Work studies: Earning income and experience simultaneously
Embre Todd, Contributing Writer
About 90% of college students and 70% of their parents are concerned about having sufficient funds to pay for college, according to CNBC’s Jessica Dickler. Many students will begin working to pay for their education while they are still attending college.
Some will find jobs off campus, but other students will work in their school’s work-study programs. For many college students, the Federal Work-Study program (FWS) is a useful and applicable way to earn income and experience in their field of study.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, “The FWS Program provides funds for part-time employment to help needy students finance the costs of postsecondary education.”
Within this program, college students are encouraged to serve in their community, as well as in work related to their prospective careers. Studentaid.gov says, “The FWS Program emphasizes employment in civic education and work related to your course of study whenever possible.” It provides students with employment as they juggle their studies and the related homework.
At North Greenville University, one of the main areas for work-study is the Campus Ministries and Student Engagement Department (CMSE). Within this department are various offices, including Joshua Gilmore’s office for community connection and ministry. Six work studies are employed under Gilmore, and their work gives a brief glimpse into the various jobs and aspects of the FWS program.
Gilmore calls his work studies “The Mobilizers” because of their assistance in student mobilization and community connection. “Our purpose is MESS: to mobilize every single student,” he says.
His work studies assist in the data and administrative aspects of the department. They organize and coordinate meetings with churches and camps. They recruit and make connections with potential job and career opportunities for NGU students.
Each work-study is trained and experienced in mobilizing students in what they call “MOBI Sessions.” Gilmore says, “In these sessions, we explore what God is calling you to do, what your interests are, and then aggregate them – we pull everything toward them.”
Additionally, the work studies facilitate relationships with guest ministries and help bring them to the university. They coordinate with church worship teams, who lead worship for Monday chapel events.
They also collaborate with local Christian ministries, who often visit chapel on Wednesdays. “That’s the job of this office and these work studies,” says Gilmore. “Otherwise, there is no connection, no one to send students to or help them connect.”
Work-study jobs vary by school and department, but the same main requirements apply to all programs. According to benefits.gov, students must be pursuing a postsecondary educational degree to qualify for this program.” NGU requires that its work studies be full-time students who are reaching satisfactory academic progress. The university does not consider online students to be eligible for its program.
Unlike a typical part-time job, students participating in the FWS program have a limited number of hours they can work per week. An employer or institution’s financial office assigns work hours to students depending on their class schedules and academic progress.
Hourly limits vary depending on colleges and institutions, as well as the department in which a student works. According to ngu.edu, the university’s work studies work an average of five to 10 hours per week, though Gilmore’s work studies are only authorized to work seven.
Although most work-study positions employ students to work in their college’s offices, this is not the only option. The U.S. Department of Education says students may be employed by: the institution itself; a federal, state, or local public agency; a private nonprofit organization; or a private for-profit organization.
Colleges and institutions are required to use 7% of their allocated Work Study funding to support students in community service jobs, including reading, mathematics, and literacy tutors as well as those in emergency preparedness and response programs.
Work studies receive minimum wage salaries and are paid at least once a month. Undergraduate students are paid by the hour, but this is not always the case for graduates. All work studies are paid directly by the school they attend.
These positions are available to part-time and full-time college students alike. However, studentaid.gov states that work-study positions are selective, and these jobs are awarded only to students who are considered to have financial need.
To apply for governmental funding, institutions participating in the FWS program must annually submit a Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAO) to the U.S. Department of Education. In order to be a work-study, students must have filled out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
After an institution has applied for government funding, the Department of Education calculates and allocates a certain amount of money for the institution. The funding amount is calculated based on the institution’s previous funding level and the financial needs of their eligible students. Colleges will often pay up to 50% of a work study’s wages
