Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study Program (FWSP) is a program providing part-time employment for college students who must work to pay for their studies. Awards are need-based and are part of your financial aid package. You will be considered for work-study by completing the FAFSA. You are responsible for arranging your employment, with the assistance of our Work-Study Coordinator. The Student Financial Service Office prepares a list of available positions each semester, which can be accessed from our web site.

• Federal Work-Study Guidelines
• Temple University's Work-Study Job Bank
• Summer Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study Guidelines

• The employment of work-study students must not result in the displacement of employed workers or impair existing contracts for services.
• Federal work-study students may not be employed by churches, synagogues, or other religious organizations in activities, which specifically promote their views or ideas.
• Off-campus services to be performed by Federal work-study students must be in the public interest.
• Federal work-study positions may not be connected to any entity or organization engaged in partisan political activity, including lobbying at the Federal level.

Work-Study is a need based, self-help financial aid program designed to allow students to earn money for their educational expenses. The Federal government pays 75% of money earned and the employer contributes the remaining 25%. The only exception is the AMERICA READS PROGRAM where the federal government pays 100% and no contribution is expected from the employer.

Eligible students must:

1. Have a demonstrated financial need;
2. Be enrolled at Temple as a matriculated student on at least half-time basis;
3. Be making satisfactory academic progress;
4. Be enrolled for the coming academic year to be considered for summer term work-study, unless graduating in August.
5. Students may work for an approved, off-campus agency or government agency. A list of eligible agencies is available in the Work-Study Office.
6. Students will be paid only for hours worked. Students will not be paid for sick leave, holidays, overtime, or vacation days.
7. Students participating in the Federal Work-Study Program may work no more than 40 hours per week. However, students are encouraged to work fewer hours while attending classes. Many students typically work between 10 and 20 hours per week.
8. Federal Work-Study regulations stipulate that a portion of student’s summer earnings must be allocated to meet educational expenses during the coming academic year. The amount of the earnings (attributed earnings) allocated to the coming year determined by subtracting taxes and job related costs from the students gross summer earnings. The attributed earnings are to be included as a resource when determining the student’s academic year financial need.
9. Student earnings may not exceed the amount of Federal Work-Study on the award letter for an academic year or a summer semester. A student may earn no more than one –half of the total academic year award during the fall semester. The remaining award is earned during the spring semester.
10. Federal Work-Study awards are made for the nine month academic year and for the summer. Separate awards and separate Employment Authorizations are necessary for each period.
11. Regardless of the school or college the student attends, Federal Work-Study normally begins on the first day of class in the Fall semester and ends on the last day of class in May.
12. Summer Federal Work-Study begins (if funds are available) the day after the Spring semester ends and runs until the first day of classes for the Fall semester
13. Off-Campus employers contracted through Temple must submit contracts to the Student Financial Services Office. Employers interested in participating in Temple’s Work-Study Program must obtain and submit the following:
    • Temple University’s Guidelines to the Federal Work-Study Program;
    • Two copies of contracts between Temple University and an off-campus employer, with signed copies returned to the Student Financial Services Office;
    • An Employee Requisition to be completed and returned to Student Financial Services.
    • Prior to employing work-study students, employers must submit the following information to Temple’s Student Financial Services Office:
    • Promotional literature describing the purpose of the employing organization;
    • A photocopy of organization’s tax-exempt document number to confirm tax-exempt status.

Before seeking a position, a student must receive an award letter with a work-study award. If an employer hires a student without confirming the student’s eligibility for Federal Work-Study, the employer will be responsible for all wages the student has earned.

Work-Study jobs are available at both on-campus and off-campus locations.  Positions available on-campus are posted on the web at StudentJobs@temple.  This link is also accessible through the TUportal.  Off campus jobs are posted on this website by selecting the Work Study Job Bank link on the left of this page.   Job placement assistance is available through the Work-Study Coordinator, if necessary.

Getting Paid

• Students are paid every two weeks and are strongly encouraged to sign up for direct deposit.
• Students will be paid only when all appropriate payroll forms are completed and submitted to Human Resources by the hiring department (or with Student Financial Services in the case of off-campus employement). If all paperwork has not been completed, the employer is solely responsible for paying the student.
• Weekly time reports will be issued to your employer to be completed and returned to the Payroll Office by the specified deadline. Questions about paychecks should be referred to Temple’s Payroll Office.
• Social Security or Federal Income Taxes may be assessed against earnings depending on the amount earned. Questions on this matter should be directed to Temple’s Payroll Office.
• State and local wage taxes will be assessed depending on requirements where the students are employed.
• All on-campus jobs have been evaluated based on University Policy Statement 9-02, Uniform Wage Rates for Part-Time Employees, Work-Study and Non-Work-Study. The complete text of the Policy is available for students and employers at the Student Financial Services Office. Job levels are listed below for your information.

Tutors

• Level I: Clerical Workers; Day Care Assistants;
• Level II: Technical Assistants; Mathematics and Scientific Laboratory Assistants; Typists
• (30-40 wpm); Cashiers; Box Office Workers; Accounting Assistants; Academic
• Level III: Examination Proctors; Research Assistants; Skilled Secretary;
• Level IV: Graduate; Law; or other professional level students;
• Students employed off-campus will be paid by Temple University and the employer must pay to Temple 25% of the student’s award amount in advance.
• Off-Campus Employers must monitor student earnings to ensure that students do not earn in excess of their award. An organization may forfeit its eligibility to employ students if students are continually permitted to exceed their awards. If the student exceeds his or her award, the employer will be responsible for 100% of the overaward.

Miscellaneous Information

• Workman’s Compensation insurance covers students employed on each Temple University campus. If you are injured on the job, you should inform your supervisor immediately.
• Temple University will not bear responsibility for injuries occurring at off-campus employers. Students should inquirer about Workman’s Compensation insurance coverage prior to accepting employment.
• Changing positions is discouraged during a given enrollment period. However, the student may do so if necessary. Students should give the employer adequate notice when resigning.
• Students who are not performing to the expectations of their employers do not have special protection under Federal Work-Study. An employer may terminate students failing to meet expectations.
• Students experiencing difficulty with an employer should contact the Work-Study Coordinator in Student Financial Services.
• If a student has earned the total of their work-study award for the academic year or summer the employer may place the student on their regular payroll at their discretion.
• Students holding more than one Work-Study job should be cautious not to work hours that would cause them to exceed their Work-Study award. An employer authorizing students to work hours that would exceed their work-study award will be billed for the total excess earnings.

Summer Federal Work-Study

Summer Federal Work-Study Program awards need-based funds to full-time students currently enrolled in degree or certificate programs. You must complete a separate Temple Summer Financial Aid  application as well as the FAFSA. Both applications are available on this website using the FORMS link on the left side of this page.