The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for undergraduate or graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to each student’s course of study.
On the Federal Work-Study Program you’ll earn at least the current federal minimum wage, but the amount might be higher depending on the type of work you do and the skills required. Your total Federal Work-Study award depends on when you apply your level of need and the funding level at Georgia State University.
If you work on campus, you’ll usually work for your school. If you work off campus, your employer will usually be a private nonprofit organization or a public agency, and the work performed must be in the public interest. These jobs must be relevant to your course of study (to the maximum extent possible).
The awarded student initiates placement procedures. Students must use Handshake (the student online job board). Handshake assists students with many career opportunities, including on-campus and off-campus employment opportunities. The student will contact prospective employers for interviews. Participating supervisors are required to provide job descriptions to the Federal Work-Study awardees before the student is hired. Supervisors will be notified of the procedure for submitting job descriptions. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for an interview with the prospective supervisors.
What is Handshake ?
Handshake is Georgia State University’s central 24/7 online job and internship board for students. Handshake is designed to help the career services office and employers communicate with students about managing their career and job search. Handshake’s primary purpose is to inform students about career programs, on-campus recruiting and most importantly, employment opportunities!
How do I sign up for Handshake?
No signup registration is required to access Handshake.
What is my User ID and Password for Handshake?
Your username and password is your official Georgia State University campus ID and password. If you do not know your campus ID and password, follow these steps to find your campus ID or to reset your password.
If you should have problems accessing Handshake, please contact University Career Services for assistance with your password (or GoSolar login). Get started with Handshake.
If sufficient funds are available, students will be allowed to apply for Summer Employment awards. Awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited. Priority is given to those who apply by the deadline date. The Summer Employment Program is usually very small compared to the fall/spring program.
The hourly pay rates allowable are established by the University. Currently, the rates are as follows:
Level II Skilled Support Functions $9.50-$10.50
Level III Advanced Support Functions $11.00
Level IV Community Service $10.00-$12.00
All FWS students will be employed within the range of each classification according to their respective job descriptions and aptitudes. Variations in hourly rates among departmental FWS employees should reflect only differences in aptitude, skill, level or responsibility and/or performance.
The employing department may increase hourly wages for returning students up to 50 cents per hour per academic year. The increase must be submitted on the Fall Human Resources Personnel Action Form. Hourly increases are not to exceed the maximum pay rate for the corresponding level.
Students receive an official financial aid award notification from the Office of Financial Aid. The award notification will state the financial aid that the student is eligible for at that time. If a student is eligible for Federal Work-Study, the authorized award will be listed in the award notification. The award amount is usually listed for the fall and spring terms as such:
**Please note that this award example is not a standard amount. Federal Work-Study can vary in dollar values. Due to limited funds availability, students must accept their Federal Work-Study award within thirty-days after the offer date, if the student does not accept the award within the thirty-day timeframe it will be cancelled. The student must accept their Federal Work-Study award. In accepting financial aid awards, a student agrees to provide any additional documentation requested by an authorized university official to verify information given on the student’s original financial aid application. The University reserves the right to reduce or cancel an award in cases where there is conflicting or missing information.
In addition, if the student is awarded financial aid which in total exceeds his/her federally determined eligibility, a Federal Work-Study award can be reduced or cancelled. In this case, the Financial Aid Office will attempt to notify the supervisor; however, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that his/her supervisor knows about the change. Since the financial aid process is ongoing, supervisors should have alternative sources to pay the student in case the student’s award is reduced or cancelled. Earnings should be monitored based upon gross earnings. For example, a student who has a $1500 award may earn up to $1500 gross earnings.
A work hour is a clock hour of 60 minutes, not a class hour of 50 minutes. Georgia State University Student Employment is a part-time employment program with students working an average of 10 hours per week. As an institutional policy, students may work no more than an average of 20 hours per week during the academic year.
Payment through Federal Work-Study is made strictly by the hour. Students who are absent due to illness, holidays, or other reasons, are NOT paid or given credit for the time missed. Students are NOT paid for time taken for meals.
Supervisors’ deadlines for submitting monthly forms required for payroll purposes vary for each month and especially around the end of terms. As a general rule, most forms are due within the first 7-10 days of the month. If a student is hired after the middle of the month, his/her paperwork will be processed for the following month as will all late-arriving paperwork.
Employing departments have the primary responsibility for monitoring FWS students’ earnings. Students will benefit from being included in this process; however, departments, not students, will be held accountable for funding excess earnings that result from negligent monitoring practices. Students must be paid for all time worked.