Summer details
The Federal Work-Study Program, also known as "FWSP" is an employment program for financial aid recipients. Through FWSP, the federal government pays from 50% to 100% of an eligible student's wages. The employer provides the remaining percentage, plus an additional 6-10% during the summer to cover worker's compensation and FICA.
Student Eligibility Guidelines:
You may participate in this program if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident planning to complete a financial aid application and register in the Fall of 2008. Students are required by the Financial Aid Office to contribute a portion of summer FWSP earnings to the following year's education expenses indicated on your Financial Aid award letter. Graduating seniors are not eligible to participate in this program. Seniors planning to attend graduate school may be able to get funding from their graduate school of choice. Your summer eligibility is based on the upcoming academic year & will be determined upon completion of your 08-09 Financial Aid application due April 17, 2008. The Summer Work-Study application will be available beginning March 5, 2008 and is due no later than March 28, 2008. The Summer Work-Study application is ONLY required for undergraduate students. Graduate students are deemed FWSP eligible by their Financial Aid Office.
Employer Eligibility Guidelines:
Most on-campus jobs are eligible for the Federal Work-Study Program. On-campus jobs listed on the website include library work, office work, and research assistant positions. Many students have successfully created jobs for themselves by approaching a faculty member or department and requesting a Work-Study position. On-Campus employers are defined as any employer hiring and paying students on Harvard University's payroll system. All other employers are defined as Off Campus 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. Off-campus job listings, both in and outside the Cambridge-Boston area, for such organizations as hospitals and social service agencies, are posted on the Student Employment Office jobs database.
The Student Employment Office requires an Agency Agreement. In addition, the agency must provide a copy of its IRS statement of tax exempt status, (501 (c)(3)), as well as any written or electronic materials that describe the nature and function of the organization.
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 ceiling. 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.
Dates and Wages:
Undergraduate dates for the 2008 Summer Work-Study program runs from June 9th through September 6th.
(Students will NOT be paid for time worked before the 9th of June and after September 6th).
Undergraduates: $9.00 - $11.80 (range)
Graduate Summer Work-Study dates vary. Please contact your Financial Aid Office to confirm these dates.
Graduates: $9.25 - $17.65(range)
Procedures:
1. Complete the summer work-study application (undergraduates only) by March 28, 2008.
2. Submit ALL required Financial Aid documents by April 17, 2008.
3. Search for a job utilizing the Student Employment's jobs database.
4. Undergraduates should wait until they have received a confirmation of their Summer FWSP eligibility from the Student Employment Office. Graduate students should confirm their Summer FWSP eligibility through their Financial Aid Office.
5. Upon confirmation of FWSP eligibility, complete a referral form:
Undergraduate students: Complete the online referral form corresponding to your place of employment:
Graduate students: Click here to complete an off-campus referral form. If you plan to work on campus, retrieve the on-campus paper referral form from your financial aid office.
You may NOT begin work until your Summer FWSP eligibility has been confirmed and the required forms have been received and processed by the Student Employment Office.
Payment:
All students, working both on-campus and off-campus are paid weekly. Any outstanding timecards in excess of 30 days will take 2-3 weeks to process. We highly encourage setting up Direct Deposit. Students should contact the Student Receivables Office at (617) 495-2739 to change their summer address.
Students may NOT work over 40 hours per week. There is no compensation for lunch or break times, sick days, overtime, vacation days, or holidays. Employers willing to pay more than the FWSP ceiling must do so on their own payroll. This additional compensation, however, will not be processed or reimbursed through the Federal Work-Study Program. 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. 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.
