Federal Work Study
Federal Work Study is a form of financial aid largely provided by federal funding. A student must apply for financial aid each year with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or (FAFSA) to become eligible. Eligible Federal Work Study (FWS) students earn money by working a limited number of hours per week. Employment may be found ON campus at university and departmental offices, or OFF-campus at selected nonprofit organizations and public agencies that have contracted in advance to hire Cal State East Bay students.
Students will find additional information by referring to the "Guidelines for Federal Work Study" available as a link at the bottom of this page. For additional questions or detailed information, you should also click on the link at the bottom of this page and go to the section titled “Information for Students”. To ask questions in person, go to the Enrollment Information Center on the first floor of the new student services and administration building (SA) on the east side of campus.
To Apply for Federal Work Study
Follow these steps to apply for a work study award and job:
- APPLY for financial aid with a FAFSA to determine your eligibility
- CHECK your Financial Aid award in MyCSUEB or your award letter to find out if you have a Work Study offer (not all students are eligible).
- ACCEPT your Federal Work Study offer in MyCSUEB if you want to work.
- PRINT your eHAF or FWS Hiring Authorization Form when you receive it in your student Horizon email account.
- SECURE a FWS job with an approved FWS employer with your Hiring Form and your resume.
- When hired, ‘sign in’ at the Payroll Office in on the second floor of the student services building (SA) on the Hayward Campus before starting to work.
- Begin entering your time worked daily in the OSPP Time Sheet at the bottom of your Student Center in your MyCSUEB account as soon as it becomes available. (First time sheets and first paychecks are often delayed due to the additional processing required by several offices.)
Students should plan on working their scheduled hours and cannot earn more than their allocated FWS award showing in their MyCSUEB account. Go to your View Financial Aid screen periodically and recheck your FWS award. If there have been any changes, please advise your supervisor immediately.
Work Study Employment Opportunities
Cal State East Bay offers a variety of work study employment opportunities for eligible financial aid students.
Community Service Positions
Community service positions include employers both on campus and offsite. Working in these positions improves the quality of life for community residents, particularly that of low-income individuals, or to solve problems related to their needs. Students accepting community service positions will automatically be considered for an increase in their FWS award after their employers submit the appropriate paperwork to the Office of Financial Aid, and if there is available funding in the year remaining.
On-Campus Positions
Eligible Federal Work Study (FWS) students may use their FWS award in over 135 department and administrative offices on campus as support staff in reception areas, computer labs, stocking and inventory, data entry, filing/phone work, and delivery jobs, just to name a few. Not all jobs are listed on our boards, so feel free to inquire at any department or office on campus that interests you. Have fun, meet people on campus, and obtain new skills with a work study job.
Off-Campus Positions
Eligible Federal Work Study students may use their FWS award with pre-approved off site and community service employers. No other work sites will be added after the year has started.
Current Job Listings
Job descriptions for approved sites are also listed online through AACE (Academic Advising and Career Education) on the second floor (just above the Enrollment Information Center) in the new student services and administration building on the east side of campus (SA). Students may not use their FWS award at off-campus sites other than those posted each year. AACE staff and workshops can also assist you with your resume preparation and other job seeking skills.
Applying for a Work Study Position
Bring your resume and be prepared to discuss your job skills and availability when approaching a potential FWS employer. If a department or employer agrees to hire you, they will request your hiring form (the eHAF that you printed from your student Horizon email account), and they will need to submit a FWS Job Description indicating the tasks you will be performing along with additional appointing paperwork. Students who do not secure a position early in the year or quarter in which they have been awarded might discover later that their FWS award has been canceled or reduced. IF you want to work this year, find a position early and go to work.
NEVER exceed the FWS amount allocated to you on your View Financial Aid screen in your MyCSUEB account. Keep your supervisor and employer informed of any changes to your FWS award throughout a year.
