What is Federal Work-Study?

· Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a need-based employment program. It is designed to help both undergraduate and graduate students meet educational expenses by working. SMU and participating off-campus agencies pay only a portion of your FWS wages, with the remaining portion paid from federal funds.

Is it mandatory to use my Federal Work-Study award?

· No, the Federal Work Study program is voluntary. It is up to your discretion to participate in the program or not. If you already work off campus in an unrelated job, you may be asked to provide proof of your earnings at the end of the year.

How do I find a Federal Work-Study job?

· To find available federal work-study jobs, please go to MustangTRAK and login. For your job search criteria, under position type select either “Work Study on campus” or “Work Study off campus.” Shift + click to select both. 

· Once you find a job that interests you, follow the Application Instructions included in the Job Posting.

When can I work?

· The Federal Work-Study program runs from August 14, 2010 to May 20, 2011. As long as you maintain a minimum of part-time enrollment, eligibility for Federal Financial Aid and have been awarded Federal Work Study for both semesters, you are welcome to work during those times.

· Students who graduate Fall semester will automatically be terminated from their job upon graduation.

Federal Work Study Program Dates for 2011-2012
Fall/Spring – August 13, 2011 – May 4, 2012
Fall only – August 13, 2011 – December 16, 2011
Spring only – January 14, 2012 – May 4, 2012

**Work Study eligible students can work during school breaks (long weekends, Spring Break, Winter Break) as long as they are enrolled and eligible during that time.  If you have eligibility questions please email stu_employ@smu.edu or mdawson@smu.edu for verification.  SMU does NOT provide Federal Work Study funding during the summer terms.

How do I receive my Federal Work-Study award?

· Your work-study award is paid out as earnings, and is never directly paid to your student account. You will receive a paycheck from SMU payroll biweekly. The Federal Work Study amount you see on your financial aid package represents the maximum amount that you can earn during the FWS program dates.

SMU does not guarantee that you will earn the full amount of your award, and there is no penalty for earning less.

What kind of off campus job opportunities do you offer through the Federal Work-Study program?

· Off Campus Community Service and Tutoring Program
At this link you will be able to find more information about job opportunities off campus through FWS.

What happens when my Federal Work-Study award is exhausted?

· If you earn the maximum amount of your FWS award before the end of the FWS program, your employer may choose to rehire you as a Regular Student Worker, or may terminate your position.   It is the student and supervisor’s responsibility to budget and schedule accordingly so that the FWS award will carry through the year.

What if I already have a job on-campus when I receive notification of my award?

· All student jobs on-campus can be changed to Work-Study jobs. Notify your employer of your Work-Study award and they will do the necessary paperwork to change the job to Work-Study. If they are not sure how to do this they can contact the Student Employment office for instructions.

Can Federal Work-Study employees be terminated?

· Most FWS students work both the fall and spring semesters in the same job. However, it is possible for you to quit or be terminated by your employer. In either situation, you run the risk of losing your FWS award if no other FWS jobs prove satisfactory to you. You can be terminated for a number of reasons: excessive tardiness, absenteeism, and poor work performance are some of them. If your supervisor is dissatisfied with your work performance, he or she should discuss it with you and give you a period of time to resolve the problems. If you are unable to resolve the problems, you may be terminated. If you take a job that becomes unsatisfactory to you, you should first discuss the situation with your supervisor to see if it can be resolved. If it cannot, you should notify your supervisor of your decision to resign and give notice before leaving. This will enable them to hire someone else for your position.

What happens once I have a job?

· All SMU Student employees should fill out the required paperwork from SMU Human Resources (click here). 

o   If you are working on-campus, your supervisor will submit your Payroll Authorization Form and other documentation for you. 

o If you are working off-campus in FWS, you must request a Payroll Authorization Form from the Student Employment office before you begin your position.  Please email mdawson@smu.edu or Stu_Employ@smu.edu for information on the paperwork required for an off-campus position.  All hiring paperwork should be submitted to the Student Employment Office in Blanton 119.