financial aid basics

WORK-STUDY

Title IV Federal School Code
001153


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Location

Bayramian Hall, first floor
(west of the Oviatt Library)
1-818-677-4085

Office Hours

Monday and Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Counseling Hours

Monday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
(referral slip required from the first-floor financial aid window)

Please be in line at least 30 minutes before closing; hours are subject to change.

Related Links

FAFSA Application

Work-Study Forms

Work-Study Jobs

Students

Requirements


Requirements

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federally funded program that issues awards according to financial aid campus policy. Funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is given to students who demonstrate the highest need.

You must indicate on the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) that you are interested in work-study. Work-study jobs are only open to students who apply for financial aid by the March 2 priority deadline for the upcoming academic year.

Benefits of a work-study job include:

  • Priority hiring
  • Convenience of an on-campus job
  • Possibility of work in a major-related department
  • Community service opportunities
  • Personal growth

FWS is an academic year award, meaning you must be enrolled at least half time during any semester of employment. You may earn 50 percent of your award in the fall semester and 50 percent in the spring.

In order to receive work-study funds, land a job and collect a paycheck, follow these steps:

  1. Read the Federal Work-Study Student Handbook. The handbook includes important information, including your rights and responsibilities as an FWS student employee.
  2. Once you read the student handbook, take the Federal Work-Study Student Handbook quiz. When you successfully pass the quiz, a certificate will pop up. Type in your name and student ID, then print it and give it to the hiring supervisor.
  3. When you go to job interviews, bring a copy of your financial aid award. You can obtain a copy of your financial aid award online on the myNorthridge Portal. If an employer is interested in hiring you, he or she will give you a memo to bring to the work-study office.
  4. If you are eligible for FWS, you will receive an FWS student award request form. Ask the interested employer to complete the form. Then return it to the work-study office within 30 days. The sooner the form is submitted, the sooner you can begin working.
  5. Within 24 hours of submitting your FWS student award request form, the award will appear as "Offer" in your myNorthridge Portal. When your employer requests FWS authorization and it is approved, the award will appear as "Accept."
  6. You must read the Drug-Free Campus and Workplace Policy.

If you have any questions, please email work.study@csun.edu or call (818) 677-2373.

FWS Quiz


Federal Work-Study Student Quiz

Please refer to the Federal Work-Study Student Handbook before taking the mandatory quiz below; answer all 19 questions. If you answer all of the questions correctly, a certificate form will appear. On the certificate form, fill in your name and student ID number. Print out the confirmation diploma proving that you understand the information. Otherwise, you must reread the Federal Work-Study Student Handbook and take the quiz again. Good luck!

1. When can I start working as a work-study student?

  1. Once I have been offered a job, I have accepted it, and I have signed in with the Human Resources office, but not before August 1st.
  2. As soon as I have accepted a job offer.
  3. Whenever I want.

2. What happens if I do not have my original social security card or U.S. passport?

  1. I will not be able to start working until I have it or proof from the Social Security office.
  2. I will get paid on the 15th of the month along with all other student workers.

3. Where is the Human Resources office?

  1. Bayramian Hall 140
  2. Bayramian Hall 101
  3. University Hall 165

4. What happens when my work-study award runs out?

  1. I continue working.
  2. My work-study job ends.
  3. I may continue working if the department that I work for is willing to pay me under its department student assistant account.
  4. b and c.

5. How much will I get paid?

  1. I tell my supervisor the pay rate I would like.
  2. The pay rate depends on the kind of job and how much experience I have.
  3. All work-study students must start at the minimum wage set by the state of California.

6. How many hours may I work as a work-study student?

  1. No more than 20 hours per week while classes are in session, no more than 40 hours during academic breaks, and no hours during the summer.
  2. I cannot work more than 20 hours per week while classes are in session, no more than 40 hours during academic breaks, and no hours in the summer.
  3. Up to 40 hours per week.

7. May I volunteer hours at my job as a work-study student?

  1. Yes.
  2. No, I must be paid for all hours I work as a work-study student.

8. What is the difference between a work-study job and any other student job on campus?

  1. No difference.
  2. Work-study jobs are paid by the hour.
  3. Work-study students are paid once a month.

9. What is the benefit of having a work-study job?

  1. Work-study jobs are more challenging.
  2. When applying for financial aid for next year, I will not have to count my work-study wages as income for financial aid purposes.
  3. On-campus and eligible off-campus employers prefer to hire work-study students.
  4. Work-study jobs on campus are less challenging than work-study jobs off campus.
  5. b and c.

10. When do work-study students get paid?

  1. Every two weeks on Friday.
  2. On the first of the month.
  3. On the 15th of the month.

11. How do I get my paycheck?

  1. My paycheck will be mailed to me.
  2. I receive my check from the designated department staff.
  3. I will get a phone call telling me when to pick it up from Bayramian Hall 101.
  4. On the 15th of every month, I pick up my check from my employer's designated staff member in charge of student payroll check disbursements.

12. How did I qualify for federal work-study?

  1. My supervisor requested it for me.
  2. I filled out a scholarship application and was awarded.
  3. Everyone automatically qualifies for work-study.
  4. I completed the FAFSA form by the priority deadline (March 2), checked the work-study box and met all other requirements.

13. When may an employer terminate my FWS employment?

  1. If my schedule is no longer compatible with the department's needs.
  2. If I display unprofessional conduct such as repeated absences, reporting to work late, improper dress or disrespectful behavior.
  3. If I do not maintain the confidentiality requirement of the department.
  4. If my work is unsatisfactory.
  5. All of the above.

14. May I work at more than one job?

  1. Yes, as long as among all jobs, I do not exceed 20 hours per week.
  2. No, only one job per person.
  3. I may work as many as I want.

15. Do FWS student employees qualify for "fringe benefits", such as overtime pay, paid holidays, paid sick leave, vacation time, unemployment insurance or permanent status?

  1. Yes.
  2. No.

16. Who is responsible for keeping track of work-study earnings and work-study balance?

  1. My supervisor.
  2. Me.
  3. The payroll office.
  4. a and b

17. What do I do if I am continuing in my same work-study job but I do not have a work-study award?

  1. Got to the financial aid help desk to request an award.
  2. Go to the work-study office to request an award.
  3. Ask my supervisor to write a memo addressed to the work-study coordinator, then visit the work-study coordinator during work-study counseling hours.

18. What are the work-study walk-in counseling hours?

  1. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
  2. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-noon and 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
  3. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

19. What do I do if I have a problem at work?

  1. Talk to my supervisor or his/her boss.
  2. Talk to my parents about the problem.
  3. Talk to my supervisor first, but if the problem is not resolved or if I feel that I cannot talk to my supervisor, see the work-study coordinator, Josie Carbajal, during work-study walk-in hours.

Sample Email


Sample Email

This is an example of a work-study award notice that you may receive via email.

California State University, Northridge
Financial Aid & Scholarship Department, Division of Student Affairs

Dear John Smith,

Congratulations! You have been offered a Federal Work-Study (FWS) award for the 2011-2012 academic year. The FWS program is a federally funded program designed to give you an opportunity for work experience. It enables you to earn a portion of your expenses not covered by grants and loans.

It is important to note that if you do not work an authorized work-study job, you will not receive any portion of your FWS award.

If you plan to work the same job you had the previous academic year, you don’t need to do anything. Your FWS employer will be informed you have been awarded for the 2012-2013 academic year. They will also be provided with instructions on how to request your FWS Authorization Form.

If you plan to look for a different FWS job or are new to the program, you must follow these instructions:

  • All FWS student employees must read the FWS Student Handbook. The FWS Student Handbook contains important information regarding your FWS award. Additionally, the handbook will let you know about your rights and responsibilities.
  • Once you have read the FWS Student Handbook, take the Work-Study Student Handbook Quiz. When you pass the quiz, a certificate will pop up asking you to enter your name and CSUN student ID. Print the certificate and give it to the supervisor who intends to hire you.
  • CSUN FWS jobs are listed on the Career Center website. Please note: You must register with the Career Center job recruitment system in order to view FWS job postings. Once you find a job that interests you, follow the employer application instructions.
  • Print a copy of your financial aid award summary page and bring it to your job interview as proof of your FWS award. To see your award summary, log into the myNorthridge Portal, go to the "Financial Matters" tab, select the "Financial Aid Awards" quick link, and choose the aid year you wish to review.

There is nothing you need to do to accept your FWS award. After you have been hired, your FWS supervisor will go online and request an FWS authorization. Once it is approved by the FWS office, your award will appear as "Accept" on your myNorthridge Portal.

Please keep in mind that although you have been awarded work-study, we cannot guarantee you will successfully find an FWS job. If you are unable to find an FWS job, you may look for non-FWS jobs, on or off-campus positions, by logging into the Career Center website. You may also visit the Career Center in University Hall 105 for on-campus student assistant positions and off-campus opportunities.

If you have any questions, please contact us by sending an email to work.study@csun.edu or call (818) 677-2373.

Sincerely,
Josefina Carbajal
Federal Work-Study Manager

Financial Aid & Scholarship Department
Bayramian Hall, Student Services Center
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8307
1-818-677-4085
www.csun.edu/financialaid

Forms and Links


Important Forms and Links


Forms

Campus Time Sheet Download PDF
Once you're employed as a student assistant, track your hours on this time sheet.

Federal Work-Study Change Request Form Download PDF
Submit this form to request a change in your work-study award.

Federal Work-Study Student Job Application Download PDF
Give this to your supervisor when applying for a work-study job.

Student Award Balance Tracking SheetDownload Excel Document
Make sure you don't exceed your work-study award by keeping track of your monthly earnings.

Links

Job search

Salary schedule

Drug-free Campus and Workplace Policy

Withdrawal policy