Financial Aid Office

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program provides funds for part-time jobs which allow students to earn money needed to pay for educational expenses. Work-Study awards are a form of federal financial aid. Positions are available both on and off campus. Students are encouraged to find positions that provide work experience in their field of study or provide valuable service to the community. Jobs are advertised on Human Resources Equal Opportunity Web site.

If you have received a Federal Work-Study award and you need to find a Work-Study job, the following information is important for you to know.

Finding the right Work-Study job takes a little effort but is not complicated. Students will be required to complete a Student Employment Profile online in order to be considered for on-campus jobs. For a full explanation of on-campus student employment opportunities and job descriptions click here.

Before you can begin a work-study job on campus, your employer must complete a request for student services form. You do NOT have to obtain a payroll form from the Financial Aid Office. You must be hired by the below void dates or your work-study award will be canceled.

Failure to be hired by the void date will result in cancellation of your work-study award.

Remember that getting a Work-Study job is just like getting any other position, including interviews and applications. There is no guarantee that the position you want will be available to you. So the earlier you get started, the better your chances of finding the perfect Work-Study job

The first step to getting a paycheck is to have your employer complete your hire paperwork. As an hourly employee working on campus, you will enter your hours worked each day online through your webadvisor. As a Work-Study student, you are an employee of the University whether you work on or off campus. University employees are paid every two weeks. Please review the Web time Entry Training for Hourly Personnel tutorial. The Payroll Office, located in room 113 in the Sands Building, requires all employees to complete direct deposit information. If the deposit information is not provided prior to printing the employee's first paycheck, the check will be distributed to a campus card. You will need to go to the Payroll Office to provide your deposit information in order to receive your payroll check. All new hire employees are to be directed to the Office of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity to complete the I-9 form on OR before their first day of work.

You cannot receive a paycheck until your payroll form has been submitted by your employer and you have submitted your hours worked on-line. Be sure to submit your paperwork promptly to avoid a delay on your part in receiving your paycheck.

The University has established a new minimum pay rate of $8.00 per hour for all first year student assistants effective January 1, 2009. Second year student assistants are paid $8.40 per hour; $8.80 per hour third year; $9.60 per hour fourth year.

While pay rates vary slightly between jobs, the amount you may earn (your award) is fixed. This total is on your award letter. Once you have earned this amount, you must stop working. That's why it's important to plan your work schedule at the beginning of each term and figure out how long it will take to earn your award.

The formula is simple:

Work-Study Award Amount / Hourly Pay Rate / # Weeks in term = Hours per week.

You are allowed one job change each year. Stop by the Financial Aid Office and request the change. You'll need to bring a form terminating your previous employment and a record of the amount you earned. In approximately two (2) days, a new payroll form will be available.

While the Financial Aid Office does not encourage students to hold multiple Work-Study positions, you may, with prior approval from the Financial Aid Office, work more than one job at the same time. You cannot work more than twenty hours in any week while classes are in session.

If you can't decide which job to take remember that the goal of Work-Study is to provide a "real life" work experience while you are in school. It may not always be possible, but the ideal Work-Study position would be related to your educational goals or career interest.

If you're a business major, for example, you may want to look at jobs that provide office or accounting experience. If you're studying sociology, one of the "Community Service" positions might be perfect.

The final decision is yours. In fact, that's the secret of making Work-Study work for you. There are a variety of challenging positions and opportunities to learn, and the sooner you get started, the better your chances of finding the right Work-Study job

If you drop to less than halftime or withdraw from the University during a semester or summer session, you may not continue working through the Work-Study Program. Please visit the Financial Aid Office to meet with a counselor about terminating the Work-Study job. You will also receive information about the effect of the withdrawal on other forms of financial aid.

The Federal Work-Study program at CCU has a special "Community Service" category. Work-Study students work directly with agencies which provide much needed services to families and individuals right here in Horry County. From Boys and Girls Clubs to elementary schools for at risk teens, CCU Work-Study students have the opportunity to serve their community and get paid in the process.

While the pay scale for "Community Service" positions is comparable to other Work- Study jobs, the rewards can be priceless. Look for the special "America Reads/Counts" section.

Work-Study students have the opportunity to help teach children in reading and math. Students work directly with elementary schools and different agencies in an effort to make sure that all children can read and solve mathematical problems. You can become a tutor by coming to the Financial Aid Office and asking for an application to be an America Reads/America Counts Tutor, attend a Tutor/Mentor Workshop, receive orientation at school and meet children, attend a literacy workshop, and a criminal background check and 2.0 GPA is required.

Participating Schools: