Work-Study
What is Work-Study?
Work-study is an employment program that
provides paid jobs for students who need to work to earn a portion
of their education expenses. Work-study funds come from the state
and federal government depending on which award you receive.
Priority work-study funds are allocated first to students that earned work -study in the prior academic year.
Summer work-study is awarded in mid April. A WKSUM form must be turned in to the Office of Financial Aid to be eligible.
What Criteria
must be met to receive Work-Study?
Need-Based Federal and Colorado
Work-Study
Federal Work-Study (FWS) and Colorado
Work-Study (CWS) funds are different from grants or loans. Students
earn Work-Study funds by working at an approved Work-Study job.
Work-Study funds come from the state and federal government
depending on which award you receive. The amount of the award is
typically $5,000 for the academic year, or $2,500 per semester,
and is based on each student’s eligibility. Since this money
must be earned through employment, it will be disbursed to each
student bi-weekly (every other week), depending upon the number
of hours worked and the pay rate.
Federal Need Based Work-Study Criteria:
- You must have completed a FAFSA for the academic year;
- Your financial aid file must be complete for the academic year;
- You must remain enrolled in at least 6 credits;
- You cannot be on financial aid suspension;
- You must have an unmet need of at least $3,000 for the academic year;
- You must turn in a work-study form confirming your employment;
Colorado Need-Based Work-Study:
- You must have completed a FAFSA for the academic year;
- Your financial aid file must be complete for the academic year;
- You must remain enrolled in at least 6 credits;
- You cannot be on financial aid suspension;
- You must have an unmet need of at least $3,000 for the academic year;
- You must turn in a work-study form confirming your employment;
- You must be a Colorado resident;
- You cannot have a previous bachelor’s degree; Colorado Need-Based Work-Study cannot be used for off campus employment
Colorado No-Need Work-Study:
- You do not have to fill out a FAFSA.
- If you do complete a FAFSA, your financial aid file must be complete for the academic year;
- You must remain enrolled in at least 6 credits;
- You cannot be on financial aid suspension
- You must not have any need-based aid;
- You must turn in a work-study form confirming your employment
- You must be a Colorado resident;
- You cannot have a previous bachelor’s
degree;
Colorado No-Need-Work-Study cannot be used for off campus employment. PLEASE NOTE: If you are awarded work-study, you may not begin your employment until the work-study form confirming your employment is turned into the OFA and all paperwork is submitted and approved in the Human Resources Office.
Things You Should Know About Work-Study
- Jobs are posted under Employment on our website at www.mscd.edu.
- As a new Work-Study student, you will be
required to provide your supervisor with proof that you are eligible
to work in the United States. Please have a photo ID and a Social
Security card, birth certificate or U.S. passport when you fill
out your new-hire paperwork. If you are a non-citizen, you must
have a Social Security card, an I-20 and your student visa to
fill out the paperwork. The Office of Human Resources is located
on the 5th floor of the Administration
Building, which is located between 5th and 7th Streets at Lawrence Way. - If you have not begun a job by the third week of the academic term, your Work-Study award will be canceled.
- You cannot earn Work-Study if you are on financial aid suspension.
- You cannot earn Work-Study if you drop below six credit hours.
- Monitor your earnings. This is your responsibility. If you earn more than your award each semester, the department you work for will be billed for the overpayment.
- If you are not awarded Work-Study and wish to be considered for this award, you should contact the Office of Financial Aid.
How Much
Can I Earn?
The average award for an academic year
is $5,000 (this may vary depending on funding). This is based on
your available unmet need. The hourly pay ranges from $5.15 to $10.00
per hour
How Do I Find a Work-Study Job?
Click
for Metro State Work Study Job Listings
Cancellation
or Reduction of Work-Study
Work-Study funds will be canceled
if the following occurs:
- A student does not earn work-study money after three payrolls for the semester;
- A student drops below 6 credit hours (Any hours earned during the payroll will be charged to the department)
- A student’s satisfactory academic progress appeal is denied.
Work-Study funds will be reduced if the following occurs:
- A student receives a scholarship
or outside sponsorship award.
(If a reduction occurs during a payroll and the student over earns, the department will be charged the additional earnings).
Work-Study Supervisors
Please see the Human
Resources Website for policies and procedures regarding work-study
employment.