Receive Federal Work-Study Funding A participating institution applies each year for FWS funding by submitting a Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP) to the U.S. Department of Education. Using a statutory formula, the Department allocates funds based on the institution’s previous funding level and the aggregate need of eligible students in attendance in the prior year. In most cases, the school or the employer must pay up to a 50 percent share of a student’s wages under FWS.

How Students Receive Federal Work Study Students must have a completed FAFSA to receive federal work- study funds. Students must be enroll in that institution to participate in the federal work-study program. Federal Work-Study award amount is determined by the institution.

FWS Awarding The Federal Work-Study award is based on the student’s financial need: Rate of pay is determined by the institution; but the hourly rate must be equal to or greater than the federal minimum wage. Students cannot work beyond their award amount less they have been awarded additional federal work-study funds. Students may not continue working under the FWS program if their request for additional work-study funds has been denied.

Summer FWS Students do not have to be registered for summer classes to participate in the summer federal work-study program; however, the student must be enrolled for the upcoming fall semester.  The federal work-study funds are still based on the student's need and availability of funds.  Opportunities for employment should be available with both on-campus and off-campus employers.  To qualify, the employer must be an approved Federal Work-Study site.  Students are eligible to work up to 40 hours per week.  Students who participate in the summer FWS Program and are not enrolled in classes for the summer will be required to contribute 40% of earnings as an educational resource.  The 40% contribution will automatically be calculated in the financial aid award packages for the academic year and will not be deducted from the student’s check.

References Federal Student Aid. (2015, May). The Federal Work-Study Program. https://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/1718FSAHdbkVol6Ch2.pdf National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. (2015). National Student Aid Profile: Overview of 2018 Federal Programs. https://www.nasfaa.org/uploads/documents/2015_national_profile_2.pdf U.S. Department of Education. (2018). Federal Register. Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Programs; 2018-2019 Award Year Deadline Dates Federal Work Study Programs. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2018-title34-vol3/xml/CFR-2018-title34-vol3-part675.xml

Kevin Towns Associate Director of Financial Aid Contact Information Kevin Towns Associate Director of Financial Aid ktowns1@jhu.edu