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Federal Work Study @ GW
The Federal Work Study Program (FWS) is a federally-funded work program that allows students who have received a Federal Work Study award from GW’s Office of Student Financial Assistance to earn money while working at pre-approved organizations—GW departments, local nonprofits, government agencies and community service employers.
Students typically work eight to ten hours per week, but you decide how many hours you work, keeping in mind you cannot exceed your FWS award. You will be issued a paycheck every two weeks for the hours you have worked. You can spend this money however you choose. The money is not directed back to GW to reduce your tuition balance.
• Program Dates - This year’s program runs September 2, 2008, to May 2, 2009. September 2 is the first day you can work. May 2 is the last day you can work.
• Get Started - Attend an FWS orientation session on Tuesday, September 2, at 12noon-2pm or 2-4pm to learn more. For those who cannot make one of the two main orientations, there will be mini sessions from 4-430pm and 430-5pm in Room 208 in the Career Center (Old Main, 1922 F Street, NW, corner of 20th & F) on Thursday, 9/4 & Friday, 9/5, and Monday, 9/8 thru Friday, 9/12.
• Get a Job - Attend the FWS Job Fair on Wednesday, September 3, 2008, from 1-4pm in both of the ballrooms on the 3rd floor of the Marvin Center.
• Search for Jobs Online - Beginning on August 25, 2008, all available FWS positions will be posted on GWork, our online joblisting system.
• Questions About the Job Search - The Career Center can assist you with your search for a FWS job with approved on-campus and off-campus employers.
• Questions About Your FWS Award - The Office of Student Financial Assistance will answer questions about your FWS award and eligibility.
Do you have orientation sessions about the FWS program?
Am I eligible for a FWS job?
When do I find a FWS job?
How do I find a FWS job?
Where can I work?
What do I need to do to get hired?
How do I report my hours?
How do I get paid?
Do I have to pay taxes?
Why do I have to monitor my earnings?
Can I have more than one FWS job at a time?
Where can I download the necessary forms?
Yes, orientation sessions are offered each fall at the beginning of the semester.
The Fall 2008 session will be offered on Tuesday, September 2, at both 12-2pm and 2-4pm in the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theater (Marvin Center, first floor). For those who cannot make one of these orientations, there will be mini sessions from 4-430pm in Career Center 208 each day on Thursday, 9/4 & Friday, 9/5, and Monday, 9/8 thru Friday, 9/12.
GW’s Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) determines who is eligible for financial aid, which may include a FWS award. You must apply for financial aid through them to learn whether you are awarded money for a FWS job.
Most students find their FWS jobs during the first few weeks of the fall semester, although it is possible to obtain a FWS job at any time during the year. However, if you decide to wait until the spring semester to obtain a FWS job, you must notify your Financial Aid Counselor so that your award is not cancelled. The deadline to do this is Friday, October 10, 2008.
How do I find a FWS job?
Attend the FWS Job Fair, scheduled each fall early in the semester. Be prepared to fill out job applications and interview directly with employers. Dress professionally and bring your resume if you have one. You will need your GWorld ID card to gain entrance.
The 2008 FWS Job Fair will be held on Wednesday, September 3, from 1-4pm, in the Grand and Continental ballrooms on the Marvin Center’s third floor.
FWS positions available are posted on GWork, our online employment service.
2008-2009 FWS jobs will begin to be posted on GWork starting Monday, August 25, 2008.
Contact the office manager at any GW department that interests you and ask if that office or department will be hiring FWS students.
You can work for any GW department, office, institute or center. You may also work for any of the pre-approved off-campus non-profit agencies who have been selected by GW to participate in the 2008-2009 FWS Program. Here is the list of 2008-2009 off-campus employers who were approved to hire FWS students.
Take your employer a copy of your I-9 receipt (available in the Career Center) and Employment Authorization Form (available online by printing from your GWeb account). Your employer will submit paperwork to the Career Center to hire you and notify you when you can begin working.
Click here to view the Student Checklist with Policies & Procedures.
If your FWS job is on campus, your employer will show you how to "clock in" and "clock out" using the Kronos Time Reporting System.
If your FWS job is off campus, your employer will tell you how to record your hours. Your employer will fax your timesheet to the Career Center.
FWS students are paid biweekly.
Whether your FWS job is on campus or off campus, you can sign up for direct deposit; your paycheck will be electronically deposited into your bank account. If you do not sign up for direct deposit and you work off-campus, you will pick up your paycheck in the Career Center. If you do not sign up for direct deposit and you work on-campus, you will pick up your paycheck in your employing department.
FWS positions are subject to federal and local taxation. Students must complete federal and local tax forms, as well as an Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) form, prior to beginning work. These forms are available online and at the Career Center. Assistance in completing tax forms is available from the GW Tax Department located in Room 100 of Rome Hall.
If you wish to file your taxes in a local jurisdiction other than the District of Columbia, please visit the Internal Revenue Service website to find the appropriate form. Although work-study earnings are taxable, they need not be reported as earned income on your financial aid forms for the following school year. For more information, contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance, 202.994.6620 or 800.222.6242, or finaid@gwu.edu.
Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions About Taxes.
You are responsible for knowing when the amount you’ve earned at your FWS job approaches the limit of your FWS award; otherwise, you could run out of funds. Check your GWeb account regularly to see if anything about the award has changed. If changes have been made, inform your employer immediately in case the number of hours you are working has to be adjusted to avoid exceeding your award.
No, students are not permitted to have more than one FWS job at any given time.
All necessary forms are available here:
