General Questions about Federal Work Study
These frequently asked questions help clarify the federal work study process.
- Current students are notified via email by the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. Students are provided detailed instructions on where and how to apply. If a student has not been notified, they may be ineligible for various reasons. Additional information can be found in Student Employment
- A very limited population of entering freshmen will be offered FWS funds on their Financial Aid Package. To ensure you are assigned a position, you must accept the funds by the date reflected on your award notice. Additional details can be found in Student Employment.
No. In order to be eligible a student must
- Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the priority deadline published on the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarship’s website. If randomly selected for verification, all verification forms with appropriate income tax documentation must be submitted. Any other documentation requirements not associated with verification must also be completed. Returning students must complete this procedure each academic year.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Demonstrate financial need.
- Be a degree seeking student enrolled at least half-time (i.e., no less than 6 eligible credit hours).
- Be working towards completion of their first undergraduate degree.
- Be maintaining UWF’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.
Federal Work Study funds are earned based on the hours worked during a pay period and students receive a bi-weekly paycheck. Students are paid according to Florida's minimum wage standards and are processed bi-weekly via direct deposit.
FWS funds are not applied towards a student's semester balance.
- Notification of your assignment will be provided via email around mid-to-late July. The email notification will be forwarded to your UWF Gmail account and your supervisor will be copied on the notice.
- Yes. Regardless if the student previously participated, all students must complete online orientation.
- Yes. If a student earns more than their allotment in fall, the expectation that they may exhaust their total funds prior to the end of the spring semester should be understood.
- Students are strictly prohibited from working in excess of 20 hours a week, and students are not allowed to exceed their allotment of funds for the year.
While there is not a minimum number of hours a student can work, we do advise working 10-11 hours a week so that the FWS award will last the entire aid year. It should be understood that if FWS students work over the recommend weekly hours, they are subject to exhausting their allotted FWS award before the end of the spring semester
Student cannot exceed 20 hours per week (or 40 hours bi-weekly).
Yes. Students are required to remain aware of how many hours they are working per week. You are also expected to remain aware of how much of your total allotment has been earned. Students will submit their hours worked biweekly for supervisors review.
Yes, students can work during scheduled school breaks, finals week, and other holidays ONLY if the university remains open and operational.
Student should first speak with their direct supervisor. If your supervisor cannot assist, you will need to contact the Controller's Office for paycheck questions, and time-sheet questions should be directed towards Human Resources.
No. Current students are required to apply and be hired for a position. Additional details can be found in Student Employment.
Not necessarily. Current students must apply and be hired for a position every academic year.
No. Students do not need to be enrolled full-time; however, students must be at least half-time (i.e., 6 eligible credit hours).