FAQs For Campus Employment and Federal Work Study
For many years our student-employment programs have helped to meet student’s educational and financial needs, while strengthening and supporting many campus departments. This web site is a tool to provide you with important information about the policies and procedures for securing employment on campus. Please read the web site carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is Campus Employment or Federal Work Study?
- Who is eligible for Campus Employment or Federal Work Study?
- How do you know if you have been awarded Campus Employment or Federal Work Study?
- What is Federal Community Service Work Study?
- What is the hourly pay rate for Campus Employment/Federal Work Study?
- How do you find a Campus Employment or Federal Work Study job?
- How do you determine how many hours per week you can work?
- What do you need to do before you begin working?
- What are you responsible for after you begin working?
- What is the maximum number of hours that a student is allowed to work each day?
- What is the maximum number of hours that a student is allowed to work each week?
- Can I have more than one Campus Employment job per year?
- Can my award amount change?
- What happens to my work award if I withdraw from the University?
- Will my work earnings be automatically applied towards my student bill?
- Where will I pick up my check?
- What are I-9 Requirements?
- What do I need to know about timesheets and reporting time?
- How do I get a job if I don't have a work award?
- How do I obtain a copy of the Student Employment Handbook?
- Additional Forms
What is Campus Employment or Federal Work Study?
The Campus Employment and Federal Work Study programs offer on-campus employment to eligible students during the academic year.
Who is eligible for Campus Employment or Federal Work Study?
These are need-based programs awarded based on the information that you provide on your FAFSA form. Eligible students are automatically considered for this award by completing the FAFSA form. There is no separate application.
How do you know if you have been awarded Campus Employment or Federal Work Study?
Eligible students are notified of their Campus Employment/Federal Work Study awards by receiving award notification from the Financial Aid Office. You may always review your current awards on-line using your iSiS account.
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What is Federal Community Service Work Study?
There are a limited number of jobs that are considered community service. These jobs pay $12/hr and are off campus, but generally very local to the campus. It is a great way for students to get involved and give back to the community. Students are not automatically awarded Federal Community Service Work Study. Students must first secure a Community Service Job at one of our approved locations. These jobs are posted online with the on-campus job openings under the Off-Campus Community Outreach.
What is the hourly pay rate for Campus Employment/Federal Work Study?
The hourly pay rate for on campus employment is $10. Community Service Employment provides for $12 per hour.
How do you find a Campus Employment or Federal Work Study job?
All job openings can be found on the UMass Lowell Financial Aid website. Students contact the supervisor listed on the posting to set up an interview. It is always a good idea to contact more than one job supervisor at a time.
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How do you determine how many hours per week you can work?
Your award is based on the full academic year. Therefore, you first need to divide the total award amount by 32 weeks of instruction (there are 16 weeks in each semester) and then divide this number by your hourly wage. Please see the sample below.
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What do you need to do before you begin working?
- You must complete any outstanding paper work requested by the financial aid office. Please refer to your iSiS To Do List.
- You must complete an I9 and W4 form. Accompanying identification documentation must be delivered in person to the Financial Aid Office. Acceptable documentation is listed on the I9 form. These forms may be downloaded from the UMass Lowell Financial Aid website.
- You must pick up your work contract at the Financial Aid Office.
- The signed contract must be returned to the Financial Aid Office before you begin working.
What are you responsible for after you begin working?
It is your responsibility to keep track of the hours worked to ensure that you do not work over the contract amount. To be paid for the hours worked, you must submit enter your time into HR Direct web site on Thursday of each week. You cannot work over the amount of your contract.
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What is the maximum number of hours that a student is allowed to work each day?
Students may work a maximum of 7.5 hours per day. ***Please note: when the University is closed for a holiday or inclement weather you cannot work.***
What is the maximum number of hours that a student is allowed to work each week?
Students may work a maximum of 22 hours per week while school is in session and a maximum of 37.5 hours per week during breaks. ***Please note: when the University is closed for a holiday or inclement weather you cannot work.***
Can I have more than one Campus Employment job per year?
No. Students are only authorized to hold one position at a time. When you accept a postion in the fall it is assumed that you will keep the same position throughout the year. You must speak with the Student Employment Office to inquire about switching jobs.
Can my award amount change?
Yes. As with all financial aid, awards are subject to change if there are changes in enrollment, housing, residency and/or eligibility changes. The financial aid office will notify you via e-mail of such changes.
What happens to my work award if I withdraw from the University?
Your contract is terminated upon withdrawal from the University. You cannot continue to work if you decide to withdraw from school.
Will my work earnings be automatically applied towards my student bill?
Student work earnings will not be automatically applied to the student bill. A Student Withholding Authorization Form will be attached to your contract. You must complete this form to either accept or decline the option to have 70% of your paycheck automatically applied to your bill. You may start and terminate this option at any time during the year. It is your responsibility to determine how much of your work award is to be used towards your bill. Please meet with a financial aid counselor if you need assistance.
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Where will I pick up my check?
Checks are available in the Bursar’s Office located in Dugan Hall every two weeks on Friday after 12:00 p.m. Some departments request to have student’s checks sent over to the department administrative assistants. Please check with your supervisor.
What are I-9 Requirements?
New employees must complete section 1 on an original I9 form on or before your first day of work. You must present acceptable documentation when you complete the I9 form. A list of acceptable documents appears on the back of the I9 form. You must present the document(s) within 3 business days of the date employment begins. If you are unable to present the required document(s), you must present a receipt for the application for the document(s) within 3 business days. You must then present the actual document(s) within 90 days of the date employment begins. A copy of your documentation will be attached to your I9 form. If you are appointed for less than 3 days, you must complete section 1 and present acceptable documentation on your first day of work. For more information please consult the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Important: Any hours worked before an I-9 is completed will be considered volunteer time and will not be paid.
What do I need to know about timesheets and reporting time?
Completing your timesheet by appropriate deadlines is essential to your receipt of a paycheck. Once you have entered your time into H.R. Direct your supervisor will approve it and it will be forwarded to the Payroll Department for processing.
Remember:
- Time reporting is due every week that you work.
- Time must be submitted by 10 a.m. on Thursday of the week worked.
- Time reporting may be required earlier during certain weeks to accommodate a holiday schedule, school closing, or other business needs.
- Departments may have other requirements; please be sure to check with your supervisor.
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How do I get a job if I don't have a work award?
The Student Employment Office has a Job Locator Program that is designed to help students find part-time, off campus employment opportunities. Job listings are posted on a bulletin board in the Financial Aid Office and on our Job Location and Development page.
Students do not have to be financial aid recipients to fill out a Job Locator Inquiry. After completing the inquiry in the Financial Aid Office or via email, a student can choose up to three posted jobs and receive a referral card or email that provides pertinent information for contacting the hiring manager for an interview.
How do I obtain a copy of the Student Employment Handbook? The Student Employment Handbook (pdf) is available on UMass Lowell Financial Aid website or in the Financial Aid Office, Dugan Hall.
- Direct Deposit (pdf)
- Withholding Form (pdf)
- Termination of Withholding (pdf)
If you have other questions that have not been answered here please feel free to contact the Student Employment Office via e-mail at Student_Jobs@uml.edu.
Phone: 978-934-4220 Fax: 978-934-3009 Contact us