Federal Work-Study
Federal Work-Study money comes from Federal funds and is part of your financial aid package. Your Federal Work-Study award does not come off your bill. You will be paid an hourly wage for work performed.
Umass/Dartmouth has two Federal Work-Study employment options available. You may work on-campus or you may work at an off-campus agency while being paid through Federal Work-Study. Off-campus employers are federal or state agencies or not-for-profit organizations.
All students with a Work-Study award must find a job by October 1st in the fall and March 1st in the spring or their award will be cancelled. Federal Work-Study is not automatically renewed. You must apply each year by March 1st, the required deadline for priority consideration for financial aid, which includes Federal Work-Study.
For a listing of all Federal Work-Study jobs go to the Student Job Listing database.
Non Work-Study
UMass/Dartmouth has two non work-study employment options available to accommodate students' schedules and financial needs. Students may work on-campus or they may work off-campus through the Job Location and Development ( JLD) program. For a listing of all on-campus jobs go to the Student Job Listing database and for a listing of off-campus jobs click here.
Job Hunting Tips
Finding a Job and getting Paid
Interviewing
The application and interview process differs among student jobs. Some supervisors may request that you send a resume and /or cover letter prior to the interview, or they may inform you that you will need to complete an employment application when you arrive for the interview.
Student job interviews are often informal however, while on an interview you should:
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dress appropriately,
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conduct yourself in a professional manner,
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provide accurate information regarding your skills.
By the end of the interview you should know:
- responsibilities of the job,
- pay rate,
- type and length of training required to perform the job,
- your work schedule for the current semester,
- your start date and length of employment.
You should always feel free to ask questions if you would like more information on any aspects of the job.
Remember, the Student Employment Office is always available to help you throughout the job search and interview process.
Back to Student
Policies
Who is eligible to work on campus?
- Only students enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the University.
- Graduate and undergraduate students must be registered as a degree candidate or in a qualified certificate program.
- International students may not work more than 8 hours per day or 20 hours per week when school is in session. There are no exceptions.
OBRA (Deferred Compensation Plan) requirements
If you work on-campus during the summer and are not enrolled in 6 or more credit hours you will be required to contribute 7.5% of your compensation to the Commonwealth's Deferred Compensation Plan, in lieu of having to pay FICA taxes. This mandatory contribution is a state requirement for all part-time, temporary or seasonal employees of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Reporting of hours worked
Time sheets should be supplied and made available by the department for whom you work. It is the student's responsibility to complete a time sheet at the end of every work period. Failure to do so will result in no pay. It is not the employer's responsibility to find you at the end of a pay period to find out the hours you worked.
Restrictions on hours worked
No student may work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. The number of hours a student may work in a Federal Work-Study position are limited by the availability of funds. Students are paid only for actual hours worked. They will not be paid for holiday, sick time, snow days, meal time or travel time.
International students may not work more than 8 hours per day or 20 hours a week when school is in session. This is pursuant to Department of Homeland Security regulations and there are no exceptions. An international student may work on campus full-time when school in not in session.
Deadlines
- August 23, 2009 - Fall Federal Work-Study begins.
- December 16, 2009 - Fall Federal Work-Study ends.
- January 25, 2010 - Spring Federal Work-Study begins.
- May 12, 2010 - Spring Federal Work-Study ends.
- October 1, 2009 - Students who do not appear on the Federal Work-study payroll by October 1st will have their entire academic year Work-Study award canceled unless they submit a deferment request.
Last Updated On: 7/29/09
