WORK STUDY FINANCIAL AID FRIDAY TRAINING 11132020 WHAT

WORK STUDY FINANCIAL AID FRIDAY TRAINING 11/13/2020

WHAT IS FEDERAL WORK STUDY? ◦ Federally-funded, need-based employment program ◦ Allows students to earn a paycheck to help with education and education-related expenses ◦ Part-time employment while enrolled at WCU ◦ Community service work and work related to course of study are encouraged ◦ Students are paid bi-weekly via direct deposit to their bank account ◦ Departments save money from their budget by paying student workers from the Work Study budget ◦ Allows departments better allocation of SHRA/EHRA resources

BENEFITS TO STUDENT ◦ Flexible work schedule ◦ Chance to gain valuable work experience and develop skills ◦ Potential references for future employment ◦ Opportunity to work in a field related to the student’s major ◦ Financial assistance with education and education related expenses ◦ Work Study does not have to be included on the FAFSA

CURRENTLY ◦ FWS Budget of $505, 000 ◦ $86, 719. 08 spent as of BW PR 23 (10/25/2020) ◦ Currently have 168/350 jobs filled ◦ Down from last year due to COVID-19 ◦ 44 Department Placements ◦ Processing change forms and terminations ◦ Hiring ◦ Bi- weekly payroll

ELIGIBILITY ◦ FWS is available to undergraduate students ◦ Graduate students must request FWS ◦ Enrolled full-time (12 hours) or part-time students (6 hours) ◦ Must have completed FAFSA ◦ Answer “YES” when asked about Work Study on FAFSA ◦ Student must have demonstrated financial need according to the FAFSA

ELIGIBILITY STUDENT A STUDENT B $18747. 34 - $0 $18604. 46 - _____ - $48460. 00 $18747. 34 ________ - $14155. 00 $ (29855. 54) ______ $4592. 34 ELIGIBLE FOR FWS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FWS

WAGE GUIDELINES ◦ In accordance with Federal Work-Study Program regulations, employers must establish a job description and pay rate for each FWS position ◦ We aim to ensure pay equity among all FWS and non-FWS students employed by the University ◦ Federal regulations require students be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7. 25 per hour ◦ The University’s maximum FWS wage is $12. 00 per hour

RATE INCREASE ◦ The federal minimum wage is $7. 25 ◦ Students that perform well can be given a raise in their hourly rate

TERMINATION ◦ Students can resign or be terminated from their FWS position ◦ WCU Financial Aid requires a Change Form for Federal Work Study Student Employment to be completed by the student’s supervisor ◦ Termination will occur when student exhausts their FWS funding

PLEASE REMEMBER ◦ FWS pays the student via direct deposit – this is mandatory ◦ FWS is not paid directly to tuition/fees ◦ Students should not begin working until approval has been provided by WCU Financial Aid ◦ Students are allowed to work a maximum of 25 hours per week ◦ FWS is not available in the summer ◦ Check with WCU Financial Aid to see if student is eligible for FWS by email to workstudy@wcu. edu

INTENT TO RE-EMPLOY ◦ Sent by March 1 annually ◦ Due by May 1 annually ◦ Hiring agreement that keeps student in the same job from year to year ◦ Allows students to begin working on the 1 st day of class each semester without having to be rehired ◦ Aids in Federal I 9 compliance as student will not be terminated at the end of the academic year

AMERICA READS/AMERICA COUNTS

WHAT IS AMERICA READS/AMERICA COUNTS? ◦ America Reads/America Counts is a tutoring program that places WCU students in local schools as tutors in reading and math. ◦ Compensated with FWS funding ◦ One on one or small group tutoring ◦ Works with assigned classroom or grade level ◦ Qualifies as community service ◦ College of Education and Allied Professions students are preferred but not required ◦ Pays $9 per hour

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS ◦ Cullowhee Valley School ◦ Fairview School ◦ Kneedler Child Development Center – in the past but has new director, hoping to partner again in Spring 2020 ◦ Scotts Creek School – has a new principal, hoping to establish partnership in Spring 2021 or the 2021 -2022 academic year

THE NUMBERS 2019 -2020 ◦ Number of FWS students employed as reading tutors = 7 ◦ Total compensation paid for reading tutors = $9672. 00 ◦ Number of FWS students employed as math tutors = 6 ◦ Total compensation paid for math tutors = $9359. 88

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ◦ Mid-semester check-ins were established in Fall 2020 to determine if students were enjoying their placement, determine how much of their time was being spent on math, determine how much of their time was being spent on reading, and determine if they would be returning the following semester. ◦ We currently have 6 students placed in Jackson County Schools ◦ These students can be terminated by the principal for any reason ◦ The principal can deny their intent to re-employ for any reason

UP NEXT ◦ Student Employment Handbook ◦ Strengthen cross campus partnerships ◦ Partnering w/HR for Training Sessions ◦ For supervisors ◦ For new supervisors ◦ Spring 2021 hiring ◦ Job. Cat approvals ◦ Hiring appointments ◦ Balance Fall 2020 ◦ FWS Policy and Procedure ◦ Work Study revamp and launch ◦ Work NWS list to promote FWS ◦ 2021 -2022 Documents ◦ Update forms for spring ◦ Tax forms in hiring docs ◦ Payroll calendar in hiring confirmation ◦ Work Study Website

QUESTIONS? KAHOOT ID:

CONTACT WORKSTUDY@WCU. EDU