Federal Work-Study for NAU students

Frequently asked questions

What is Federal Work-Study (FWS)?

Federal Work-Study provides funds for part-time employment for students with financial need to help them pay for college.

How do I qualify for Federal Work-Study?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once a student has completed the FAFSA, the Federal Government determines financial need and notifies the school. If a student has financial need, they might be eligible for FWS.

How do I know if I qualify for FWS?

If you’re eligible for the Federal Work-Study Program, the offer will appear on your award letter that you receive from NAU. There will be an amount listed for FWS. This is the maximum amount you’re allowed to earn under FWS. Once you’ve worked and earned your total FWS amount, your hiring supervisor will move you from a FWS employee to a Student Wage (SW) employee.

If I qualify, what do I do next?

The next step would be to accept your Federal Work-Study award by Sept. 30.

1. Access your LOUIE student account.
2. Select “Main Menu.”
3. Select “Self Service.”
4. Select “Finances.”
5. Select “Accept/Decline Awards.”
6. Select the Aid Year for the financial aid you want to review.
7. Next to the Federal Work-Study award, click the “Accepted” box to accept your Federal Work-Study award, and then click the “Submit” button.
8. If you don’t want your Federal Work-Study Award, be sure you “Decline” the award, as this updates your financial aid account.

I accepted my award, now what do I do?

Now it’s time to start looking for a job. NAU posts all open positions on the Handshake website, and NAU students can log in to Handshake using their LOUIE login. Make sure your Handshake profile is up to date with all of your latest information. Once your profile is updated, you’ll be able to begin searching for and applying for jobs you’re interested in.

For assistance navigating Handshake, check out the “Help Center” tutorials within Handshake or call 928-523-1087 during business hours.

What types of FWS jobs are available?

There are three types of FWS jobs:

• On-campus jobs are located within NAU departments. Note: this does NOT include third party contractors, including Sodexo, Starbucks, or the bookstore (eFollett).

• Off-campus jobs are located throughout the Flagstaff community and are available with a wide variety of nonprofit or community service organizations.

• America Reads is a collaboration between the Federal Work-Study program and the NAU College of Education to provide tutoring to elementary school children In Flagstaff.

I applied for a job and now I have an interview. What is the next step?

Once you have an interview, be sure to show up to your interview on time and dressed in a professional manner. Answer the questions to the best of your ability. Remember, this is your opportunity to shine and demonstrate why you are the best person for the job.

I completed my interview, now what happens?

After your interview, the supervisor or person who interviewed you should contact you to let you know whether you got the job. If you are not offered the job, go back to Handshake and start applying for other positions. There are plenty of job opportunities on campus!

If you are offered the job, your supervisor will take care of your hiring forms for you and let you know the next steps.

Now that I’ve been hired, how do I get paid?

Once you’re hired, you supervisor should provide instructions on how you log in to your timesheet as well as how you clock in/out after each shift. You will have two position codes: one for Federal Work-Study, and one for Student Wage. You’ll begin clocking in under the Federal Work-Study position code. Your supervisor will track your hours and once you reach your FWS award, your supervisor will inform you to start clocking in and out under your Student Wage position code.

Regardless of whether you are paid by Federal Work-Study or Student Wage, you’ll receive a paycheck every two weeks through automatic deposit. If you do not have automatic deposit set up on your LOUIE account, you’ll be mailed a check every two weeks to your home address listed in LOUIE.

Can I resign from a FWS position?

At any time, you may resign from your Federal Work-Study position by notifying your supervisor. You can also be fired from a Federal Work-Study position for poor performance or for not meeting the expectation of the employer.

If I was originally awarded FWS and declined it, but now I want to accept it, what should I do?

Contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Keep in mind you must still have financial need for the FWS to be offered. Other financial aid you may have received, including loans, might impact your eligibility.

If I owe money to NAU, can they take my Federal Work-Study check?

No. Federal Work-Study money is earned by you, just like any other job. If you owe outstanding charges to the University, you can make a payment on your account using your FWS earnings, but the money will never be automatically applied to outstanding charges.

How much will I be paid per hour?

You will be paid at least the federal minimum wage, but the amount might be higher depending on the type of work you do and the skill level required.

Is FWS taxable income?

If a student earns enough income to file a tax return, it must be included as taxable income for federal and state purposes.

Do I have to report FWS earnings on the FAFSA?

Students must report FWS earnings on the FAFSA; however, it will not count as income like other wages would.

Do FWS earnings count against me when applying for financial aid next year? Does Work-Study affect financial aid?

FWS earnings do not count against the student for the following year’s federal financial aid.

Is there a Federal Work-Study job for every eligible student?

Unfortunately, no. Students are placed in jobs on a first-come, first-served basis once eligibility has been determined. FWS funding is limited, and not all students who are eligible will be offered Federal Work-Study.

Do I have to accept any job that is offered to me?

You will have an opportunity to consider the jobs available at the time you want to start working. After interviewing with a department supervisor, you decide whether to accept the job if an offer is extended to you. If you decide not to accept a job, you may consider others.

Am I paid to study or finish my homework?

Federal Work-Study jobs are real jobs with real responsibilities. You are paid to work, not study or do homework.

If I don’t use all the award money this year, can I use the Federal Work-Study funds I got this year to work next year?

Federal Work-Study is a form of financial aid and, like other forms of financial aid, may only be used in the year for which it was awarded.

If I have FWS this year, will I have it next year?

You must reapply for financial aid every year by completing the FAFSA when it re-opens. There’s no guarantee you’ll receive FWS each year, as it is part of your total financial aid package and will be influenced by other types of aid you receive, such as loans, family income, and your non-Federal Work-Study income during the previous year. All these items are variable and can impact your eligibility.

Can I return to the same FWS job each year?

If you are deemed eligible for Federal Work-Study and want to return to the same department, you may return, assuming the department would like you back. You’ll need to communicate with your department supervisor regarding the possibility of returning the following year.