Student Guide
What is Federal Work-Study?
How can I get Work-Study?
Why is Work-Study so great?
What kinds of jobs are available?
How much will I be paid?
When will I be paid?
When can I work?
How do I get a job?
Can I have more than one Work-Study job?
What are the enrollment requirements for Work-Study?
Tips for your interview.
What if I do not get a job?
How do I get my Work-Study money?
Emergency Cash Loans
Will I get Work-Study every year?
What if I want to keep working after I’ve earned my Work-Study award?
Rights and Responsibilities
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is a government-subsidized student
employment program designed to assist students in financing their post-secondary
education. Work-Study is different from other types of part-time jobs because
your employer only has to pay 30% of your wages - the remaining 70% is paid
by the Work-Study program.
To be eligible for Work-Study, you must demonstrate financial need every
year by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA). Be sure to complete the FAFSA by UT’s priority deadline of
March 31st each year, and to request Work-Study on the FAFSA. Both
undergraduate and graduate students are eligible, although graduate
students must specifically request a Work-Study award from their
financial aid counselor.
- It provides real-world job experience suited to your skills, preferences and possible career goals and offers the opportunity to develop career contacts.
- Your work schedule can be arranged around your class schedule.
- Work-Study earnings are not counted towards next year's student contribution for financial aid.
- Most Off-Campus Work-Study job locations are easily reached by UT shuttle or city bus.
- Grades and time management: Studies have consistently shown that students who work no more than 20 hours per week have better grades than students who do not work. Additional time demands appear to force students to manage their time more efficiently, thus creating a higher commitment to study time by the student.
Off-Campus (Community Service) jobs with non-profit employers may include
positions in public television, museums, childcare centers, health care
clinics, and tutoring programs. Please see Community Service Work-Study for more information.
Many on-campus Work-Study jobs are clerical, but there are also many jobs in
lab research, social science research, photography and curatorship, child care,
library services, and housing and food services. Students can find these and
other available Work-Study jobs on the Hirealonghorn Job Bank after they have
accepted their Work-Study award and submitted their E-FAN (Electronic Financial
Aid Notification).
In compliance with HB 2504 of the 81st Texas Legislature, we are providing a
list of the on-campus Work-Study jobs posted for Summer 2009, Fall 2009, and
Spring 2010. We hope you will use this comprehensive list to learn about all
the on-campus Work-Study job opportunities that are typically available to
qualified students.
»Work-Study Job Listings (XLS)
NOTE: Work-Study jobs are posted, and therefore available on the Hirealonghorn
Job Bank, during the period May 1-July 1 for Summer, May 1-October 1 for Fall,
and December 1-March 1 for Spring. Also, jobs change on a daily basis. For
these reasons, we encourage students to log in to the Hirealonghorn
Job Bank frequently to see the list of currently posted Work-Study jobs.
All Work-Study jobs pay at least minimum wage and most pay more, depending
upon experience and skills. Regardless of your hourly wage, you cannot earn
more than your semester award amount. Please note that Work-Study students
are not eligible for paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, or medical and
dental insurance through their Work-Study job.
Because Work-Study regulations require that employers pay students at least
once a month, you should receive a paycheck at least once a month. This means
you must turn your timesheet in to your employer at least once a month. IMPORTANT: Not turning your timesheet in so that you can be
paid at least once a month is automatic grounds for dismissal from the Work-Study
program!
You may earn your Work-Study awards only during these
award periods:
| SUMMER 2010: June 3 - August 16 |
| FALL 2010: September 1 - December 14 |
| SPRING 2011: January 18 - May 17 |
You may work up to 19 hours per week, but most students work 10-12 hours per
week, so that they earn their Work-Study award evenly over the semester. You
should never be scheduled to work during class time and you should never work
more than 8 hours in one day, or more than 40 hours per week during those times
within the Award Period when clases are not in session (e.g. Spring Break).
Begin your job search early so that you have a broader range of jobs to
choose from, and so that you can begin working and earning your award as
soon as the award period begins! We encourage you to begin your Work-Study
job search as early as May by:
- Searching for Work-Study (WS) jobs via the Hirealonghorn Job Bank.
- Visiting various On-Campus departments to find out if they have any Work-Study positions available.
- Attending one of the "Whistle While You Work-Study" presentations on the first day of each Summer Freshman Orientation Session.
- Attending the Annual Work-Study Job Fair held every year at the end of August.
No. You cannot work in more than one Work-Study job at the same time. If you
plan to work in a Work-Study job and a non-Work-Study job at the same time,
please be aware of the "Quantity of Work" guidelines. The Quantity of Work
guidelines were established to help students achieve balance between their
schoolwork and their job(s). Finding the right balance is the key to
maintaining satisfactory academic progress. The Quantity of Work guidelines
say that students should not commit to more than 40 hours per week for all
their jobs and classes combined. For example, if you are enrolled in 12
credit hours and your Work-Study job requires you to work 18 hours per week,
you would be advised to work no more than 10 hours in a non-Work-Study job
(12 + 18 + 10=40).
For graduate students, the Quantity of Work guidelines are as follows:
the number of credit hours a graduate student is registered for is multiplied
by three. This number is then added to the number of hours worked per week.
The final figure cannot exceed 56.
You must maintain at least half-time enrollment in regular UT coursework
at all times in order to be eligible to work in your Work-Study job. In
fall and spring, half-time enrollment is at least 6 credit hours for
undergraduate students, 5 hours for graduate students, and 7 hours for
law students. In summer, half-time enrollment is at least 6 credit hours
for undergraduate students, 3 hours for graduate students, and 3 hours for
law students. NOTE: These hours must be taken over
both summer sessions which together total 12 weeks.
Work-Study and enrollment in UT Extension courses: In
order to be eligible for a summer Work-Study award, you must be enrolled in
6 regular UT hours that are spread over both sessions in addition to your UT
Extension credit hours. In fall and spring, you must be enrolled in at least
6 regular UT hours in addition to your UT Extension hours. If you drop below
6 regular UT credit hours at any time during the year, you must stop working
in your Work-Study job immediately! In addition, if you drop a regular UT class
that results in your being enrolled in one summer session only, you must stop
working immediately.
What to take with you:
- Copy of your Work-Study Verification (WSV). After completing your on-line Work-Study Counseling session in CASH, you can find your WSV at the bottom of the "My Financial Aid" page.
- Your resume or other record of your work history and experience OR the UT Employment Application.
REMEMBER: You never get a second chance to make a
good first impression!
- Arrive early
- Dress neatly and conservatively
- Establish eye contact
- Don’t chew gum
- Turn your cell phone off
- Speak clearly and answer all questions honestly
- Smile!
When you accept a Work-Study position, you are expected to stay for
the length of the Work-Study award period (usually two semesters),
and are discouraged from changing jobs in the middle of the academic
year. If special circumstances require you to resign from your Work-Study
position, however, you must inform your employer immediately.
If you do not find a Work-Study job within the first six weeks of the fall
or spring semesters, or first four weeks of the summer session, your Federal
Work-Study award will be canceled for that semester. This may jeopardize the
awarding of any future Federal Work-Study.
You have to get a job and earn it!
Work-Study students are paid at least once a month, depending upon the
individual employer. Most students choose to have their Work-Study
paychecks deposited into their checking or savings account. You may
also pick it up in person from your employer or at the UT Payroll
Office if you work at UT. No matter which payment option you choose,
remember that your earnings will NOT be automatically applied towards
your UT debts-your paychecks are for you to use as you choose.
Please note that Work-Study regulations require that you be paid at least
once per month. This means you must turn in your
Monthly Earnings Report at least once a month. Failure to do so may result
in your immediate termination and dismissal from the Work-Study program.
If for some reason you miss a pay period, you may request an emergency cash
loan on-line
using your UTEID. These short-term emergency loans charge an interest rate of
4 percent per annum. The maximum amount that can be borrowed on-line is $300.
If you need more than $300, you should inquire in person at the Office of
Student Financial Services, SSB, 3rd floor. Loans must be repaid within 30 days.
Work-Study funding is limited. In order to be considered for Work-Study each year,
you must:
- Complete the FAFSA each year by the priority deadline of March 31st
- Show enough financial need (based on the information on your FAFSA)
- Earn your Work-Study award each year
- Maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA and remain enrolled full-time each semester.
If you earn your full Work-Study award before the end of the award
period, your employer may allow you to continue working while paying
100% of your wages from their own funds. Please be aware that income
earned under these circumstances will be counted toward next year's
student contribution for financial aid.
When you accept a Work-Study position, you become a member of a
department or agency that depends on you. It’s important for you to
report to work on time, notify your supervisor when you will be late
or absent, and dress appropriately for the work location (dress code
should be discussed during the interview). When asking for time off,
you should consider the employer's needs as well as your own. In addition,
some Work-Study positions may require access to confidential information-abuse
or misuse of such authorization is grounds for dismissal!
You must submit your Monthly Earnings Report at least once a month. Failure
to do so is grounds for dismissal. You cannot earn
more than the Work-Study award as listed on your Work-Study
Verification (WSV). It is your responsibility to monitor earnings to be sure
they do not exceed the award amount using the Work-Study Balance Sheet.
If a problem develops on the job, you should first discuss the issue with
your supervisor. If the problem cannot be resolved, you should contact the
Work-Study Office in the Office of Student Financial Services. Quitting a
Work-Study job should be a decision of last resort. There is no guarantee
that the Work-Study award can be replaced with another type of aid or that
you can secure another Work-Study position. Acceptance of
a position through Work-Study implies a commitment to the employer for at
least one semester.