University of South Florida

Why did the USF Financial Aid Office give me a Federal Work Study (FWS) award?
When you filled out the FAFSA, you said you were interested. FWS awards are based on “financial need” and you met the requirements.

What is “work-study”?
USF has a pool of money that comes from a federal grant (Department of Education), and USF contributes matching funds that are used to create jobs and pay wages to students who receive Federal Work Study (FWS) awards and want to work part-time while going to college.

If I choose to take advantage of my work-study award and get a job, does that mean it's a job where I can also study while I’m at work?
No. Think of it as any other job, except that your pay comes from the federal work-study grant.  And like any job, your employer will expect you to successfully perform the duties of the position.  Since your supervisor will be a member of the USF staff and faculty, they will understand the importance of your academic goals, and will provide some flexibility with your work schedule.

OK, but I still don’t know how the money part works.  When I work in an FWS job, do I get paid or does the university keep my pay and apply a credit toward my tuition, books, or housing?
You get paid, and your earnings are yours to do with as you please.  This is the primary purpose of this program – to provide you a part-time job where you can earn money to help defray your educational expenses.

If I want to do work-study and take advantage of my FWS award, how do I find a job?
Most of the FWS jobs are on-campus, working for various departments in Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and other offices at USF  that have been granted authorization to hire students with FWS awards.  There are also a limited number of positions where you can work with community service programs off-campus. These departments post their vacancy listings on Career Connections (the Career Center's on-line job listing service), which you can access via Internet.

How do I access the Career Center's online job listings through Career Connections to find a job?
Click here for information on Career Connections and how to use this service.

What if I need help creating a resume?
There are several ways to craft a resume. Click here for resume help.

How much do work-study jobs pay?
After reviewing the job description and nature of the work, and taking into consideration the skill level of the student, hiring departments are authorized to establish the FWS hourly wage. The following job categories and pay range give an example of pay ranges:

• Non-technical: $6.67 - $8 per hour. Courier, physical labor/moving/setup, athletic assistant, general office, library assistant.
• Community Service: $6.67 - $10* per hour. America Reads program, various nonprofit community organizations.
• Technical: $6.67 - $12* per hour. Computer programming/data base systems, lab assistant and research assistant.
  *few students are paid at the higher range of the Community Service and Technical categories, unless there is sufficient justification based on the job requirements and the student's skill level and experience.

Can I begin my job right away?
You negotiate this with your supervisor in your hiring department.  The vast majority of students who elect to do “work-study” start their jobs during the first three or four weeks of classes and work until finals week of spring semester.

What happens when I’ve earned or been paid a total amount that matches my FWS award?  Say my FWS award for Fall / Spring is $4000, and with three weeks left in the Spring semester, my earnings already total $4000?
Since your pay is being funded from the FWS grant, the hiring department will terminate your appointment when you’ve earned the amount of your FWS award. Sometimes a department may continue your employment, paying you from their budget (versus from the FWS grant).  You may also make an appointment with the Office of Financial Aid to request an award increase in order to continue your employment through the end of the semester or school year.  These requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

What if I choose not to take advantage of my FWS award, because I’ve lined up another job off-campus that I like and it pays more?
That’s your choice.  About 60% of those who receive FWS awards take advantage of them.  Keep in mind, however, that another benefit of work-study is that when you report your earnings as part of next year’s FAFSA, the FWS earnings do not count against you in the computations used to determine the amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive.

Can I be “fired” from my FWS job? 
Yes. Like any other job, if your supervisor feels you are not performing up to expectations, he or she has the right to terminate your appointment.  This does not happen very often.  The vast majority of students really enjoy their FWS jobs and the opportunity to work with members of the staff and faculty.  In fact, most of the employers take an active interest in helping to mentor their FWS employees.

Are there any other FWS “rules” I need to be aware of?

• Work-study appointments may not exceed 20 hours per week when classes are in session, with most students scheduling about 12-15 hours per week. You can work up to 40 hrs. a week during USF recognized breaks.
• Undergraduate students must be enrolled for at least 6 semester hours, so if you drop some classes and fall below this level, your FWS appointment will be terminated.
• If you plan on attending summer school sessions, there will be an opportunity to apply for a Summer FWS award. Any of your unused FWS award money from Fall/Spring cannot be carried over to your summer term.
• And, just so you know… in the very rare situations where supervisors feel students have intentionally violated USF rules and policy, they will refer the matter to the appropriate agencies (Student Relations, Student Judicial Services, USF Human Resources Office, The Equal Opportunities Office, or the University Police) for investigation and disciplinary action as appropriate.

And if I have more questions, or need help…?
See your Financial Aid counselor for any questions related to your eligibility for an FWS award, or any adjustments to your award.  For a more detailed explanation of the work-study program at USF, attend one of the FWS workshops offered by the Career Center.  If you have any more questions, call (813) 974-2171 and ask to schedule an appointment with our FWS career counselor. See the supervisor in your hiring department if you have questions concerning hours worked, pay, time off, job performance, etc.