Using Your FWS Funds

Supervisors will send a list of their student employees to our office. Once eligibility is confirmed, you will see an FWS award on your financial aid portal. Please keep in mind that funding is limited and not all eligible students will receive an FWS award.

How much funding do I have?

The standard award amount is $2,000, but the amount you are awarded is dependent upon your financial need. We will award you as much as we can up to the maximum allowed.

How much will I be paid?

Your pay rate will be determined based on your job duties, skills, and experience. Your supervisor will communicate your pay rate to you.

How do I get paid?

You will record your hours on your time sheet. You will get paid bi-weekly through payroll and the funds will be deposited to your bank account. The funding does not get applied to your bill, though you can use your earnings to make a payment if you owe a balance.

Are my earnings taxable?

Yes, the earnings will be subject to federal and local taxes.

How many hours can I work?

You can work up to 20 hours per week. The program is only available during the fall and spring terms. You cannot work over winter break or the summer session without approval from Financial Aid. 

Can I have multiple FWS positions at one time?

No, however, you can work one FWS position and one Institutional Work Study (IWS) position at the same time, as long as you do not exceed the number of hours permitted while classes are in session. 

What happens if I switch FWS positions during the year?

Once the official termination paperwork has been submitted to HR, please ask the new FWS supervisor to contact Financial Aid directly.

What if I run out of funding before the end of the year/semester?

Please monitor your hours and notify your supervisor promptly when your funding is low. You are required to stop working once your FWS funds have been exhausted.

Sometimes your department can maintain your employment by using departmental funds. Contact your supervisor to see your available options.

How can I keep track of my hours?

You can view your total paid amounts in Self-Service Banner under the financial aid tab. The amount paid is at least two weeks behind so monitor your earnings as you get close to exhausting your award.

What if I don't use all of my funding?

Unused funding does not get paid out to you at the end of the year and it cannot be applied toward the next academic year. If you decide to stop working for any reason, please notify us so we can allocate any unused funds to another student in need.