AwardYear: 1997-1998 EnterChapterNo: 7 EnterChapterTitle: Federal Work-Study Program SectionNumber: SectionTitle: Introduction PageNumbers: 1-3 [[34 CFR 673.1]] The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program encourages the part-time employment of undergraduate and graduate students who need the income to help pay for their cost of education, and encourages 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.) RECENT CHANGES TO THE FWS PROGRAM [[NEW]] Part 673 has been added to the regulations as "Part 673--General Provisions for the Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Work- Study Program, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program," published in the Federal Register (Part IV) on November 27, 1996. Part 673 consolidates common provisions of the campus-based programs (formerly found in Parts 674, 675, and 676), and eliminates duplicate provisions for each program. The regulations, which are effective July 1, 1997, are discussed in the Introduction to Chapter 5 of this Handbook. [[34 CFR 675.26(d)(2)]] The regulations published November 27 also add a new provision, authorizing a 100% federal share of FWS wages earned by a student who is employed as a reading tutor for children who are in preschool through elementary school. The work performed by the student must be for the school itself, for a federal, state or local agency, or for a private nonprofit organization. (See Section 5 of this chapter.) [[34 CFR 668.163]] Requirements for maintaining and accounting for Student Financial Assistance (SFA) program funds are included in regulations published in the Federal Register November 29, 1996 and become effective July 1, 1997. The new cash management requirements that apply specifically to the campus-based programs are discussed in Chapter 5, Section 3. The new provisions that apply to all SFA programs are discussed in detail in Chapter 3, Section 3. Section 5 of this chapter also provides information on fiscal procedures and records. [[Recordkeeping--34 CFR 668.24 and 34 CFR 675.19]] New recordkeeping requirements for all SFA programs were published in the Federal Register November 27, 1996 and become effective July 1, 1997. These regulations specify the length of time records must be kept and the formats in which they must be kept. These new requirements as they apply in general to all SFA programs are discussed in Chapter 3, Section 7. For information on how these requirements apply specifically to the campus-based programs, see Chapter 5, Section 3. Work-Colleges Program The Higher Education Amendments of 1992 authorized the Work- Colleges Program. Schools that satisfy the definition of "work- college" may apply with the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the program. 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. [[Purpose of Work-Colleges Program]] The Work-Colleges Program recognizes, encourages, and promotes the use of comprehensive work-learning programs as a valuable educational approach when used as an integral part of the school's educational program and as a part of a financial plan that decreases reliance on grants and loans. The program also encourages students to participate in community service activities. [[Definition of work-college]] The term "work-college" is defined as an eligible institution*1* that - is a public or private nonprofit school with a commitment to community service; - has operated a COMPREHENSIVE WORK-LEARNING PROGRAM for at least two years; - 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; - requires all students who reside on campus to participate in a comprehensive work-learning program; and - requires providing services as an integral part of the school's educational program and as part of the school's educational philosophy. A "comprehensive student work-learning program" is defined as a student work/service program that - is an integral and stated part of the institution's educational philosophy and program; - requires participation of all resident students for enrollment, participation, and graduation; - includes learning objectives, evaluation, and a record of work performance as part of the student's college record; - provides programmatic leadership by college personnel at levels comparable to traditional academic programs; - recognizes the educational role of work-learning supervisors; and - includes consequences for nonperformance or failure in the work- learning program similar to the consequences for failure in the regular academic program. Additional requirements for the Work-Colleges Program are found in 34CFR 675, Subpart C. *1* See Chapter 3, Section 1 for the definition of an eligible institution. |