Federal Work Study
The Federal Work Study program provides part-time jobs for students with financial need to help them pay for their college-related expenses.
Student Employee Handbook
Please click here to download the 2024-2025 Federal Work Study Student Employee Handbook. This will provide you with helpful information regarding the hiring process, eligibility criteria, work schedules, and more.
Please click here to download the 2023-2024 Federal Work Study Student Employee Handbook. This will provide you with helpful information regarding the hiring process, eligibility criteria, work schedules, and more.
Supervisor Handbook
Please click here to download the 2024-2025 Federal Work Study Supervisor Handbook. This will provide you with important information regarding hiring, scheduling, and evaluating student employees.
Please click here to download the 2023-2024 Federal Work Study Supervisor Handbook. This will provide you with important information regarding hiring, scheduling, and evaluating student employees.
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What is Federal Work Study?
Federal Work Study is a type of financial aid. It is a federally funded program supplemented by money from HCC that provides part-time jobs to help students who qualify pay for their college-related expenses. This program encourages students to take part in community service work, as well as gain experience.
Who is eligible for Federal Work Study?
Federal Work Study is available for students who meet the HCC Priority Deadline and who meet other requirements. To be considered, you must:
- Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year
- Submit all required documents to complete your financial aid file
- Register for classes by the priority deadline
- Be able to show your financial need (as determined by federal need-analysis)
- Stay in good standing according to HCC's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
If you want to start work in the summer term, and you're not enrolled in classes for that summer term, you must have next year's FAFSA completed before the priority deadline.
What kinds of jobs are there? Are jobs guaranteed?
There are both on-campus and off-campus opportunities available, but job placement is not guaranteed. On-campus jobs are in academic departments and administrative offices.
Community service work is also strongly encouraged. HCC has contracts with various local non-profit organizations with which students can work. These jobs provide services that are designed to improve quality of life for community residents, or to solve particular problems related the community's needs. Most of the community service jobs are located off-campus at local nonprofit organizations.
How do I find a job?
Check out available positions online.
Before you contact a supervisor for an interview, make sure you've accepted your Federal Work Study award through Online Services. Once you have been offered the position, you will get your Employment Authorization Form and the FWS Employment Packet via email. You can't start working until these forms have been completed!
how much do work study jobs pay?
Hourly rates vary depending on the type of position and how long the student has worked in the position, but you'll receive at least the state minimum wage. Students working before Jan. 1, 2023 will be paid $14.25 per hour. Students working after Jan. 1, 2023 will be paid at $15.00 per hour. Some positions may be eligible for a higher wage. You can earn up to the total amount of your Federal Work Study award.
How will I be paid? Are my earnings taxed?
Federal Work Study earnings are subject to all federal and state income taxes. Students must fill out a Federal W-4 form and a State M-4 form prior to starting your job. You are paid once every two weeks through direct deposit or by check.
How many hours can I work?
The number of hours a student can work depends on their award and rate of pay. Sometimes additional hours are available during the summer or other vacation periods, but usually total hours don't exceed 30 per week. A student cannot earn more than the total amount of their Federal Work Study award.
Is there a limit on how much can be earned?
If you're eligible, you'll receive an award based on your need. This amount is the maximum you'll be able to earn through your work study job. Once you've earned the amount of this award, you can't earn anymore money through the job. Generally, though, your supervisor will create a work schedule that will enable you to work throughout the entire semester and earn the full award.
Can I keep the same job every semester?
Not necessarily; re-hiring doesn't happen automatically. A FWS student must have their supervisor sign a new Student Employment Authorization Form at the beginning of each new employment period (usually the beginning of the semester). All financial aid eligibility requirements continue to apply.
Additional Information
AWARD LETTER
To be employed through the Federal Work Study Program, you must be offered FWS funding on your financial aid award letter. You are required to indicate your acceptance of the award on Online Services at hcc.edu/myhcc.
FWS STUDENT EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK
Participating in the Federal Work Study Program requires that you understand and adhere to it policies and procedures. Please access and carefully read the FWS Student Employee Handbook at hcc.edu/workstudy.
EMPLOYMENT DOCUMENTS
Please read the information included in this packet thoroughly and provide initials and signatures where required. You must complete and return all of these forms to the Financial Aid Office. You will not be approved to work without submission of these forms.
USCIS Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9): Complete Section 1 and submit with proof of identification, as listed on the form, to the Financial Aid Office.
FWS Student Employee Confidentiality Agreement
FWS Student Employee Responsibilities Agreement
FWS Student Employment Authorization Form: This form will be emailed to you once you have been offered a work-study position. This authorization contains information about your award which will help a prospective supervisor determine the number of hours you will be allowed to work each week. Each supervisor has been assigned a specified department budget, therefore you may be asked to work fewer hours than your award would normally allow. This authorization must be signed by you and your hiring supervisor and emailed back to financialaid@hcc.edu before you will be approved to begin working.
JOB OPENINGS
Review the job postings to determine what jobs you are interested in pursuing. Current job openings are available online at hcc.edu/workstudyjobs.
INTERVIEW and HIRE
Schedule an individual appointment to meet with the supervisors of any jobs you are applying for. The contact information to schedule an interview, is available on each posting. After a supervisor has offered you the work-study position, you will be sent an email to your HCC student email account with the FWS Student Employee Authorization Form and additional HR/Payroll forms to be completed and returned to Financial Aid via the sercure NextCloud link provided. Once all forms have been processed, you will be sent an email confirming your approval to begin working, including your HCC employee ID number. You may not begin working until you have received this email.
