FWS How The Program Works

THE FEDERAL WORK STUDY PROGRAM

AT

BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

“COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN NUTURING STUDENT SUCCESS”

Congratulations on your Federal Work Study Award!

FEDERAL WORK STUDY ADVISORY NOTIFICATION:

Listed below are some guidelines to ensure your success in the FWS program.

WORK STUDY BENEFITS:

• ASSISTS WITH SCHOOL EXPENSES: The federal Work Study Program (FWSP) is an earn as you go program that allows need based students to receive money for college expenses.
• PREVENTS DEBT: By earning funds for school expenses, students can reduce their out of pocket expenses, thus borrowing less in student loans.
• POSITIVELY AFFECTS STUDENT DEVELOPMENT: Students that work part-time, on-campus achieve higher grade point averages and faster degree completion in general, than their non–working peers. Studies show that these students also have more frequent intellectual growth.
 

Federal Work Study Program (FWS)

The Federal Work-Study Program is a federally-funded program for students who need financial assistance with educational expenses. The program offers meaningful part-time employment on campus or with an off- campus community service organization to eligible students while enrolled at Bergen Community College.

• Due to funding limitations, Financial Aid Office cannot guarantee a job for everyone. Students are encouraged to begin their job search as early as possible after they receive their federal work-study award. Students will be interviewed and placed for jobs on a first come, first served basis. Please contact the CAREER AND TRANSFER SERVICES office for placement, Room A-123.

Orientation:

• Orientation will be mandatory for FWS students. The orientation will be administered by the Career and Transfer Services Office and will be one hour in duration. (Students will be paid for their attendance at their hourly rate).
• The Maximum award will be $1500.00 for the academic year, if eligible.
• Pay Rates:

Federal Work Study pay rates are as follows:

• On-Campus $7.75 per hour
• Off-Campus 8.25 per hour (Community Service)
• Life Guard (CPR/First Aid Certification required)$8.50 per hour
• Students will be permitted to work a maximum of 15 hours per week.
• A schedule of pay dates and payroll deadlines is available in Career & Transfer Services Office (A123), Financial Aid Office (L123) or the Payroll office (A-228).

Student Procedure for Obtaining a Work Study Job

The student should:

1. Apply for financial aid by the advertised deadline dates (Refer to www.bergen.edu/financialaid)

2. Receive a financial aid award letter via email or regular mail indicating they have received a work study award. (Please make sure BCC has a valid email address on file)

3. Attend a mandatory work study workshop offered through the Career and Transfer Services Office (Please visit Career and Transfer Services for information)

4. Select a position of interest based on the job postings offered in the Career and Transfer Services Office and contact the person listed on the job lead form for an interview.

5. Obtain written confirmation by completing the On-Campus Employment Form from the supervisor that the student is hired for the position.

6. Complete the hiring paperwork (I-9 and W-4 form) Within (3) days of the student’s hire date at the Career Development Center (A-123). STUDENTS WILL NOT BE CLEARED TO WORK UNTIL ALL PAPERWORK IS COMPLETED THROUGH THE CAREER AND TRANSFER SERVICES OFFICE.

7. Accurately complete timesheets provided by their Supervisor.Student is responsible for handing in their timesheets for approval to their Supervisor.

Student and Supervisor Procedure for Submitting Timesheets:

1. The student must accurately record hours worked and present the time sheets on a weekly basis to the Supervisor for approval.

2. The Supervisor is responsible for delivering the time sheets to Financial Aid office in a timely manner. Please provide the Career and Transfer Services Office with the name & contact information for a secondary approved Supervisor. Off campus time sheets must be delivered to CAREER AND TRANSFER SERVICES by the agreed due dates (Payroll Schedules are available in FA , Payroll and the Career and Transfer Services Office)

3. Students can work up to 15 hours per week.

4. Both student and supervisor signatures and date MUST be present in order for the timesheets to be processed.

5. Timesheets are required to be submitted every two weeks, but no later than 1 month of time worked (mandatory Federal Regulations).

6. Students will no longer be permitted to change FWS assignments during a semester without written approval from Career Services and Financial Aid.

Cancellation of Federal Work Study Funds:

• Students who are awarded FWS funds and have not secured a job by November 1st, will receive notification from Financial Aid of award cancellation.
• Students with FWS who do not appear on the payroll at least once a month could be in jeopardy of having their work study funds cancelled unless we hear from the student.
 

FWS Notification To Students Who Have Exhausted FWS Funds (On Campus & Community Service):

• Students & Supervisor will receive written notification when student has reached the midpoint of their award. This will be considered a pre-warning of student reaching their maximum award.
• If for any reason student has exceeded their award, the Supervisor will be held accountable and the excess will be charged from their department budget.
• Community Service Supervisors: Students will be paid ONLY the amount of the award eligible to them through FWS.

Please be sure students do not exceed that award.