Student Aid Reference Desk | Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)

Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)

The FWS Program provides part-time employment opportunities for students who show need under the federal need analysis system. Earnings (net of job-related costs) must be used to meet educational expenses. The program also encourages community service.

Related topics in this Index: Packaging; Overawards and Overpayments; Student Eligibility; Program Participation Agreement

Statutory Authority

U.S. Code, Title 42—The Public Health and Welfare Chapter 34—Economic Opportunity Program Subchapter I—Research and Demonstrations > Part C—Federal Work-Study Programs §§ 1087–51-1087–58, 1096 [HEA §§ 441 – 448]

Regulation

34 CFR Part 673

34 CFR Part 675

ED References

See also Subtopics for more specific references.

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6

Publications, Articles & Other Resources

A Chance for Success: Understanding How Latinx Students Make Meaning of Federal Work-Study Employment

Campus-Based Financial Aid Programs: Trends and Alternative Allocation Strategies

Campus-Based Programs Self-Study Guide

Do Community College Students Benefit from Federal Work Study Participation?

Does the Federal Work-Study Program Really Work—and for Whom?

Does Working Help or Hurt College Students? The Effects of Federal Work-Study Participation on Student Outcomes. A CAPSEE Working Paper

Expanding Federal Work-Study Opportunities for California Community College Students

Federal Work-Study (FWS) AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&As

Federal Work-Study: Past Its Prime, or Ripe for Renewal? Evidence Speaks Reports, Vol 2, #16

Federal Work-Study Program Equity: A Public University System Survey and Aggregate Data Analysis

Tuition Discounting Practices: A Multiple Case Study of New York State Private Institutions

Rethinking Federal Work-Study - Incremental Reform Is Not Enough

The Causal Effect of Federal Work-Study Participation: Quasi-Experimental Evidence From West Virginia

Subtopics

Academic credit for work performed

Administrative cost allowance

See top list entriy for Cash Management.

Allocation and reallocation

Applying earnings to cost of attendance

Attribution of employment during vacation or other period of nonattendance

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Job-related cost offset

Apprenticeships

Carry back or carry forward of campus-based allocations

See also top list entry for Cash Management

Community service

Definition and identifying jobs

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Disclosure of community service opportunities

Expenditure requirement for community services (including family literacy projects, reading tutoring projects, and civic education and participation activities)

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Tutoring

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Waiver

Federal Register, 12/11/20

Electronic Announcement, 4/23/20

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Comprehensive student work-learning-service program (definition)

Eligible employers

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Employment requirements and permissible considerations

General employment conditions and limitations

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Complement and reinforce recipient’s educational program or career goals

Institutional employment

Work for public or private nonprofit institution itself, including contractors such as food service

Work for proprietary institution itself

675.2(b), Student services

Federal, State, or local public agency, or private nonprofit organization: Work in the public interest

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Private for-profit organization

Conditions of employment

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Limitation on use of allocation

Prohibition against fees, commissions, contributions, or gifts as condition of employment

Supportive services to students with disabilities

Federal share limitations and institutional share (matching requirements)

General information

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 1

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

General rules on nature and source of institutional share

Conditions under which higher federal share may be used

Employment by other than for-profit organizations

Excess payments from off-campus employer

Excluded (ineligible) employer costs from federal share

Overpayment tolerance (payment in excess of need)

Payment of fringe benefits

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Private for-profit organization

Source of institutional share (cash and non-cash)

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Waiver of institutional share (100% federal share)

Federal Register, 1/13/20

Annual Designation of Title III and Title V Schools and Waiver Process

Electronic Announcement, 12/17/19

Designation as a Title III or Title V Institution and Waiver of the Non-Federal Share Requirement for FWS and FSEOG for the 2020–21 Award Year

Waiver of institutional share (match) due to national emergency

P.L. 116-136 (H.R. 748, CARES Act)

Electronic Announcement, 8/21/20

Electronic Announcement, 5/15/20

UPDATED Guidance for interruptions of study related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 1

Fiscal agent restrictions

Fiscal records

See top list entry for Recordkeeping

Graduate or professional student

675.2(b) - Graduate or professional student (definition)

Job descriptions

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Job Location and Development Program

General information

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Allowable costs

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Allowable portion of FWS allocation

Conditions of participation

Federal share limitation

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Multi-institution programs

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Need-based and non-need-based placement

Reporting

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Need-based employment

675.2(b) - Need-based employment (definition)

Nonprofit organization

675.2(b) - Nonprofit organization (definition)

Off-campus agreement (between institution and off-campus employers)

General rules

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Institution responsible for ensuring proper supervision

675.20(b)(3)(ii)

Institution responsible for ensuring proper documentation of payment for work

675.20(b)(3)(i)

Model agreement

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Overawards and overpayments

See top list entry for Overawards and Overpayments

Payment of wages

See also top list entries for Cash Management and Disbursement

Compensation earned upon performance of work

Disaster-related missed hours

Electronic Announcement, 4/3/20

Electronic Announcement, 3/5/20

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Disposition of funds not received or negotiated by student

Institutional responsibility for ensuring payment regardless of who is paymaster

Timing

Frequency

Institutional share, cash

Institutional share, noncash contributions

Payment for travel or training related to employment

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Power of attorney

See top list entry for Disbursement, subtopic Power of attorney

Selection of recipients

See top list entry for Packaging

Student eligibility

See top list entry for Student Eligibility

Student services

Timesheets and vouchers

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Transfer of funds

See top list entry for Cash Management, subtopic Transferring allocations among the campus-based programs

Undergraduate student

675.2(b) - Undergraduate student (definition)

Use of funds

See also top list entry for Cash Management

Wage rate

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Work-college

Conditions of participation

Definition of work-college and comprehensive student work-learning-service program

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2

Funding

Institutional matching requirement

Multi-institutional work-colleges arrangements

Unallowable costs

Use of funds (allowable costs)

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 6, Ch. 2