What is Community Work-Study?

Work-study overview

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is through the U.S. Department of Education to provide funds for students with financial need, allowing IUPUI students to earn money to help offset the costs of higher education. Approximately 3,000 IUPUI students are offered work-study awards each academic year as part of their financial aid packages. Students can then secure a part-time job on campus and in approved community work-study agencies to work and to receive a biweekly paycheck.

The Community Work-Study (CWS) Program engages community partners and students in meaningful work experiences that not only help partners reach their organizational goals but also help students learn and develop through community-based, real-world experiences. Through hiring students who have been given work-study awards, departments and approved community work-study agencies provide students with financial need valuable skills and academically relevant work experiences and also receive a financial incentive through paying just 25% of students' wages up to their award amounts. The remaining 75% is subsidized by the federal government.

Approval process

To be considered as an approved agency for the Community Work-Study Program, the agency must be a nonprofit or a government entity. Agencies must go through the application and vetting process to be eligible to hire students with work-study awards. If you are interested in learning more about this program, or if you have any questions about this process, email fwsjobs@iupui.edu for more information and guidance.

How to recruit work-study students

All student employee job postings must be posted to IUPUI’s job board using our job posting form, which includes a question to indicate whether your position is limited to candidates with a work-study award to filter accordingly for students who match your requirements. Also, supervisors, departments, and approved community work-study agencies may include the blurb below in the qualifications section of the job posting.

This position is limited to candidates with a Federal Work-Study Program award. To verify you have a work-study award, please go to your One.IU.edu account (look under Student Center and locate the Financials tab). If you have an award, it will be listed under View Financial Aid or Accept/Decline Awards alongside the rest of your financial aid (e.g., loans, grants, scholarships). This video will direct you to the right screen, as well.

You may also email the Office of Student Financial Services to inquire about eligibility.

Identifying work-study students

We encourage employers who want to hire students with work-study funds to request that students provide confirmation of a work-study award during the interview to verify they have received a work-study award for the current term. Students can learn how to print their financial aid notification page as verification by referring to this page.