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

2. 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.

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. References
Federal Student Aid. (2015, May). The Federal Work-Study Program.
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. (2015). National Student Aid Profile: Overview of Federal Programs.
U.S. Department of Education. (2018). Federal Register. Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Programs; Award Year Deadline Dates
Federal Work Study Programs.

15. Kevin Towns Associate Director of Financial Aid
Contact Information
Kevin Towns Associate Director of Financial Aid