Federal & College Work Study

All Work Study Videos

As a part of Columbus State's Career Services office, Student Employment is a resource that helps currently enrolled students find part-time employment opportunities on-campus and off-campus through our network of non-profit partners. Some positions are open to all students, while others may require a type of Financial Aid known as Federal Work Study. Applicants must be enrolled in a degree or certificate program at Columbus State Community College.

Eligibility does not guarantee employment, and pre-employment checks, including a criminal background check are required. Columbus State is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Student Employment Handbook

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Employment Types

The type of student employment you qualify for depends on your enrollment level at Columbus State and if you were awarded Federal Work Study as a portion of your Financial Aid.

Federal Work Study

Federal Work Study (FWS) provides students with high financial need employment opportunities through part-time student employment. Not all students receiving need based aid will qualify or be awarded FWS as funding for this aid program is limited. 

Hired students earn their FWS award by working a regular work schedule and are paid twice a month through a regular paycheck. Total earnings for the academic year are limited to the total dollar amount of the award, but most students, if working a moderate schedule of 10-12 hours per week, can make their FWS award last most of the academic year. Earnings can be used by the student to off-set cost of living and/or other costs of attending Columbus State. FWS earnings are not credited toward future tuition and fees charges or past due balances. Six credit hours of enrollment or more at Columbus State are required at all times for a student to pursue and/or continue a FWS position.

FWS is awarded on a request-only basis. Once your financial aid package is processed at Columbus State, you may reach out to Student Employment to inquire about FWS eligibility and ask for a Federal Work Study Request form. You may visit in person at Nestor Hall 108 or email studentemployment@cscc.edu. If eligible, this electronic form will be sent to your student email account, then returned to Columbus State for processing

Off-Campus Community Work Study

A subset of the Federal Work Study program, Community Work Study offers students the chance to pursue employment with any one of Columbus State's nonprofit and government partners. These partnerships offer students the unique opportunity to earn their Federal Work Study award in service to the local community. Positions are as varied as the community partners, and many students find positions related to their degree (e.g. Early Childhood Development).

Community Partners:

College Work Study (regular student employment)

Some on-campus departments are able to hire students without Federal Work Study through College Work Study. Financial Aid and a current FAFSA are not required. These regular student jobs are open to any student enrolled in three or more credit hours regardless of financial aid status. If you were not awarded FWS as a part of your aid, you would default into this category of student employment. College Work Study has no individual earning limit for the academic year as does FWS; however, it may be limited by department funding.

Schedule Limitations

The maximum work schedule for any student employee is 20 hours per week during the academic term and 30 hours per week during the academic break.

.	Start	End	Hiring Notes
Autumn 2023	August 28	December 16	New hires may begin August 17
Break	December 17	January 14, 2023
Spring 2024	January 15	May 11	New hires may begin January 2
Spring Break	March 11	March 16
SE Week	April 8	April 12
Break	May 12	May 25
Summer 2024	May 27	August 10	New hires may begin May 20
Break of Employment	August 11	August 14	Break between academic & FA years – no student employees may work
Autumn 2024	August 26	December 14	New hires may begin August 15

For students graduating/transferring/otherwise not returning after a semester, their last eligible day of employment is the last day of that term.

Please note, for FWS classified students employees, Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) reports are run at the end of each term by Financial Aid. Students must be meeting SAP standards to remain eligible for FWS employment.

Academic Break and Holidays

Student employees are allowed to work over the academic break up to thirty hours (30) per week. You should check with your department supervisor in advance to determine if work over the break will be required or needed. Time off over the break is not guaranteed and should be requested officially by following department procedures in advance. Student employees do not receive holiday pay.

Working during an academic break is reserved for those students who are eligible to continue work and plan to attend the following academic term. For example, a student who graduates the end of Spring term would not be eligible to work during the break between Spring and Summer term. The last day of Spring term would be that student’s last day of work eligibility.

Pay Rates

College or Federal Work Study II – $10.45 per hour 

Minimal to some prior work experience and/or education may be required. Duties completed independently and under direct supervision with a moderate amount of autonomy and situational decision making.

College or Federal Work Study III - $12.00 per hour

Reserved for student positions requiring significant education, skills, and/or prior experience. Duties largely completed with autonomy. Student responsible for high level decision making and interpretation of situations, policy, and department procedures. May oversee activities of Work Study II.

Student Employee Professional Development

Students employed by Columbus State are exposed to professional work environments where they develop many of the important transferable skills necessary for future success in the workforce. We are dedicated to helping students set the stage for professional life through their participation in the following program(s):

CSTATE GROW (Guided Reflections on Work)

• The program consists of brief, structured conversations between supervisor and student to reflect on and integrate what they are learning.
• All student employees and their functional supervisors will participate.

Career and Leadership Development Program (CLDP)

• The program consists of paid competencies-based career and leadership development activities designed by Career Services.
• All Tier/Level III Positions will participate.

International Students

International students are permitted to work part-time on the premises of Columbus State's campus and are welcome to apply for any student employment position as long as it does not require Federal Work Study eligibility. International students per visa requirements must be enrolled full-time (12 credits hours or more) and are limited to no more than 20 hours per week. For a full overview of eligibility requirements for employment as an international student visit International Enrollment Services in Madison Hall.