| AwardYear: 1995-1996 EnterChapterNo: 7 EnterChapterTitle: Federal Work-Study Program SectionNumber: SectionTitle: Introduction PageNumbers: 1-4 PROGRAM PURPOSE The purpose of the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program--formerly called the College Work-Study (CWS) Program--is to give part- time employment to undergraduate and graduate students who need the income to help meet the costs of postsecondary education and to encourage FWS recipients to participate in community service activities. Since the beginning of the 1994-95 award year, schools have been required to utilize money from their FWS Program funds to compensate students employed in community service jobs (see below). FINAL RULE, NOVEMBER 30, 1994 A Final Rule amending the FWS Program was published in the Federal Register on November 30, 1994. Changes to the regulations are effective on July 1, 1995. The Final Rule incorporates into the regulations many provisions of various statutes listed in the Introduction to Chapter Five. These provisions were self- implementing and are already in effect. The Final Rule also institutes changes to the FWS Program. These changes are effective July 1, 1995 and are listed here: - A school may provide additional FWS funding to a student whose need has been met until that student's cumulative earnings from all need-based employment exceeds his or her need by $300 (see Section 675.14 and Section Two of this chapter). [[Final Rule 11-30-94]] - A school may not use FWS funds to pay a student after he or she has earned $300 or more over his or her financial need (see Section 675.26(a)(3) and Section Two of this chapter). [[Final Rule 11-30-94]] - Under Section 676.18(c) of the November 30 Final Rule for the FSEOG Program, a school that transfers funds to the FSEOG Program from the FWS Program during an award year must transfer any unexpended FWS funds BACK to the FWS Program at the end of the award year (refer to Section Five of this chapter). - The Federal share of FWS wages may not exceed 50 PERCENT for a student whose employer is a private for-profit organization (see Section 675.26(a)(2) and Section Five of this chapter. WORK-COLLEGES PROGRAM The Higher Education Amendments of 1992 authorized the Work- Colleges Program. Part 675 of the November 30, 1994 Final Rule includes a new Subpart C--Work-Colleges Program (Sections 675.41 through 675.50). Schools that satisfy the definition of "work- college" may apply to ED to participate in the program. Although no funding was provided for the program for the 1994-95 award year, Congress has authorized the use of up to $1.5 million of FWS funds appropriated for fiscal year 1995 for separate 1995-96 allocations to approved Work-College institutions. A work-college may transfer funds from its allocation for the FWS Program and/or Federal Perkins Loan Program to fund the school's Work-Colleges Program. The purpose of the Work-Colleges Program is to recognize, encourage, and promote the use of comprehensive work-learning programs as a valuable educational approach when it is an integral part of the school's educational program and a part of a financial plan that decreases reliance on grants and loans. The program's purpose is also to encourage students to participate in community service activities (Section 675.43 of the Final Rule). The term "work-college" is defined as "an eligible institution that-- (1) is a public or private nonprofit school with a commitment to community service; (2) has operated a COMPREHENSIVE WORK-LEARNING PROGRAM for at least two years; (3) requires-- (i) all resident students who reside on campus to participate in a comprehensive work-learning program and (ii) the provision of services as an integral part of the school's educational program and as part of the school's educational philosophy; and (4) Provides students participating in the comprehensive work- learning program with the opportunity to contribute to their education and to the welfare of the community as a whole." A "comprehensive student work-learning program" is defined as "a student work/service program that-- (1) is an integral and stated part of the institution's educational philosophy and program; (2) requires participation of all resident students for enrollment, participation, and graduation; (3) includes learning objectives, evaluation, and a record of work performance as part of the student's college record; (4) provides programmatic leadership by college personnel at levels comparable to traditional academic programs; (5) recognizes the educational role of work-learning supervisors; and (6) includes consequences for nonperformance or failure in the work-learning program similar to the consequences for failure in the regular academic program." Additional information about the Work-Colleges Program is in Part 675, Subpart C of the November 30, 1994 Final Rule. |