Federal Work Study (FWS) at MCC
Have you been approved for Federal Work Study through the Financial Aid Department at Middlesex County College!? CONGRATULATIONS! Work-study positions offer you the opportunity to earn money while advancing your skills. Use this page as a resource to learn more about the program, how to find a work-study position and your responsibilities, as a student employee.
So that you may have a clear understanding what is expected of you, we have prepared the following information.
General Information
What is FWS?
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a form of financial aid awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and meet certain eligibility requirements. You must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for FWS. Be sure to mark "yes" to the question on the FAFSA question that asks if you are interested in student employment. If you have already filed your FAFSA for this year and did not say you are interested in student employment but are interested now, you should visit the Financial Aid Office in South I to determine your eligibility. You must complete a new FAFSA each year for continued consideration in the Federal Work-Study Program; the money you earn through this program is not used to determine your financial need. Your total FWS award depends on your application date, your level of need, and the amount of FWS monies MCC has available.
Am I guaranteed to get a work-study job?
The work-study program encourages (but doesn't require) employment in fields related to your major of study. You are not guaranteed a work-study position even if you have been awarded eligibility; the following must also be true:
- There must be positions open for you to apply to.
- You must interview for and be hired for a position.
- You must maintain satisfactory academic progress (if your GPA is under 2.0 and you are on probation, you will be terminated from your wrok-study job).
- You must also attend the mandatory FWS Briefing before you will be allowed to apply for a work-study job. See below for the dates/times of the FWS Briefings.
- You follow all guidelines for attendance, attire, workplace behavior and the expectations of the department you are working for.
How much money can I earn?
Your Financial Aid Award Letter will list the total amount of your FWS award. That amount is the MOST you can earn for the year (usually approximately $4,000) and you earn it by working for an hourly rate ($7.50 per hour to start) over the course of the academic year. That averages out to 10-15 hours per week of working. You cannot exceed the total amount of your award, meaning that once you have earned the $4,000 you MUST stop working. Most work-study jobs do not allow students to work over winter break or in the summer.
Student Employees - Your Rights
Your RIGHTS as a student employee:
- To be treated fairly and equitably by your supervisor and MCC.
- To know what is expected of you concerning your work schedule, duties, and other requirements made by the supervisor.
- To be informed about your work performance through verbal communication and performance evaluations.
- Read the College's Sexual Harrassment Policy
Student Employees - Your Responsibilities
As a student employee, you make a commitment to MCC and your supervisor that you will perform your job duties assigned to you to the best of your abilities. Student employee positions are real jobs and should be treated as such. Consider your job an opportunity for professional development and an excellent occasion for you to build skills you cannot learn in the classroom. In addition, your supervisor may later serve as an employment reference and can be excellent source for letters of recommendation.
To learn more about your Responsibilities, read the Section called "On The Job" below and read MCC's Student Code of Conduct.
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Mandatory FWS Briefing
All first-time FWS students must attend a Briefing to review the program, your responsibilities and some of the procedures you must follow to maintain your award eligibility. Immediately following the Briefing, you can meet with Career Services to review your qualifications and receive a Referral Form that will allow you to interview for any of the work-study positions posted. FWS Briefings are held in Edison Hall room 100. You must only attend ONE session.
How do you know when the FWS Briefings are held? After you have applied for FWS and if it is determined that you are eligible, you will receive an email from Career Services providing you with the link to use to register for a FWS Briefing.
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Getting Hired for a Work-Study Job
How do I get started?
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All financial aid begins with the FAFSA application. Try to file your FAFSA by February or March each year, and indicate that you want to be considered for FWS (Federal Work-Study) on the FAFSA.
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If you have applied for FWS on your FAFSA, complete the online Federal Work Study Application. Complete all sections of the Federal Work Study Application then initial and sign it as indicated, and return it to the Financial Aid Office in South I.
- Financial Aid counselors will determine if you are eligible to receive FWS. If so, the Financial Aid counselor will sign your application and forward it to Career Services. Career Services will contact you via Campus Cruiser email, notifying you to attend a mandatory FWS Briefing session.
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Only after you attend one of the FWS Briefings can you start looking for available work-study positions. All positions are posted online on the Career Services site. When you find a position you are qualified to apply for, request a Referral for Interview from Career Services. You can only interview with the Referral for Interview form.
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Take your Referral for Interview to the department and schedule a time for your interview. Each department selects the student(s) that best meet their needs (see Interview Tips to help you prepare to make the best possible impression!)
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The department will indicate on the Referral for Interview form whether or not they have offered the position to you. Bring the Referral for Interview form back to Career Services. Now there will be additional paperwork to complete! Remember: you cannot start working until all paperwork is complete and you receive a copy of the Federal Work Study Assignment form.
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Where are the work-study jobs posted?
Jobs are posted here.
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In the box marked "Select a Job Category", scroll to On-Campus - Work Study Only and click on it
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Click on the Submit box.
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Once you see the page with the job listings, click on the job titles to read the job description, qualifications and requirements.
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I found a work-study job posting I am interested in. What is the next step?
You will have to interview with the department. Come in to Career Services in ED-100. We'll check that you have all the skills that the job description asks for, and if so:
- Career Services will issue you a Referral to interview for the position.
- Contact the department and set-up a time for your interview. Take the Referral form with you to the interview.
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They offered me the job! What paperwork is required?
Good question! You will need to complete the following forms ... and these are all needed before you can start. To get started, we'll need:
- Form I-9 (must be completed in the Human Resources Department in The Gateway)
- Form W-4
- Federal Work Study Assignment Form
- Emergency Contact Information Form
- Middlesex County College Student Employment Form
Once on the job, you will have to complete yout timesheet every two weeks (in pen not pencil) and have it signed by your supervisor.
I didn't get the job. What happens now?
Don't be discouraged! Check the postings of available work-study jobs and try again.
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Attendance & Your Work Schedule
Student employees are hired as part-time temps and should be scheduled as such. Rely on the experience of your supervisor and your own understanding of your academic needs when establishing your work schedule. Supervisors and students should remember that academic success remains the top priority!
- No student employee can work instead of attending class. In general, students should work no more than 10-15 hours per week, and never more than 20 hours in a week.
- Report to work on time and let your supervisor know when you arrive for work.
- If you need to miss work for any reason, request permission from your supervisor in advance.
- In case of an emergency, contact your supervisor as soon as you know you will miss work.
- Students cannot work longer than five (5) consecutive hours without taking an unpaid 30-minute break.
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Attitude  "The time is always right to do what is right" ~~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Your supervisor and department are counting on you to work when you are scheduled.
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Act in a professional manner in all aspects of your work.
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Show up to work on time - arrive at least 5 minutes early so you are ready to starting working at the time your schedule starts. Let your supervisor know each day when you arrive.
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Respond positively to constructive criticism.
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Try to establish a good working relationship with your supervisor and other co-workers.
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Always follow MCC and department policies & procedures.
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Remember that your behavior on the job reflects on both you and on MCC! Besides that, your supervisor could make an excellent job reference for you in the future ... so make the best impression & do the best job you can.
- Always perform your assigned duties to the best of your abilities.
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Follow instructions correctly and completely - do your best!
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Take notes when you are being trained in a new task, and then refer to your notes to help you remember how to complete the task.
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If instructions are not clear, ask for clarification in order to complete each task accurately.
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If you have questions, ask your supervisor.
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If you are not able to complete an assignment because you don’t have the skills or training necessary, tell your supervisor immediately. Remember, Career Services can also help you develop skills - ask us!
Appearance & Dress "You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure" ~~ Zig Ziglar
Dress appropriately for your job as specified by your supervisor. You represent MCC whenever you work! Your supervisor can ask you to leave if your clothing is not professionally acceptable.
Every job requires certain skills, and you probably will be asked about yours during your job interview. FWS tries to help you develop new skills, preferably in an area related to your major, while you earn your salary. Career Services can also help you work on skills that you will need to be hired into a work-study position.
Conditions of Employment
- To maintain your FWS eligibility, you must be enrolled in at least six (6) credits during the semester, and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.
- Follow the policies of the College and the department in which you are working.
- Student employees are temporary, hourly employees who are hired on an as-needed basis. MCC makes every effort to employ as many students as possible, but there is no guarantee that you will find a work-study position.
- Students, as at-will employees, may be terminated at any time during the semester or academic year.
- Unemployment taxes are not deducted from work-study paychecks, therefore work-study job holders are not eligible to collect unemployment if dismissed or termintated.
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As a student employee at MCC, you may hear or see information relating to other students, staff or faculty members. It is extremely important that you treat this information as the private property of your department.
- DO NOT release or share confidential information about other students to anyone, including family members of the student, either by phone or in person. Unauthorized release of confidential information is a serious violation of the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Respect the records as if they contained your own personal information.
- DO NOT discuss department issues with anyone outside the department.
- DO NOT remove files or other materials from the work place.
A breach of such confidentiality or any act of dishonesty may be just cause for your immediate dismissal from your work-study job.
The Drug-free Workplace Act requires employers who contract with, or receive grants from, federal agencies to certify that they will meet certain requirements by providing a drug-free workplace. No employee shall unlawfully manufacture, distribute, process or use a controlled substance in the workplace and violations will result in disciplinary action that may include, but is not limited to, suspension or dismissal.
- Equipment and supplies (including computers) are to be used for official College business only.
- Use equipment only after receiving instructions, and only use the equipment for it's intended purpose. Always keep safety in mind.
Smoking
Smoking is prohibited in all College facilities; fines for violating the smoking policy are $25 each time you are caught. The only place you are allowed to smoke is in your car.
Breaks
Student employees may not work longer than five (5) consecutive hours without taking a thirty (30) minute break. Even if you are scheduled to work 5 hours and 15 minutes, you are required to take a 30-minute break. Always check with your supervisor before leaving for a break, and remember to note your break times onto your timesheet.
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We recommend that you give your supervisor a two-week notice if you plan to quit your job. This will allow your supervisor some time to find a replacement for you. Remember that your supervisor may be giving you a work reference in the future, so be careful not to “burn your bridges”.
Student employees are considered at-will employees and may be terminated at any time. Any student employee who consistently does not meet work expectations may be terminated at the request of the employing department. Below are examples of behaviors which may result in disciplinary action, including the possibility of immediate dismissal:
- Excessive tardiness or absences without a legitimate excuse
- Carelessness or lack of attention that results in injury to property, person, or public relations
- Inappropriate conduct including profanity, physical violence, sexual misconduct and harassment
- Discourtesy or failure to work harmoniously with fellow employees
- Spending time on your cell phone or on computers doing things not related to your job
- Failure to serve the public with courtesy
- Breach of confidentiality
- Theft
- Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while on duty
- Falsification of time reports
- Failure to follow the policies of Middlesex County College or the Student Code of Conduct including the smoking and parking policies. Student workers are still students and responsible to behave in accordance with all student policies.
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Timesheets and Getting Paid
Students are to keep track of their time worked on the approved timesheet forms. Please fill them out each day as you work (in pen not pencil) rather than waiting to try to remember the hours you worked after the fact. Mistakes on your timesheet can mean that you will not be paid on time. If you work enough consecutive hours to have a break or meal, you must show that on your timesheet. All timesheets are due in Payroll on the 15th and 30th of each month.
Your supervisor must check over the timesheet for accuracy and completeness prior to signing. If you make a mistake on your timesheet and you use white-out to correct it, please initial next to the white-out. Any changes on timesheets must be approved and initialed by your supervisor. Timesheets must be signed in ink.
You supervisor must send your timesheet to Payroll, you cannot hand-deliver it.
If you feel that your paycheck is incorrect, please speak with your supervisor first to resolve the situation.
Remember it is your responsibility to complete and submit your timesheet on time to your supervisor.
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How much will I be paid?
All Work-Study jobs pay at least minimum wage and some pay more, depending upon experience and skills. Regardless of your hourly wage, you cannot earn more than your semester award amount. For example, suppose your FWS Award is $2,000 for the Fall semester but by October, you have already earned $2,000. Well, then you are done. You cannot earn any additional money from FWS until the Spring Semeter starts. Please note that Work-Study students are not eligible for paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, or medical and dental insurance through their Work-Study job.
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What to take with you:
- Copy of your Work-Study Referral.
- Your resume or other record of your work history and experience OR the FWS Student Employment Application.
If any of these documents are not presented to the interviewer at the time of the interview, the interviewer may decide not to conduct the interview. REMEMBER: You never get a second chance to make a good first impression!
- Arrive early
- Dress neatly and conservatively
- Establish eye contact
- Don’t chew gum
- Turn your cell phone off
- Speak clearly and answer all questions honestly
- Smile!
During your interview you should ask for clear information about job duties, responsibilities, work schedules, and dress code. For tips on interviewing skills, visit the Career Services Interview Tips.
When you accept a Work-Study position, you are expected to stay for the length of the Work-Study award period (usually two semesters), and are discouraged from changing jobs in the middle of the academic year. If special circumstances require you to resign from your Work-Study position, however, you must inform your supervisor and Career Services immediately.
How do I get my Work-Study money?
You have to get a job and earn it!
You must complete your FAFSA form each year (we recommend you do that in February or March, as soon as your taxes are filed) in order to be eligible for an award in the academic year that starts the following August. On the FAFSA, you must indicate that you would like to be considered for FWS. You cannot work in an FWS job without having been awarded FWS by Financial Aid, and Financial Aid cannot award you FWS if you don't file your FAFSA on time and submit any supporting documents that Financial Aid tells you they need. It's all up to you!
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