Work Study

Work Study is a great opportunity to learn team work, develop new skills, and hone the skills a student already possesses while earning an income.

Students receive pay directly. This form of financial aid is disbursed in the same manner a standard paycheck would; directly to the student, rather than applying towards tuition and fees. Eligibility to participate in Work Study, however, is directly dependent on eligibility to receive financial aid. 

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Eligibility

Who is eligible?

Work study is a financial aid program and we determine eligibility for funding based on information provided on FAFSA or WASFA applications.  Please note that having a prior degree does not exclude you from participation.

To qualify initially, a student must:

  • complete a FAFSA or WASFA application and be eligible for aid

  • have sufficient unmet need

  • meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements

  • enroll in an aid-eligible program

  • enroll in a minimum of 6 aid-eligible credits each quarter

  • be eligible to work in Washington State

  • possess a high school diploma or GED

All students who apply will be screened to determine if they met the qualifications for open positions. If a student meets the criteria, their application will be forwarded to the appropriate department and an interview may be scheduled by the supervisor. 

Students who are selected as employees will then complete additional hiring paperwork and will begin working once he/she has been notified that we have received, reviewed and approved all additional required documents. 

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Wages & Hours

The hourly wage for the 2023-2024 year is 16.37, as of July 01, 2023.

Students work between a minimum of 6 hours and a maximum of 19 hours, weekly. The number of hours a student may work depends on a variety of factors, including the number of hours that will fit into a student's financial aid package, the number of hours an employer's requests and the number of credits in which they are currently enrolled. Most students participating in work study work between 10 and 15 hours each week. 

Students may not work during regularly scheduled class hours.

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How to Apply

  1. Complete and return the application for work study to the Student Financial Resources office.  The application can be found below, on this page. Include areas or departments of interest on the application.
  2. Once the application has been received, our office will review it for completeness and eligibility. 
  3. If the student is eligible, the application will be forwarded on to supervisors. The supervisor will review the qualifications, may schedule interviews and will ultimately select the candidate for the position.
  4. When selected for a position, the student will then complete additional hiring paperwork (I-9, W-4, Electronic Funds Transfer forms, referral) and participate in an on-boarding process before being informed the student is ready to begin working. 
  5. Students may continue to review open positions throughout the academic year. The student should notify our office if the student wishes to have a previously submitted application considered for new positions.
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Timeline for Process

Hiring students is like hiring any other employee; it requires specific steps be taken before the student employee can begin work.  How quickly each of these steps can be completed impacts how soon a student can start. 

Generally speaking, students and supervisors should expect the process to take about two weeks, start to finish. 

 

  • Job description is created and submitted to indicate a Work Study employee is needed (supervisor)
  • Job description is reviewed/finalized and posted to the Work Study website for a minimum of two weeks (our staff)
  • Applications are submitted (student)
  • Student eligibility is verified (credit enrollment, SAP status, room within budget, etc.) (our staff)
  • Application is submitted to supervisor (our staff)
  • Applications are reviewed, interviews conducted and hiring decisions are made (supervisor)
  • Hiring documentation to student (Id, W4, referral, etc.) (our staff)
  • Review and completion of hiring documentation (student and our staff)
  • Student employee file is created (our staff and Human Resources)
  • Student and supervisor receive an email indicating student’s approved work start and end dates for the year (our staff)
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Tips

  1. There are often more students interested in participating in work study than positions available.  Highlight skills that are appropriate and relevant to the position desired.

  2. Positions become available throughout the year, check this page often for new posts

  3. Please ensure that voicemail has been set up and is checked routinely. Check email routinely (including the student's spam folder). This is to the benefit of the student, as well as that of the potential employer.

  4. Visit our Career Center for additional information about improving job searching skills, including interview tips, and resume critiques.

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Hours & Contacts

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