Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a need-based financial aid program that provides students with part-time employment opportunities. Awards are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and allow students to earn wages funded through federal student aid.

Income earned through FWS can help offset educational and living expenses while reducing the amount you may need to borrow through student loans.

Eligible students may earn up to $10,800 in FWS funds each academic year. However, eligibility does not guarantee that you will earn the full award amount. Actual earnings depend on factors such as job availability, position requirements, hours worked, and your individual schedule and commitments.

FWS award amounts are subject to change in future academic years.

FWS funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. To be considered for FWS, you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and meet the following requirements:

• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year by March 1 and demonstrate financial need.
• Enroll at least half-time (or the equivalent) in a degree-seeking program each semester.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

If you are awarded FWS, you may accept or decline the award through your student portal.

Important: We encourage students to prioritize their academic responsibilities when considering employment. Students who are employed full-time at Teachers College, Columbia University, or Barnard College may find it difficult to accommodate a FWS position within their schedule.

The Office of Financial Aid will provide information about the FWS program and the resources available to help you identify employment opportunities. However, students are responsible for applying for, securing, and maintaining a FWS position.

FWS funding is not automatically disbursed to your student account. You must obtain an eligible FWS position and work the approved hours to earn the funds included in your financial aid offer. If you do not secure and work in a FWS position, you will not have access to the FWS funding listed in your award.

You may apply for FWS positions through the standard hiring process by submitting an application online and completing any required employment steps. Please note that eligibility for FWS funding does not guarantee employment in an FWS position. 

Visit the On-Campus Student Employment website to search for available FWS positions.

FWS positions are available both on campus at Teachers College and at a limited number of approved off-campus locations. Current off-campus employment opportunities may include placements with Teachers College Community School, the Reading Team, Inc., Hit the Books, and Community Impact.

Please note that approved off-campus FWS locations may change from one academic year to the next.

Teachers College students are not eligible for FWS positions at Columbia University or Barnard College.

As a FWS student, you may work up to the maximum amount awarded in our financial aid package. FWS positions are compensated at $18 per hour, and earnings are paid through a taxable, bi-weekly paycheck or direct deposit.

Funds are earned through FWS are paid directly to you and may be used at your discretion. Earnings are not automatically applied to your student account and will not be used to pay tuition or other institutional charges.

At the end of each calendar year, the College will issue a W-2 form reflecting your earnings for that year.

Please note that students employed through FWS are not eligible for employee benefits, including paid breaks, paid sick leave, paid vacation, paid holidays, or unemployment benefits.

Students and hiring managers are jointly responsible for monitoring work hours and remaining FWS eligibility. Students may not continue to earn wages through FWS after reaching their awarded funding limit. If a department chooses to continue employing a student after all FWS funds have been exhausted, the department is responsible for covering any additional compensation through departmental funding.

FWS students may work up to 20 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semesters and up to 30 hours per week during winter, holiday, and summer breaks.

Please keep the following requirements in mind:

• You may not work during your scheduled class hours.
• You may hold up to two FWS positions during the same term, provided you do not exceed your total FWS award or the applicable weekly hour limit.
• You may not work more than six consecutive hours without taking an unpaid, 30-minute break. Supervisors should monitor timesheets and schedule required breaks accordingly.
• Students who are graduating may not work beyond the last day of classes for their final term.

Be sure to coordinate your work schedule with your supervisor and monitor your hours to ensure you remain within the applicable FWS limits.

Submit your timesheet through the employee portal to ensure you are paid on a bi-weekly basis according to the B2 payroll schedule.

For payroll dates and submission deadlines, log in to the TC Employee Portal and navigate to: Knowledge Articles > Payroll Schedule.

The FWS year runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. Students may begin working in an FWS position after the first day of Fall or Spring classes for the term in which they are enrolled.

Summer FWS Employment

Students who wish to work in an FWS position during the summer term should follow these guidelines:

• New Students: If you are attending Teachers College for the first term and are enrolled at least half-time in summer courses, you may begin working in an FWS position at the start of July.
• Continuing Students: If you have completed at least one term at Teachers College, you may work during the summer without enrolling in summer courses, provided you are enrolled at least half-time for the upcoming Fall semester and were enrolled at least half-time during the preceding Spring semester.

Students may work during their final term before graduation if they are enrolled at least half-time. However, employment must end on the last day of classes or June 30, whichever comes first.

Once you secure a FWS position, you are responsible for completing all required onboarding steps before you can begin working and receiving payment. Please complete the following:

• Complete all required onboarding steps through the PageUp platform.
• Log in to the student portal to accept or decline your FWS award. If you accept the award, you will be prompted to review and agree to the FWS terms and conditions.
• Review and update your W-4 and IT-2104 tax forms, if necessary.
• If you are a new employee, visit the Office of Human Resources before your start date to complete the required I-9 employment authorization process. Federal law requires employers to verify employment authorization.
• If you have previously worked at Teachers College in any capacity, you may be required to complete additional rehiring documentation.

You must complete all applicable onboarding requirements before you can receive payment for work performed through an FWS position.

As a FWS student employee, you are responsible for understanding and following the terms and conditions of your FWS employment.

• Taxable Income: FWS wages are taxable and must be reported on your federal and state income tax returns.
• FWS Eligibility: You may only be hired for an FWS position if FWS is included in your financial aid award. You may work up to 20 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semesters. During academic breaks, you may work up to 30 hours per week if you are enrolled at least half-time in both the term immediately before and the term immediately after the break. Working 30 hours per week during a break does not make you eligible for overtime pay.
• Timesheets: Submit your timesheets and obtain supervisor approval by the applicable bi-weekly deadline, typically Monday at noon following the second work week. If you hold multiple positions or work under multiple budget indexes, you must submit a separate timesheet for each job or budget index. FWS employees use timesheets associated with Account #7829, while interim employees use Account #6254.
• Monitor your FWS Award: Monitor communications from the Office of Financial Aid regarding your FWS eligibility and earnings. You will be notified when you are approaching your FWS award limit and when you have exhausted your award and are no longer eligible to work under the FWS program.
• Changes in Employment: If you resign, are terminated, or change FWS positions, notify the Office of Financial Aid. Your supervisor must also complete the required termination process (ePAF) with Human Resources.
• Declining FWS: You may decline your FWS award at any time through the student portal.