Harvard College Grants for Summer Public Service

Harvard College Summer 2008 Work Study Awards For Public Service

Federal Work-Study is a federally-funded program designed to create jobs for financially needy students to enable them to meet their educational expenses. The federal government, through Harvard University, provides 50-100% of an eligible student's wage. The employer provides the remaining percentage, plus an additional 6-10% during the summer to cover worker's compensation and FICA. Students are not eligible to receive funding from two college funding sources for the same project.

ELIGIBILITY

You may participate in the program only if you are planning to register in the Fall of 2008 and are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. In order to apply for the Summer 2008 Work-Study Awards for Public Service, you must be eligible for summer 2008 work-study. To determine if you are eligible for summer 2008 FWS, your 2008-09 financial aid application must be complete. Summer 2008 Work-Study Awards for Public Service Applications are due between May 1, 2008 - June 9, 2008 at PBH. No applications will be accepted after that deadline. Graduating seniors are not eligible for this program. Seniors planning to attend graduate school in 2008-2009 may be able to get funding from their graduate school. Summer work-study wages are valid for work performed between June 9-September 6, 2008.

WORK-STUDY EMPLOYERS

Most non-profit organizations qualify as off-campus Work-Study employers. The student's work may not be partisan, political, or religious and must be in the general public interest. Organizations must be located within the United States with the exception of students who locate positions in US Embassies or US military bases in foreign countries. Off-campus job listings, both in and outside the Cambridge-Boston area, for such organizations as hospitals and social service agencies, are all posted on this site.

For the summer of 2008, undergraduates eligible for Federal Work-Study may apply for Public Service Work-Study Awards. These funds will be used to pay the employer's share of the student's summer Work-Study earnings up to $3600. Students may conduct their own public service projects under the sponsorship of the Phillips Brooks House or work for an existing organization which is otherwise unable to pay the employer's share of the student's wages.

WAGES AND EARNINGS CEILINGS

Undergraduates may earn up to $3600 in summer Work-Study wages. Graduate students' summer ceilings are determined by their financial aid offices. Undergraduates earnings ceilings may not be raised. Any additional wages must be paid in full by the employer. Students are required by the Financial Aid Office to contribute a substantial portion of summer FWSP earnings to the following year's education expenses. These wages cover the student contribution included in all the financial aid awards.

Summer Work Study Awards for Public Service will pay $9.50 per hour, and you may work up to 40 hours per week. There is no compensation for lunch or break times, sick days, vacation days, or holidays. Students who work on the July 4 or September 1 (Labor Day) holidays must submit a note along with his/her time card verifying the number of hours worked.

Employers willing to pay more than $9.50 per hour (or total wages more than $3600) must do so on their own payroll. This additional compensation, however, will not be reimbursed by the Work-Study Program.

Regulations state that if you earn the maximum summer Work-Study earnings but do not save $2000 (est.), you may not increase your term FWSP ceiling or borrow on a federal loan program to make up the difference.

PAYMENT

All students, both on-campus and off-campus employees, are paid weekly, on Fridays, by a University check. Wages are NOT credited to your term bill.

On-campus jobs:

Students working at Harvard are paid directly by the department employing them.

Off-campus jobs:

Students working in off-campus agencies are paid 100% of their earnings by the Student Employment Office upon receipt of properly authorized time cards. The SEO then mails students' checks to their summer addresses. At the end of the summer, Harvard bills the agencies for their share of each student's earnings. The off-campus package will provide more information about submitting time cards.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO RECEIVE A SUMMER WORK STUDY AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE

Make sure your 2008-09 financial aid appliction is complete.

Complete the application for summer FWS available at the SEO.

Find your own position with a non-profit organization or develop your own project in consultation with Amanda Sonis Glynn. Explain to your employer that they are responsible for supervising you and signing weekly time cards even though they will not be responsible for paying wages.

Complete the application for the Harvard College Summer 2008 Work-Study Awards for Public Service - http://www.seo.harvard.edu/compubservice/publicserviceapp.html.

Complete the on-line referral card for on-campus employers http://www.seo.harvard.edu.

Complete the contract forms (off-campus only)
an I-9, W-4, and M-4 tax forms if you have not previously completed them

Complete all parts of the Summer Public Service FWSP Application form requiring student input.

Bring all completed forms and materials to Phillips Brooks House, 3rd floor and give to Amanda Sonis Glynn (rm 303)

PBH will confirm your work with your summertime employer, and send details to your employer explaining the grant process, timecard requirements, and expectations.

Student completes weekly timecards that are due by 12noon every Friday: * At the time of hire, your staff contact at PBH (either: Ariel Harms, Amanda Sonis Glynn, or Zandra Kambysellis) will go over details of how you are to submit timecards with appropriate approval.

At the end of summer, all students who receive a Work Study Award for Public Service will write a 3-5 page report on their summer experience to be submitted to Amanda Sonis Glynn by September 8, 2008.

Community & Public Service