What is Federal Work Study?
Federal Work-Study is a need-based program. Students may indicate their interest in work study by completing a question on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligible students may earn money to help meet their educational and personal expenses while enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours. The amount will be based of the information you provide on your FAFSA.
Who is eligible?
Federal Work-Study is available to undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate financial need and are maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
How to Apply?
Complete the FAFSA – Applications must be Submitted between October 1 and June 30. Apply as soon as possible after October 1, as funds for work-study are very limited. Federal Work Study is awarded on first applied, first awarded basis.
If I am awarded, what is my next step?
Step 1: Accept your award. After you accept your award, you should receive an email from the Office of Financial Aid (within 5-7 days) with instructions on how to find a job and a copy of your work study authorization form.
Step 2: Go to Steps to Finding a FWS Position.
Additional Information
- For Fall and Spring, FWS documents must be submitted before August 10, 2023.
- Work study jobs are available with local non-profit Community Service agencies, paying $12.00/hour and up.
Terms And Conditions
- NOTE: Please also review the general Terms and Conditions for receiving financial aid.
- Student must have valid FAFSA on file and have a completed financial aid file for the (2023-2024) award year.
- Student must have received a (2023-2024) FWS award (can view and print the Employment Authorization in their Financial Aid portal in myFSU). The award amount is indicated per semester. The student can earn up to that amount for that semester.
- Student must accept their award through myFSU. Once accepted an email will be sent to the student providing them with additional instructions on job opportunities and the payroll authorization process.
- Student must be enrolled at least 6 credit hours each semester to be employed under FWS.
- If the student withdraws from the University for the semester and/or academic year, the student is no longer eligible to be employed under their FWS position. Employment will cease from the point that the student withdraws.
- Students may have more than one type of job on campus (example: FWS and OPS) but the combined hours appointed and worked cannot exceed 28 hours per week (Friday - Thursday).
- Student may not work more than one FWS job simultaneously.
- Student cannot work more than 28 hours per week.
- Student must arrange a mutually agreeable work schedule with his/her supervisor and adhere to it.
- Student must provide prior notification to supervisor of inability to report for scheduled work hours.
- Student must provide a minimum of 5 day advance written notification of their resignation to their supervisor.
- Student must not start working until all hiring processes have been finalized and student’s timesheet is available on their myFSU portal.
- No student may earn more than his/her award per semester. Any remaining funds from the prior semester may not be carried into the next semester to be earned without obtaining prior permission from the Federal Work Study Office in the Office of Financial Aid. The student should maintain records of his/her earnings. Once the student has exhausted his/her FWS award employment must cease.
- Student must keep an accurate timesheet that is certified by his/her supervisor bi-weekly prior to submission for payment. The required method for this is through the electronic timesheet in the online OMNI HR system.
- Student will earn a bi-weekly paycheck through the FSU HR payroll system.
- Federal Work-Study employees/employers must adhere to all University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the Sexual Harassment and Non-Smoking Campus Policies. For more information on these and other policies visit the Human Resources website. Students may be required to undergo additional training related to these policies.
- Student may be required to complete a background check based on the job description/responsibilities before being hired.
- Student must complete new employee orientation within 30 days of hire.