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Federal Work-Study. NCASFAA 2008 Fall Conference Winston-Salem Presented by Emily Bliss and Kathy Fritz. Purpose of Session. Provide background on the FWS program Provide regulatory information Share FWS experiences from UNCW
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Federal Work-Study NCASFAA 2008 Fall Conference Winston-Salem Presented by Emily Bliss and Kathy Fritz
Purpose of Session • Provide background on the FWS program • Provide regulatory information • Share FWS experiences from UNCW • Encourage discussions and questions in ways to improve FWS programs at our school and yours
How it Begins • Funding from the Federal Government based on successful completion of FISAP • 25% match from State, Institution or Outside entity • Work with departments and agencies to provide a worthwhile experience for both students and worksite
Program Participation Requirements for FWS • FWS must be reasonably available to all eligible students based on funding • Award FWS that will complement and reinforce each recipient’s educational or career goals • FWS may be used to support programs for supportive services to students with disabilities • Inform all eligible students of community service opportunities
Student Eligibility • Must meet all Title IV eligibility requirements • SAP • Need • Can be undergraduate or graduate • Teacher Certification students may receive FWS • Student may be less than full time—actually schools are required to offer a portion to LTFT
Determining Who to Award • Must have need • Did student request FWS on the FAFSA • Start a waitlist if you over award the total fund based on anticipated no shows
Student is Awarded—Now what do you do? • How long should you allow for an acceptance? • How long should you allow for students to find a job? • How do you advertise for jobs? • Are other offices on your campus involved in the process? • Career Services • HR
Types of jobs • When possible, jobs should be in academic departments that pertain to student’s course of study. • Cannot replace a full time position • Must have a job description • Remember to include privacy statement • Pay must be reasonable in relation to work • Students must be paid at least the minimum wage
Time to Pay • Students must get paid at least once a month • Pay can be either electronically to bank account or by check • Who checks time sheets to make sure students have not worked over their allocation • Someone needs to make sure departments are paying out of the correct fund • No office can both authorize FWS payments and disburse FWS funds to students
Community Service • Visit organizations and schools to see if they are interested in hiring students. Ex. Schools, conservation organizations, community action groups • Draw up a contract for community service organizations and school to sign • Work out a training schedule • Be prepared to have students complete a background check • Background checks are not mandated by the Federal Government but may be by the organization
Community Service • Schools are required to spend at least 7% of their allocation on community service jobs • At least one student receiving FWS must work in a family literacy project providing service to preschool or elementary children or • As a reading tutor to preschool or elementary students
Community Service • You may have to pay a higher salary to cover travel costs • America Reads and America Counts do not require a 25% match • The school can pay the 25% match for community service organizations • UNCW bills the organization • You must have at least one student in a literacy program
Federal Match • If students are employed at a private for-profit agency, then 50% of wages must be paid by that agency. • Waivers for matches are available for special circumstances. Contact the Department of Ed.
Contacting Schools • It is a good idea to visit schools where students are working in the AC/AR program at least once each semester • Introduce yourself to the staff. • Ask if they have concerns or questions
2009-2010 • You can now transfer funds from FSEOG to FWS and you can transfer funds from FWS to Perkins • Found in the new HEOA of 2008 • Schools have always been able to move 25% of funds to FSEOG
Overawards • Keep close track • Call departments in which the student is working regarding eligibility limits. Departments must pay 100% of wages forward • $300 over award tolerance can be left in the package • Be sure to count hours worked but not yet recorded for the month in which the student is working
Summer Work Study • It can be a good source of labor to help with answering telephone during the busy summer months • Can be awarded to students not enrolled in summer school, if they are planning on returning or entering school for the first time in the fall • Must come out of fall aid package, however you can add funds to their fall budget to cover expenses over the summer
FISAP • Keep good records in order to complete the FISAP • AR/AC must be tracked separately • Community Service must be tracked separately • You can count the State’s or your Institutional funds match toward the 25% match
FISAP • If you have a JLD program or are thinking of beginning one, look at the FISAP first. • You must record total expenditures • Institutional expenditures • Number of students for whom jobs were located or developed • Total earnings of students mentioned above
FISAP • It is not essential to spend exact FWS allocation in one year • 10% of the federal allocation can be moved either forward or back or you can do both if you have not spent enough • An additional 10% can be moved to cover summer salaries as long as the student is employed after May 1
Administrative Cost Allowance • 5% of expenditures • Used to help offset administrative costs • The ACA does not have to be charged to the FWS program. It may be taken from Perkins or FSEOG
Advertising FWS • Mention it during orientation • Tell parents students can work and study • Have counselors suggest it to students who did not check it on the FAFSA • Tie it to an institutional grant program • Advertise in your school newspaper
Job Locator Development • A position can be created, usually in Career Services • Funds to pay position must come out of FWS, either 10% or $50,000 which ever is less. • Most schools I know of do not have such a position • The employee in this position must find jobs for FWS as well as non-FWS in the community • See FAS Handbook for details
Limitations • Students cannot be employed to perform political activities • Students cannot perform work that benefits the school at a proprietary school such as cleaning, purchasing, public relations • If students work at a parochial school it must be classified as a private, nonprofit school and students may not tutor on religious matter
References • FSA Handbook Volume 6, Chapter 2 • 34 CFR 675