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The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program provides funds for part-time jobs which allow students to earn money needed to pay for educational expenses. Work-Study awards are a form of federal financial aid. Positions are available both on and off campus. Students are encouraged to find positions that provide work experience in their field of study or provide valuable service to the community. Jobs are advertised on this Web Site.

If you have received a Federal Work-Study award and you need to find a Work-Study job, the following information is important for you to know.

Finding the right Work-Study job takes a little effort but is not complicated. Available job listings are posted Here. You will find:

• the job title
• the required qualifications
• the hours per week required
• the pay rate
• the employer's name, address, and phone number

Pick several positions that look promising and, using the information available , arrange some interviews. Before you make a commitment, make sure the work schedule doesn't conflict with your class or study schedule, and that you are comfortable with the hours required.

Before you can begin a work-study job on campus, your employer must complete a hire payroll form. You do NOT have to obtain a payroll form from the Financial Aid Office. You must be hired by the below void dates or your work-study award will be canceled.

Before you can begin a work-study job off campus, you must come to the Financial Aid Office and request your payroll form. Please make sure to identify yourself as an off campus work-study employee. You must be hired by the below void dates or your work-study award will be canceled.

 

Award Period	Void Date
Fall/Spring	October 15
Spring only	March 1
Summer I & II	June 15
Summer II only	July 15

Failure to be hired by the void date will result in cancellation of your work-study award.

Remember that getting a Work-Study job is just like getting any other position, including interviews and applications. There is no guarantee that the position you want will be available to you. So the earlier you get started, the better your chances of finding the perfect Work-Study job.

The first step to getting a paycheck is to have your employer complete your hire paperwork. As an hourly employee working on campus, you will enter your hours worked each week by logging onto ITAMS at https://itams.csd.sc.edu.  If you work off-campus, you will complete a weekly time card/sheet provided by the off-campus employer.  As a Work-Study student, you are an employee of the University whether you work on or off campus. University employees are paid on the 15th and the last working day of the month. The Payroll Office, located at 1600 Hampton Street, requires all employees to complete direct deposit information using the VIP system at https://vip.sc.edu.  If the deposit information is not provided prior to printing the employee's first paycheck, the check will not be distributed to the department.  You will need to go to the Payroll Office to provide your deposit information in order to receive your payroll check.

You cannot receive a paycheck until your payroll form has been submitted by your employer and you have submitted your hours worked via ITAMS if working on campus or a timecard if working off campus. You will not receive a check on the first pay date after you begin working because of the time required to process payroll forms.  Be sure to submit your paperwork promptly to avoid a delay on your part in receiving your paycheck.

While pay rates vary slightly between jobs, the amount you may earn (your award) is fixed. This total is on your award letter. Once you have earned this amount, you must stop working. That's why it's important to plan your work schedule at the beginning of each term and figure out how long it will take to earn your award.

The formula is simple:

Work-Study Award Amount / Hourly Pay Rate / # Weeks in term = Hours per week.

You are allowed one job change each year. Stop by the Financial Aid Office and request the change. You'll need to bring your PBP-3 form terminating your previous employment and a record of the amount you earned. In approximately two (2) days, a new payroll form will be available.

While the Financial Aid Office does not encourage students to hold multiple Work-Study positions, you may, with prior approval from the Financial Aid Office, work more than one job at the same time. You cannot work more than twenty hours in any week while classes are in session.

If you can't decide which job to take remember that the goal of Work-Study is to provide a "real life" work experience while you are in school. It may not always be possible, but the ideal Work-Study position would be related to your educational goals or career interest.

If you're a business major, for example, you may want to look at jobs that provide office or accounting experience. If you're studying sociology, one of the "Community Service" positions might be perfect.

The final decision is yours. In fact, that's the secret of making Work-Study work for you. There are a variety of challenging positions and opportunities to learn, and the sooner you get started, the better your chances of finding the right Work-Study job.

If you withdraw from the University during a semester or summer session, you may not continue working through the Work-Study Program. Please visit the Financial Aid Office to meet with a counselor about terminating the Work-Study job. You will also receive information about the effect of the withdrawal on other forms of financial aid.

The University of South Carolina's Federal Work-Study program has a special "Community Service" category. Work-Study students work directly with agencies which provide much needed services to families and individuals right here in the Columbia area. From homeless shelters to special schools for at risk teens, the University of South Carolina Work-Study students have the opportunity to serve their community and get paid in the process.

While the pay scale for "Community Service" positions is comparable to other Work- Study jobs, the rewards can be priceless. Look for the special "community service" section.

Work-Study students have the opportunity to help in teaching children to read. Students work directly with elementary schools and different agencies in an effort to make sure that all children can read by third grade. Look for the special "America Reads" section.

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