| AwardYear: 1998-1999 EnterChapterNo: 7 EnterChapterTitle: Federal Work-Study Program SectionNumber: SectionTitle: Introduction PageNumbers: 1-2 [[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.) 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 institution1 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. 1 See Chapter 3, Section 1 for the definition of an eligible institution. [[Purpose of Work-Colleges Program]] [[Definition of work-college]] 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. |