Federal Work Study

***As a FWS Employee, you are responsible for all the information presented and you will have to sign a contract agreeing to all the terms and conditions below***

To Begin: Students eligible for Federal Work-Study (FWS) at Cape Fear Community College must submit an application if interested in applying for a job. Students will then interview with potential supervisors and discuss available hours to work. Students must read all terms and conditions, sign a contract, and complete all other appropriate forms before s/he will be allowed to work. FWS students must sign a Confidentiality Statement in the Financial Aid Office before beginning work as well.

FYI: FWS students will generally perform jobs on the campuses of Cape Fear Community College, and always while under the supervision of a CFCC employee. FWS students do not replace regular employees of the College, and are not responsible for the operation of the office they are assigned to work. FWS students are not allowed to be responsible for opening and/or closing any offices on campus. Supervisors are not to ask FWS students to receive permission from their instructors to be excused from scheduled classes in order to work. FWS students must not have access to the College's computer system.

Very Important: FWS timesheets must be turned in on time. Students may not submit their own timesheets. Timesheets can be picked up in the Financial Aid Office. Time worked is not to be recorded in less than fifteen-minute increments on the timesheet. Timesheets are to be signed by the student and supervisor. The supervisor is responsible for completing the evaluation of the student’s work performance when the timesheet is signed and for turning the timesheet into the Financial Aid Office by 12pm on the 15th day of each month. If timesheets are not returned by 12 noon on the due date, the paycheck may be delayed until the following month. FWS paychecks may be retrieved from the Business Office on the last working day of each month.

Terms and Conditions of Federal Work-Study Awards

Pay Schedule

CFCC work-study students are paid on the last working day of each month. Direct deposit is available.

Limited Funds

Federal Work-Study (FWS) funds are limited; therefore, you have a limited amount of time to secure employment on FWS. Apply after completing your FAFSA and registering for classes. You will need to know your class schedule to determine your availability to work.

Enrollment Requirements

You must maintain at least half-time enrollment at CFCC (6 credits per semester). If you graduate, withdraw, are dismissed from the college, or drop below half-time enrollment at any point in the term, you immediately cease to be eligible to work. You will be able to work again only if you enroll at least half-time for a subsequent term. Additionally, if you do not submit a time sheet with hours worked for two consecutive pay periods, your contract will be terminated.

Your request to work in a specific department will be considered whenever possible, but not guaranteed.

Attention Students on Consortium Agreements: If you are attending another institution on a consortium agreement, you are not able to participate in the FWS program.

Maximum Hours Allowed to Work

You may be paid from FWS funds for no more than 20 hours per week. If you also work at another, non-FWS job on campus, the college imposes additional restrictions on the number of hours you may work.

FWS Award Calculation

The FWS award, as noted on the contract, cannot be exceeded. Once this amount has been earned, the work assignment will terminate for the year. Notices may be sent periodically to FWS students and supervisors concerning the balance left for the student to earn.

FWS awards are usually made through the last day of class for Spring Semester. FWS employment may be terminated earlier depending upon the availability of federal funding.

Amount of Funds

Your contract agreement lists the amount of FWS award for which you are eligible. Arrange your hours with your supervisor so that you can earn what you need, up to the maximum amount allowed. You are not guaranteed this amount of money; you must schedule your work with your supervisor so that you can earn the amount.

The supervisor and student are to keep a daily log of hours worked and keep track of award amount.

Work During Breaks

You may be permitted to work between terms if FWS funds are available and if your supervisor has work for you to do.

Class Schedule

Federal regulations prohibit students from working during their scheduled class times. You should provide a copy of your class schedule to your supervisor each semester and arrange a work schedule which is mutually agreeable and which does not conflict with your classes.

Employee Expectations

FWS employees cannot handle any cash transactions, only the Full-Time CFCC employees are allowed.

FWS employees are not allowed to work on work-station computers geared for Full-Time CFCC employees; they are only allowed access to computers for student usage.

You are expected to do your best to be a good employee. This means going to work on time, working your scheduled hours, notifying your supervisor if you will not be able to work, and completing in a satisfactory manner the tasks assigned to you by your supervisor. You are not paid to study. To receive your FWS funds you must work and report your hours each pay period as directed by your supervisor.

If FWS students are sick or cannot report to work, they should contact the supervisor immediately. When possible, students should inform the supervisor at least a day before the day of absence. If FWS students plan to withdraw from school or wish to terminate the work assignment, they should notify the Financial Aid Office and the supervisor immediately.

Your FWS job is a great place to learn professionalism. You are expected to act in a businesslike and appropriate manner on the job. This includes giving notice to your supervisor if you decide to resign once you are hired.

In order to remain employed, all FWS students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and follow the Student Code of Conduct while in class and at the workplace.

FWS students are required to dress in an appropriate manner. If the FWS position is in a professional office, (i.e. Financial Aid or Admissions Office) students are required to adhere to a professional dress code.

Time Sheet Falsification

Time sheet falsification is time recorded on your time sheet that you did not actually work. Time sheet falsification is a crime. Any student who falsifies his or her hours worked will be referred to the appropriate campus authority for investigation and possible disciplinary action. Students who have been proven to have engaged in such conduct may expect serious consequences, including immediate termination from the FWS program.

Inappropriate Activity

Any student who misuses college equipment or supplies, or commits any other serious infraction of CFCC’s Code of Student Conduct, will be subject to disciplinary action by the appropriate campus authority. Students who have been proven to have engaged in such conduct may expect serious consequences, including termination from the FWS program.

Cape Fear Community College