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Work Study

What is Work Study?

Federal Work Study provides part-time jobs earning at least federal minimum wage for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for educational expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study. For international students, or students without Federal financial need, there are also institutionally funded work-study positions available, when budgets allow.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Federal Work Study program, you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Be enrolled in classes as a degree-seeking student (at least 6 credit hours)
  • Have a Federal Work Study program allocation as part of your financial aid package (demonstrate financial need)
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

To find out what you are eligible for, complete the FAFSA if you haven’t already done so at www.studentaid.gov. There is no minimum or maximum but your work study eligibility and pay cannot exceed your financial need and is subject to funds available to DC3. Eligibility may increase, decrease, or be eliminated, depending upon any changes to a student’s financial aid and/or enrollment status.



How can I apply for a Work Study job?

  1. Apply online @ https://dc3.edu/employment-page/ (Click on the ‘Students’ button).
  2. A supervisor reviews all applications, creates a referral, and sends it to the Financial Aid Office for review.
  3. Financial Aid establishes eligibility for the student and sends a contract to supervisor.
  4. The student reviews and signs the contract, then HR emails the student the onboarding steps (this includes completing all federal and state employment forms).
  5. HR and the student complete the onboarding process – HR then emails the supervisor, notifying them the start date for the student employee.

Important to Know…

  • Students cannot begin work until the process mentioned above is complete. If the student begins working before completion, they cannot be retroactively paid.
  • If the student has worked previously, they do not need to reapply, but will need to contact their supervisor to initiate a contract.
  • International students can cash their checks at the Business Office.
  • If students do not sign up for payroll direct deposit, checks must be picked up at the Payroll Office no later than two days after payday.
  • Students are paid on a monthly basis.
  • Students may not work during scheduled class times.
  • Students are required to be enrolled in at least six hours of classes and must be making financial aid satisfactory academic progress (SAP) to be eligible for Federal Work Study.

Federal Work Study Position Details

  • Federal Work Study students may work up to 10 hours per week, depending on students’ eligibility. The work schedule is set by the position supervisor, who will schedule according to students’ class schedules (students may NOT work during scheduled class hours!). Always refer to your position supervisor with any detailed scheduling questions.
  • Always refer to the financial aid office with any direct eligibility questions.
  • Always refer to the HR department with any technical difficulties in adding hours worked.

How are my funds applied?

Unlike grants or scholarships, Federal Work Study earnings are not applied directly to your student bill. Students receive these funds as a standard paycheck for hours worked. Or they will have the option to set up direct deposit through our business office.


Employee Code of Conduct

  • All College employees, including Federal Work Study student employees, are expected to exhibit good work habits in the workplace.
  • You are expected to:
    • Be at work at the time you are scheduled and stay for as long as you are scheduled to be there.
    • If you are sick or an emergency comes up, call your supervisor as soon as you know you will not be available. Illness cannot be planned, but a phone call can help your supervisor make plans for the day.
    • Request time off in advance if you need to see a doctor or a dentist and you cannot schedule the appointment for a time when you are not scheduled to work. These requests for time off should be made in writing.
    • Follow timekeeping procedures, maintain accurate records of the hours you work, and accurately complete and submit your timecard online.

Supervisor Responsibilities

  • FWS student employees work in virtually every department at the College and perform a variety of duties important to our success. Research shows that employment is a primary factor in student success. Students who work are more likely to earn a degree and earn higher grades than their non-working peers. Part-time work experience is a significant factor in career choice and success.
  • A supervisor’s role is vital to the management and development of one of the DC3’s most important resources, our student employees.
  • Employer supervisory responsibilities include the following:
    • Provide clearly defined supervision through well-defined expectations, resources and support.
    • Report student employee work hours accurately, verifying the hours submitted on the timecard.
    • Monitor the student employee’s performance for quality of work.
    • Follow the guidelines as outlined in the Work Study Supervisor Handbook.
  • At the end of each semester, supervisors are encouraged to do an evaluation of the student’s job performance. Many times, students are asked to return to the same position in a subsequent year!