Work-Study Information

Work-study is a need-based financial aid program. To qualify, a student must submit a current year FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) by the priority deadline, must demonstrate financial need (as determined by the federal government), and must have been awarded by the Evergreen Office of Financial Aid.

Evergreen has more students who qualify for work-study than there is funding for. As a result, not everyone who is eligible will receive an award.

All financial aid awards, including work-study, are awarded to groups of students and not individually to insure the fairest distribution. Consequently, there is no guarantee that students who had work-study in previous years will receive it in subsequent years. The best way to insure that students are considered for all types of aid is to reapply for aid by the priority deadline each year.

Note: If a work-study student drops below half-time status during the regular academic year, they will not be eligible for work-study funded employment.

How The Program Works
The Work-Study Program was created to stimulate and promote part-time employment for students who have financial need and who need to work to pursue a college education. It allows students to earn part of their educational expenses and is intended to provide worthwhile job opportunities for qualified students.

Work-Study also offers education and job experience. In a more competitive job market, employers seek applicants who have employment and academic experience. Work-study jobs may also provide:

• Practical training and experience in a chosen field
• Positive job experience to help students identify career objectives
• An impressive resume and recommendations from employers

The work-study program subsidizes a portion of student wages for an employer, which allows for the creation of many more jobs than would otherwise be available.

Reading and Math Tutor Opportunities!
Work-Study Recipients can use their award to get jobs as Reading Tutors in local elementary or Math Tutors in middle schools! This is a great community service opportunity and the pay is usually above the average hourly rate on campus.

The elementary schools in Thurston County enjoy having Evergreen students in the classrooms. They are very accommodating and the hours are flexible. For more details contact the Student Employment Office.

Work-Study recipients can also work with community literacy programs, state agencies, and other non-profit organizations. If there is an off-campus employer that a work-study recipient wants to work with and does not see a job description on our job board for it, the student should let our staff know. It is possible that we can make that opportunity happen!

Download the the Washington State Work Study Student Handbook

Many of our work-study students use their award in some kind of community service. It's a great way to give back to the community and help improve the quality of life for local residents.

Students enjoy community service jobs because it allows them to be socially active and to apply their education in a real life circumstance. Working in community service also allows students to "test the waters," and work in an organization that is closely aligned with their academic emphasis.

Work Hours Restriction
All student employees are limited to working no more than 19 hours per week while school is in session. However, the actual number of hours a work-study student may work depends on the amount of their work-study award and their rate of pay. For example, if a work-study award is for $4,500 for the academic year, and rate of pay is $8.00 per hour, assuming the student works an average of 30 weeks (10 weeks per quarter), the student could work 18.75 hours per week over the course of the academic year:

$4,500 award - 30 weeks = $150 per week;
$150 - $8.00 per hour = 18.75 hrs per week.

It is important to remember that the dollar amount of a work-study award represents the gross amount that a student can earn, and includes both the employer share and work-study share of earnings.

It is the responsibility of both the student and the employer to monitor earnings in order to avoid exceeding your work-study award. Once the work-study award is exhausted, the employer will be held responsible for paying 100% of earned wages if the student continues to work.

Duration Of Work-Study Award
Students can use their work study award from September 16th 2007 through June 15th 2008, as long as they are enrolled in classes each quarter.

• All students must manage work schedules to avoid exceeding the award allotment for the quarter. An increase in the award amount should not be expected. Earnings above the award amount will come out of the employer's budget.
  
• If the student uses up an award too fast, and the student does not attend one of the quarters that the award was intended to cover, the student may be in jeopardy of being over awarded, which would require repayment.
  
• If the supervisor wants to continue to employ the student when the work-study award is exhausted, they must use institutional funding. An employer may not be able to afford this.