What is Work Study?
Work Study is a form of employment. If you are eligible for this type of financial aid, you can apply for designated Work Study positions either on or off campus and receive an hourly wage for the work that you do. Typically, a student can work up to ten hours per week and receive $7.00 per hour.

What's the difference between federal Work Study (FWS) and state Work Study (SWS)?
Federal Work Study funds are provided by the federal government while state Work Study funds are provided by the State of Minnesota. The jobs, pay, and employee expectations are exactly the same. You must, however, meet Minnesota residency requirements in order to be paid under the state Work Study program.

Who qualifies for Work Study?
Your eligibility for Work Study is determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To be considered for Work Study eligibility, you must answer "yes" to the question on the FAFSA asking if you are interested in Work Study. Work Study eligibility is based on the student having "financial need" You can access information about financial need at http://www.lsc.edu/financialaid/hwaiddet.cfm. If you qualify, Work Study eligibility will be listed on your Award Letter.

How many credits do I have to be taking in order to work on work study?
You must be enrolled for a minimum of six non-repeated credits in order to be employed on the work study program. However, it is possible that you can work during the summer term and not be registered for six or more credits. In this case, you must have already received an award letter for the following academic year. If you are eligible, your summer work study will be counted as a source of financial aid for that next academic year. Contact the Placement Director for further information.

What jobs are available?
There are a variety of Work Study jobs both on and off campus. The jobs on campus are with the various departments and programs that reside on the campus. Jobs off campus are with non-profit agencies and local schools.

Where are the jobs posted?
All Work Study positions are posted on the Lake Superior College Financial Aid website at http://www.lsc.edu/financialaid/wkstuintro.cfm The job postings are updated regularly. However, fall term jobs are not usually posted before August 1st of each year. The individual job postings list information about the job, number of hours per week, and the person to contact if you are interested in applying for the position.

Do I automatically get a job?
No. There are more students who qualify for Work Study than there are jobs available. Therefore, as for any job, you need to go through an interview process and be hired for a position. We suggest that you begin the process of looking for a position as soon as positions are posted.

What if I'm not hired for a job?
If you remain interested in pursuing a Work Study position, you should continue to check the Work Study job posting site as new jobs are posted throughout the term. If you are not hired, you will not be able to take advantage of Work Study funding.

What paperwork do I have to complete if I'm hired for a position?
You will need to complete a Work Study contract and provide payroll information. All paperwork must be completed prior to starting work. See Betsy Jacobson in the Counseling, Advising and Career Center

How do I get paid?
You complete a timesheet that includes the hours you work for a two-week period. Your supervisor submits the timesheet for you at the end of each bi-weekly pay period. Your check is available for pickup at the college switchboard on payday. If it is not picked up in person on payday, it will be mailed to your permanent address.

Some jobs pay $7.00, others pay $8.00. What is the difference?
Off campus positions pay $8.00 per hour because of the travel expense involved in getting to and from work.

Do I ever get a raise?
Students who have been employed in the same position for a year will receive a raise to $8.00 per hour beginning fall term of the following year.

Can I work during the summer?
There are a minimal amount of Work Study jobs available during the summer. If you are enrolled for a minimum of 6 non-repeated credits during the summer term, you may be eligible to work during the term. However, you must complete a Summer Financial Aid Application and a Summer Work Study Application in order for us to determine if you are eligible. If you are not attending at least 6 credits during the summer, you may still be able to work, but your Work Study award would be part of the following academic year's financial aid. You must have received an award letter for the following fall and must have completed a Summer Work Study Application in order for us to determine if you are eligible.

What if I don't like the job that I'm hired to do?
You may resign from your position. However, you will want to give your supervisor and Betsy Jacobson, the Placement Director, at least two weeks notice of your resignation. You will be able to apply for other Work Study positions if they are available at that time.

What if I don't want Work Study?
Work Study eligibility was listed on your award letter because you stated on the FAFSA that you were interested in a Work Study job and you qualified for the program. If you are no longer interested in Work Study, you can choose to ignore the Work Study award. There is no need to contact us if you are not interested in pursuing a Work Study position.

If I don't want to work under the Work Study program, can I receive additional Stafford student loan funds?
In some cases students are eligible to decline their Work Study eligibility and receive additional Stafford student loan eligibility. However, this is only in the case where you have not already applied for the maximum amounts allowed for your dependency status and grade level and your current financial aid does not exceed your financial aid budget. If you feel you may be eligible for additional Stafford loan funding by declining your Work Study, you should contact the loan officer in the Enrollment Services Center or e-mail us at enroll@lsc.edu to request that your Work Study eligibility be removed and your award recalculated.

For more Workstudy FAQ's: Workstudy Jobs .