Making the Magical 7%

Agenda Introductions – please tell me where your from and what you hope to get out of today’s session Our Goal: 7% Federal Mandate What is a Community Service position? Tutoring, Off Campus & On Campus Community Service Increasing 7% & Recruitment of employers and students Q & A, Sharing of Best Practices, Brainstorming Ideas What’s coming down the pike – changes to the HEA

Warning/Disclaimer: I hate quoting the exact cite in the regs. Most of the information can be found in the Student Financial Aid Handbook, Volume 6: Campus Based Programs, Chapter 2: Operating a Federal Work Study (FWS) Program. As most of you know, you can find the handbook at: Volume 6: Chapter 2: That being said, if you need a particular citation, ask and I can probably give it to you.

Federal Regulations For schools receiving FWS funds, the Federal Government mandates that at least 7% of the allotment must be used to employ students in community service jobs with at least one FWS student employed as a reading tutor or performing family literacy activities.

Definition Community Services are defined as services that are identified by an institution of higher education through formal or informal consultation with local non-profit, 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 relating to their needs. The two most common ways of fulfilling this requirement are: 1.Tutoring positions 2.Off Campus Community Service Positions.

Tutoring Jobs 1.Reading Tutor- students working with preschool aged children through the end of grammar school. The definition is state/city specific. I.E. Currently in DC, grammar school is through the 6 th grade. 2.Math Tutor – students working with children through the ninth grade. 3.Those performing Family Literacy activities in a family literacy project that provides services to families with preschool age or elementary school children.

Tutoring Jobs These students may be paid using a 100% waiver. 100% of their wages is paid by FWS funds. You can also pay for: “REASONABLE” Training (less than 20 hours) Travel Time Preparation and Evaluation Time Students may tutor in parochial settings as long as they are not using religious materials or teaching religion.

Community Service Jobs The definition is vague to allow a school to “use its discretion to determine what jobs provide service to the community.” Students in these positions may be paid using up to 75% of federal funds. Schools may pay the institutional match on behalf of a community service agency. Non profit agencies do not qualify automatically as community service employers- the work performed must meet the definition of community services in the regulations. The positions can be direct or indirect community service.

Community Service Jobs For example: Overnight monitor in a homeless shelter COUNTS. Administrative Assistant in an Welfare to Work program COUNTS. Research positions at a Think Tank DO NOT COUNT. You can also pay for: “REASONABLE” Training (less than 20 hours) Travel Time

90% Waiver There is a 90% waiver for public or non-profit organization that can not afford a greater institutional match, as long as: The organization is not wholly or partially owned, operated, or controlled by the school; The organization’s inability to pay the normal federal share is documented and determined on a case-by- case basis. No more than 10% of all FWS employed students are paid under this waiver.

On Campus Community Service On Campus Jobs: Some on campus jobs can meet the definition of community services, provided that the services are open and accessible to community and they meet all other criteria to define them as community service. For example: Tutoring in a Day Care Center or working in the Library COUNTS only if it is OPEN and ACCESSIBLE to the general public. One exception: Tutoring in/for disability support services COUNTS.

Schools must contract with off campus agencies – tutoring and community service. Students must earn at least minimum wage. Students can’t displace FT employees (this is important in the current economy!). Students can’t lobby Congress. All positions must comply with FLSA and other laws pertaining to employment. Basics to keep in mind

Partner with Community Service Office, Career Center, and Academic Departments, Service Learning Programs FWS students employed as project coordinators in the Community Service Office Summer programs – students can work full time! Law school/med school training programs Other ways to increase 7%

● Blind faxes, cold calls, site visits, fliers ● Hire a student to identify employers of interest Recruitment Ideas Where can you find employers? –Yellow pages –Government Blue Pages –Community Service Office –Chamber of Commerce –Churches/Community Groups –Internet

Some upcoming changes regarding FWS-CS in the reauthorization: There is a 100% waiver for students employed in projects that teach civics in schools, raise awareness of government functions or resources, or increase civic participation. Including: projects that educate or train the public about evacuation, emergency response, and injury prevention strategies relating to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other emergency situations. Coming down “the pike” in 09-10

Questions? Sharing of Best Practices: what do you do great that you’d like to share? What do you find helpful? Brainstorming: where can one find great employers? What employers do you work with?

Resources For more training: consider sending your FWS coordinators to SEE Training: Student Employment Essentials Support: consider joining NEASEA: the Northeast Association of Student Employment Administrators Check out:

Contact: Heather Ball Assistant Director for Student Employment Programs Georgetown University