Federal Work-Study Program

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program gives students a chance to work part-time on or off campus. You can earn money to help pay for school costs. This type of financial aid is very popular, but money for it is limited.

Watch our Minute-to-Learn-It video on Federal Work-Study.

Eligibility is based on:

• Financial aid file completion date
• Demonstrated unmet financial need
• Enrollment in a minimum of 6 units of required coursework
• Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (passing your classes and moving towards your goal)
• Applicant must be 18 years of age or older

If you are determined to be possibly eligible and want a work-study job, here’s what to do:

1. Accept the Work-Study award offered on WebSTAR
2. Check your IVC student email for instructions about Work-Study 

Important: It’s up to you to find a Work-Study job. Even if you accept the offer, it does not guarantee that you will get a job. Students who had a Work-Study job before also need to follow these steps, and they are not guaranteed the same job every year.

If you get hired, you must fill out an employment packet and meet all the rules before you can start working. You will be paid by the hour, and you will get a certain number of hours you are allowed to work. Each month, you’ll turn in a timecard, and you’ll be paid once a month for the hours you worked the month before.

You can work until one of these happens:

• You use up your entire Work-Study award
• The Spring semester ends
• Federal Work Study funds are exhausted

After that, your job will end.

FWS students are expected to follow the same rules and responsibilities as other employees. You must also follow the  Fair Labor Standards Act, which protects workers' rights.

For more details, check out the Work-Study Student Handbook 

 

CalWORKs Work-Study Program

CalWORKs students have the opportunity to participate in our work-study program. It is designed to stimulate and promote employment of eligible students by providing work opportunities and an additional source of income within the requirements of the CalWORKs program.

Work-study programs enhance your skills and experience to successfully compete in the job market.

Benefits include:

• Valuable work experience, including on-the-job skills and ethics.
• Wages do not affect your monthly cash aid amount.
• Work-study hours can be counted towards Welfare-to-Work requirements.

Work-study is a time-limited program and provides an additional source of income within the requirements of the CalWORKs program. All work-study positions are temporary subsidized positions. Work-study placements are not guaranteed to continue to the next semester.

If you are a CalWORKs student, you may be able to join the work-study program at IVC. This program helps students get jobs while staying within CalWORKs rules. It also gives you a chance to earn extra money.

Work-study jobs can help you:

• Gain real work experience and learn skills you’ll need in the future
• Practice good work habits like being on time and responsible
• Earn money without lowering your monthly CalWORKs cash aid
• Count your work hours toward your Welfare-to-Work requirements

Work-study jobs are temporary and may not continue into the next semester. All jobs are subsidized, meaning they are partly paid for by the federal government to help you succeed. 

For more details, visit IVC CalWORKs.