In order to be employed through the Federal Work-Study Program, you must have:
- A Financial Aid Award for the current academic year reflecting Federal Work-Study eligibility.
- An I-9 Form and W-4 Federal/State Withholding Form completed by the student and the Student Payroll Clerk. These forms must be submitted to the Student Payroll Office within three days of the date of hire or the student cannot continue to work.
- Two original forms of identification must be presented to establish identity and employment eligibility. The most commonly used documents are: Passport OR Driver’s License or other government issued photo ID AND Social Security Card OR Birth Certificate
General Overview
The Federal Work-Study Program was established by Congress as part of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Its purpose is to promote part-time employment for students with financial need and to provide work experience related to a student’s interests. Work-Study is a federally-subsidized program where costs are shared by the federal government and the individual employer. The current wage cost ratio for Off-Campus Employers is 0-70%. In other words, the Off-Campus employer pays 0-70% of each student's wage, and the Federal Government pays the remainder.
The Program must adhere to congressional legislation which is regulated by the U.S. Department of Education. Federal regulations mandate that student employees must not displace or replace existing employees (including those on strike). The Federal Work-Study program is directed by the Financial Aid Office at Willamette. At the Financial Aid Office, the university will make all efforts possible to promote job openings, but unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that all students will be hired.
Students and employers should remember that each has responsibilities toward the employment relationship. Federal Work-Study students are instructed that their job is second only to academics. They are also expected to practice common employment courtesy, such as calling well in advance if they are unable to work at a scheduled time. Employers should also be sensitive to the special needs of college students, who occasionally may request a day off to study for exams. If both parties consider the concerns of the other and do not abuse the relationship, a work-study job can be a rewarding experience for all involved.