Financial Aid: Student Employment
Student employment is an integral part of the university and of university life for many students. Student labor benefits the school in almost every academic and administrative department on campus. The student's employment can be related to his/her major and/or interests and work schedules can be arranged around the student's academic schedule.
Western Connecticut State University employs approximately 400 students during the academic year. The types of jobs available are as diverse as the students themselves. There is a complete list of jobs and their descriptions available for students to examine in the Financial Aid Office.
Students are paid biweekly with an hourly rate of pay contingent on the difficulty of the position and the experience of the student. The first paycheck is held back for two weeks, as required by the state.
There are two major funding sources for the student labor force at Western Connecticut State University:
- The Federal College Work Study Program.
- The Institutional Payroll.
The Federal College Work Study Program is a federally funded program based on financial need. Because the program is financially need based, work experience is not the qualifying factor. In order to work under the Federal College Work Study Program, a student must meet the conditions listed under the Pell Grant section previously discussed.
The dollar amount awarded under the College Work-Study Program to a student on his/her Award Letter, is not a guaranteed receivable. It is a fair estimate of what a student could earn.
College Work-Study is an allotment that students can earn if they have a job on campus. It is not money that is directly deferred on their bill, or automatically applied while they are working.
If a student does not put in the necessary hours or is released from employment for just cause, the money shown on the Award Letter will not be obtained.
The Institutional Payroll is not based on a students financial need in relation to qualifying under the federal programs. Students are employed under this program based on the needs of the department, the availability of funds, and the student's experience in specific areas.
All federal and state funds are subject to federal and state regulations and Western Connecticut State University will comply as mandated.
Federal Tax Information
Any funds received from scholarships, benefits, fellowships, WCSU or any other source that combined exceed the cost of tuition, fees, books, required equipment and supplies are considered taxable income. These include federal Pell Grants, but not federal loans. The borrower is required to report taxable awards to the IRS as income and therefore should keep a detailed record of all expenditures. Housing and food are considered nonexempt, so money spent on these items is subject to income tax.
