What students are considered for FWS?

A FWS candidate is a student who completes their FAFSA by the FWS priority deadline, typically May 1st, and has a minimum unmet need to allow a FWS award (priority dates and criteria may change from year to year). Students who meet these criteria are invited to participate and become work study candidates.

Where do you find the jobs available and how do you request and interview?

Upon receiving the invitation to the program, you are referred to this page with all the FWS jobs are available are listed. Clicking the different positions, you will find the description and other details about the job. It will also show the department supervisor and their contact information. If you are interested in a position, email the supervisor to arrange an interview. Your interview request email should include:

• The candidate’s name, student ID number, and the preferred contact information

• The desire to interview for the position and possible availability, and resume (recommended).

The interviews are generally informal, and students may request interviews for as many departments as they would like.

What happens after the interview?

If the interview goes well, the supervisor will recommend you for the position with the FWS Coordinator in the financial aid office. The FWS Coordinator will verify your eligibility (refer to the eligibility section for more details).

If you are a first-time student worker (or you are returning after one or more years without an assignment), you will be instructed to complete the LACCD hiring paperwork with the Personnel Office. This process may take a few weeks. We recommend that you don't delay this process.

If you are a returning student workers, you can skip the hiring process. You will be notified about your assignment shortly after the interview.

What is hiring process with Personnel?

You will receive your hiring packet from the FWS Coordinator via email. There are several forms and all of them must be thoroughly completed and signed. Part of the process includes a mandatory, negative TB Test (available through the Health Center) and LifeScan fingerprint (available with the LACC Sheriff’s Office). Once the Hiring Packet is completed, please submit it to the Personnel Office (AD217) - only completed packets are accepted.

If you have any questions about the hiring process or the packet, reach out directly to the the Personnel Office.

When can you start working?

Once the Personnel office clears you for work, they will notify the FWS coordinator who will create your assignment. At that point, you and your supervisor will be officially notified with the specific details of your assignment:

• The start and end date of your assignment (typically for one semester) - you cannot work before or after these dates.

• The number of hours that you will be allowed to work per week, you cannot work more than the assigned hours. Your financial aid status and your unmet need is unique to you, for this reason, your assigned hours may vary from other students.

• Any other details related to your assignment.

What is the criteria to qualify for FWS?

• You have to have a FAFSA submitted prior to the priority deadline

• Have completed all the required documents to process the application.

• Be eligible for Title IV financial aid.

• Have enough unmet need to have a work study assignment (around $4,000 unmet need per semester)

• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards or have an appeal for financial aid approved.

• Be enrolled and maintain at least 6 financial aid eligible units throughout the duration of the assignment. If you drop below 6 units, you must stop working immediately and notify your supervisor and the FWS coordinator.

• Pursue a financial aid eligible academic goal at LACC, and LACC must be your Home School on record.

How does my academic progress affect my eligibility for FWS?

To qualify for FWS, as well as any Title IV financial aid, you must be in good academic standing. Your academic record is reviewed cumulatively prior to the start of every semester. There are three criteria to meet:

• Maintain a cumulative GPA within the LACCD of at least 2.0,

• Complete cumulatively 66.5% of your attempted units - completed classes are classes graded with D, C, B, A, CR, or P (any W, NCR, INC, NP, and F are considered as incomplete classes and will count against your completion rate)

• You must not exceed 150% of the length of your academic goal within LACCD (i.e., if your goal is obtaining a Certificate of Achievement and it requires 30 units, you will be disqualified once you reach 45 attempted units)

If you do not meet all these requirements, you will be disqualified. To reinstate or extend your eligibility you must submit a complete appeal to the Financial Aid Office. If your appeal is approved, you will regain eligibility for Work Study and other Title IV financial aid.

You liked working with your department, can you return the following academic year?

Your department will likely want you to come back next semester, but since this is a high demand program and positions are limited, you will be required to meet the same deadlines and requirements that made you eligible the first time. Your departments may also inquire with the FWS coordinator to hire you specifically; these requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Do you get lunch breaks?

Breaks and lunch time are required for students who work a certain number of consecutive hours.

Breaks: If you work 4 consecutive hours you are entitle to a 10-minute paid break.
Lunch: If you work 6 consecutive hours or more, you are required to take 30-minute unpaid lunch break. The 30 minutes will be deducted from the total hours worked if not reported accordingly. Consult and coordinate your breaks with your supervisor.

To avoid issues with the breaks/lunch, you should work a maximum of 5 hours a day.

Can your FWS assignment be adjusted or terminated?

Yes, your weekly hours may be adjusted or even terminated during your active assignment. There may be external factors, like changes in your enrollment or on your unmet need due to new awards or adjustments from the financial aid office, that could change the initial number hours assigned. Sometimes, these changes in your awards or enrollment may require to end your assignment prematurely. The Financial Aid Office will notify you and the department of any changes in the assignment.

If your enrollment drops below 6 units your assignment will be immediately terminated. Please consult with the financial aid office and the FWS Coordinator before withdrawing from any courses.

Access your LACCD Portal for more information on your specific unmet need and financial aid awards.

How do you report the time that you worked?

Some departments may require that you clock in and out every day, others may have other means to account for your work. The hours worked will be reported on a weekly time-sheet. These time-sheets must be submitted weekly to the financial aid office.

It is your supervisor's (or designee) responsibility to submit your time-sheets in a timely manner. The time-sheets must be complete, legible, and accurate, preferably typed, otherwise your payment may be delayed or canceled; the financial aid office will submit the time- sheets received to Payroll to process payment. There is typically a 2-week delay between your paycheck and the weeks reported (for example, at the end of the month you would be paid for the first 2 weeks of that month).

Should you report to work if your class is cancelled?

Classwork is always your priority. Your work study assignment cannot and will not interfere with your schedule of classes. It is strictly prohibited to report work hours during the time you are scheduled for class.

Even if a class is cancelled, you cannot report to work. Take that time to study, rest, or spend time with your classmates outside the classroom!

How much will you earn?

The current rate for federal work study assignments is $16.25 per hour and student workers can work up to a maximum of 25 hours a week (typical assignments are for 10 hours a week). You could earn upwards of $10,000 per academic year. The assignment lasts the duration of the semester - 16 weeks for Fall and 16 weeks for Spring.

Where do I see your pay-stubs?

As an employee of the LACCD, you will be assigned an employee email account. You will receive electronic pay-stubs every pay period. Your payment will be directly deposited in your selected account as you set it up with the in the hiring packet.

Do you get paid sick leave?

Yes, you will accrue paid sick time. Your pay-stubs will show any accumulated sick pay earned. You may use this sick leave time after certain amount of time working for the College. Consult with Payroll if you have any questions on this topic.

What is the South Coast AQMD?

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) survey is a mandatory commuter survey that occurs every October. All LACC employees, including student workers, will be asked to complete this commuter survey to report on how they commuted to work during a specific week established on the survey. Check with your supervisor or the FWS Coordinator for details on this survey.

Positions available: 1

Contact Information:

• Yvette Garrison (garrisyt@lacitycollege.edu)

Job Description:

• Assist students in the Welcome Center to file the financial aid application (FAFSA and CA Dream Act) online, upload documents to the Financial Aid Portal, apply for loan and petitions online; Assist students do all of the previous through the FAST lobby online through Cranium Cafe virtually;  answer the financial aid phone calls; document scanning and scan check; other assigning projects.