Federal Work Study
(More information than you actually need to know about FWS!)

Students wanting to know how to obtain Federal Work Study, or increase their award, need to contact the Financial Aid Office. We only verify whether or not you have an award!

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a "need based" form of financial aid that may be awarded to students who are U.S. citizens as part of their aid package.

Federal Work-Study (FWS) was, until recently, called College Work-Study (CWS) and was created by the Higher Education Act of 1964. According to a spokesman for the National Association of Student Employment Administrators, FWS "reinforces the American work ethic, contributes to a student’s educational program, provides valuable job skills, influences future career decisions, improves student retention, has no default problem and reduces student indebtedness while providing valuable financial assistance." Research indicates that there is a positive relationship between employment, including FWS programs, and college retention rates. It's good news that Congress authorizes about $800 million for FWS each year, this money is shared by 3,800 institutions who award it to 690,000 students. It's bad news that federal funding has not kept pace with college costs, FWS has lost as much as 34% of its spending power during the last ten years.
FWS can be utilized only by students who are eligible for on-campus employment, paid via student payroll. FWS at UR may not be utilized off campus. FWS creates an opportunity for students to work because it costs departments less to hire FWS students since their earnings are federally subsidized (currently at 50%) during the academic year. UR does not award FWS during summer, nor does unused FWS carry over to summer.

How does it work?
Here are some examples:
For a student that is paid $10.00 an hour, the net cost to the department is $2.50 which is 25% of $10.00, Federal Work Study (FWS) subsidizes the other 75%, or $7.50.

How do I get FWS?
FWS is awarded to you as part of your financial aid package. Award amounts vary depending on your financial need. The only way to receive your FWS award is to work to earn it.

Do I have an advantage when job hunting?
Since your wage is subsidized, FWS creates an opportunity for you to find a job on campus by making it less expensive for employers to hire you.

Can I still find a job on campus without FWS?
Yes, less than half of the student jobs on campus require FWS.

Am I guaranteed a job?
Generally speaking, students who are serious about finding a job will find one. Our program encourages an open employment market for two reasons: 1.) students can apply for the type of opportunity which is of greatest interest to them rather than being placed in a job; 2.) our philosophy is to enable students to articulate their skills in the world of work here on campus so that when they get to their senior year, they are better prepared to succeed in the "real" job market. All openings are posted on the web so that you have a sense of the range of opportunities available to you. Write down information about jobs that look interesting and contact the department directly to arrange an interview.

What if I can’t find a job?
Check the job board as early after your arrival in the fall and as often as possible. The job board is updated daily. It's good to aim high, but be realistic too. Your first job probably won't be doing high level research. For example, if you are a freshman biology major you may land a job as an office assistant or glassware washer in the Biology department. As you gain experience, there will be many opportunities for advancement. Perhaps by the time you are a sophomore or junior you may be involved in more advanced lab work or assisting in research activities.Are my earnings paid directly to me or do they go to cover my tuition expenses?
Federal regulations require that FWS earnings be paid directly to the student. At UR this happens on a biweekly basis. A student may spend his/her earnings as they chose to cover living expenses, or tuition. Each student's situation is unique.

How will I know when my FWS is used up?
It is the joint responsibility of the student and the employer to monitor the FWS balance. Both you and your employer will receive a warning notice when approximately 75% of your FWS is used up. The purpose of the notice is to remind the employer that they will soon pay 100% of the cost of employing the student. In most cases this does not affect the student’s work status. However, in rare instances where budgets are very tight, an employer may not be able to continue to employ a student once FWS is used up. If this is the case, the employer should make this clear at the time of initial employment.

Can I get more FWS when it runs out?
The availability of additional funds varies from year to year depending on demand and individual student need. Once you know that your FWS is running out, your financial aid counselor can tell you if you can receive additional FWS.

What happens if I don’t use any or all of my FWS award?
If you don’t use your full award; lets say you're awarded $1,000 and you use $570; the money goes back to a general FWS pool where it may be reallocated to someone else. Students who don’t use any of their award by the end of the first semester may receive a notice from the Financial Aid office indicating that the FWS portion of their award may be removed unless they start working. Unused FWS does not carry over to summer or to the next year. Not fully utilizing an FWS award may affect the size of next year's award. Each student's situation will be different depending on financial need.

Will FWS appear as a credit on my tuition bill?
No. For example: If you owe UR $20,000 and have a $2,000 grant and a $3,000 loan and a $1,000 FWS award as part of your aid package, the amount due on your term bill will be $15,000. The only way to actually receive the $1,000 FWS award is to work to earn it.

Are my FWS earnings taxable?
Yes. Generally speaking, FWS earnings will be subject to the same federal and state taxes as non-FWS earnings.