Financial Aid

West Chester University

25 University Avenue, Suite #030
West Chester, PA 19383
Phone: (610) 436-2627
Fax: (610) 436-2574

Federal Work Study Student Employment Program

The purpose of the Federal Work Study Student Employment Program at West Chester University is to stimulate and promote the part-time employment of students who are enrolled as degree-seeking undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who are in need of earnings from employment to pursue their course of study AND to encourage students receiving Federal student assistance to participate in community service activities that will benefit the Nation and engender in the students a sense of social responsibility and commitment to the community.

To apply for the Federal Work Study Student Employment program students MUST indicate their interest in work-study by their response to the Federal Work Study Student employment question on the 2012- 2013 FAFSA. The FAFSA is used to determine the student's eligibility, financial "need" to participate in the program. The student must also submit a WCU Federal Work Study Student Employment Application available in the aid office and on the WCU web site. The WCU Federal Work Study Student Employment Application is used to determine the departmental assignment.

The WCU Federal Work Study Student Employment Program is a "Need based" federally funded program. Funds are limited and students must meet the federal regulations governing the program.

As such, all students cannot be offered work study and all will not qualify. The priority deadline for BOTH applications is always March 1^st.

Federal Work Study (FWS) awards will appear in your financial aid package, accessible on-line at myWCU via www .wcupa.edu. Please check your WCU email account and myWCU on a regular basis for alerts as they related to your financial aid package. All funds earned are to be used for educational related expenses. Awards will not appear on your account summary/bill.

New students must satisfy the admissions deposit requirement to gain access to myWCU. New students are placed in a department their first year.

Currently enrolled students are encouraged to secure the signature from a representative of the department in which they desire employment. Awards for currently or previously enrolled students

will not be made until spring grades are posted and academic progress has been determined.

Federal Work Study Student Employment Contracts, for the academic year, will be mailed home during the summer, beginning in June. Employment offers made after July 15th will be sent to students via their WCU email account. The contract contains information pertaining to the student's job placement, hourly wage, and departmental information. Return your contract by the deadline to secure your student employment position. Contracts not received by the deadline will suggest that the student is no longer interested in participating in the program and will serve as a release by the student of the position.

New students employees are required to submit I9 and W4 forms, in person, to the Payroll Office. The Payroll Office is located at 201 Carter Drive. The Payroll Office will request your social security card.

FWS participants may only hold one job process by the WCU Payroll Office. Since most additional offers are made through an application/selection process the student is aware of the potential for this to occur. Should this occur the student will be removed from the Federal Work Study Program at the discretion of the aid office, to make these funds available to another student. Students are under no obligation to accept the Federal Work Study Student Employment offer.

FWS Student Employees should report to work during the first week of the session they are assigned to work, to avoid being reported as a NO SHOW and removed from the program. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to confirm the student's employment status BEFORE permitting the student to begin work. Only ACTIVE students should be permitted to begin work. Only ACTIVE students will receive a time sheet from the Payroll Office. Students will receive a paycheck, compensation, on a bi-weekly basis for the hours worked.

Miscellaneous Student Employment Forms
The 2012-2013 WCU Federal Work Student Employment Application - March 1st Priority deadline. Summer 2012 - Employment Application will be available in the Aid Office in March 2012. If funding is available. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Sept. 1st - Applications for 2011-2012 are no longer being accepted at this time.	Currently enrolled students are encouraged to secure the signature of a departmental representative. Students participating in the Federal Work Study Student Employment Program may only hold one (1) employment position processed by the WCU Student Employment payroll process. Summer - WCU students are not required to take classes during the summer.
Confidentiality Statement - Departments that engage Federal Work Study Students in work that involves confidential and information, documents and materials are required to collect a confidential statement from each of their students. This document should be forwarded to the financial aid office.	All students must complete and have on file with their CURRENT place of employment. Download, print & submit to your CWS supervisor.
Departmental Job Listings- (Currently being updated.) Departments with Federal Work Study Students are required to provide Job Descriptions.	List of departments approved for Federal Work Study positions. Assigned students may find helpful - Job descriptions are posted.
Direct Deposit Form	1) Print form 2) Fill out the form completely 3) Write "void" on a personal check 4) Take the forma & the your voided check to the Human Resources/Payroll Office.
Federal Work Study Student Employment Guidelines	Student & Supervisor use. Also available in FAO.
Student Employment Payroll Time Sheets & Payroll Schedule	Time sheets MUST be signed by the student and supervisor. Provided by the WCU Payroll Dept.
Student Employment Transfer Form -	May be initiated by either the student or the supervisor. Must contain both parties signatures. Transfers are not guaranteed and relocation is based on on the vacancies available at the time of request.
Payroll Forms - I-9 and W-4 forms are distributed and processed by the Payroll Office. These forms must be completed in person AND students should bring a copy of their social security cards to confirm their social security number.	Must be submitted to and processed by the payroll office BEFORE the student begins to work. Available in the the Payroll Office 201 Carter Drive.
Non- Federal Work Study Student Employment Opportunities
Aramark Food Service	Aramark provides catering and all food service on West Chester University's campus. Contact 610.436.3130 for open positions.
Graduate Assistantships	A limited number of graduate assistantships are available to qualified, full-time and part-time graduate students. Interested students should consult their department chairperson or graduate coordinator and the Office of Graduate Studies.
PA State Work-Study Program	Used to apply for the PA State Work Study Program. Open to PA residents only. Applications available on-line only at www.pheaa.org
Division of Student Affairs	There are paraprofessional job opportunities available through the Division of Student Affairs. These positions are not part of the Federal Work Study program.
SSI, Student Services Inc	The Official Bookstore of WCU is an independent, self-support, non-profit organization located on campus. Direct inquires to the SSI Business Office at (610)436-2955
Twardowski Career Development Center - Career-Oriented Positions and Internships.	The Twardowski Career Development Center accepts and post career-oriented positions and internships submitted by outside agencies and organizations. These positions are posted within Job Binders that are available to students and alumni.

To the maximum extent practicable, a school must provide FWS jobs that compliment and reinforce the recipient's educational program and or career goals." Use of computers, software of various types, phone skills, working with others, collecting information, preparing reports, verifying inventories, etc, are all work skills that complement and reinforce almost any educational program and career goals. FWS also encourages employment opportunities that "provide an environment for growth and stimulation." Some FWS students through a combination of education and familiarity with the work, and in the case of a FWS student who works with the same department for a number of years, which may enable the FWS student to increase the complexity of the tasks they can perform.