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Federal Work Study – Student Rights and Responsibilities

Employment Rights and Responsibilities

  • I must have completed of hiring process on Workday before I begin working.
  • I am responsible for maintaining eligibility in the FWS Program:
    • Meet UCF’s Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress
    • Be degree seeking at UCF.
    • Be enrolled and have confirmed attendance at least half-time at UCF.
    • If I plan to drop or withdraw from my classes, I must notify the SFA office and seek counseling on the possible outcome. The SFA must cancel my FWS award if I do not meet any of the criteria.
    • Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, eligible non-citizen, or citizen of the Freely Associated States: The Federated States of Micronesia and the republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands.
    • Have a valid form of identification per UCF HR policy.
    • Complete all required To-Do List Items.
    • Complete verification (if selected).
    • Complete the FWS Contract annually.
  • It is my responsibility to read through the FWS guide and FWS website “important dates.”
  • I must adhere to all rules and policies established by my employer, including a dress code.
  • My employer and I must mutually determine a work schedule that does not overlap with my class schedule before I begin to work.
  • I must present to my employer the following before I may start working each semester:
    • Award Summary
    • Class Schedule
  • I must adhere to the work schedule established.
    • If I want a day off or time off from my work schedule, I must ask permission from my employer.
  • I must notify my employer as far in advance as possible if I am not able to come to work due to extenuating circumstances.
  • I have been advised to work no more than 20 hr/wk except during school breaks, when I may work up to 29 hr/wk.
  • I may only have one FWS job at a time.  If I have an OPS job while working in the FWS program, I must inform my employer. If my combined hours exceed 29 hr/wk, then I am advised to contact HR for further information about FICA taxes.
  • I must keep accurate logging my time on Workday and submit it in a timely manner biweekly; otherwise, I will be paid late.
    • If I falsify any of my time sheets, I will be terminated immediately and have disciplinary actions brought against me by the University of Central Florida.
    • When I arrive at work, I need to Check In on Workday.
    • When I leave work, I need to Check Out on Workday.
    • I must select the reason for Check Out.
    • For step-by-step instructions please refer to pages 16 – 17 from the Federal Work-Study Student Employee Manual
  • It is up to my employer’s discretion to either transfer me to their funding account or to terminate me once I approach my FWS limit per semester.
  •  I have an obligation to perform job duties satisfactorily.
  • My employer has the right to terminate me from the job if he/she determines that any of the above expectations are unsatisfactory.
  • I am aware that if I receive a new scholarship/additional aid during or after the semester, this may change my FWS award eligibility.
  • I must give a two-week notice for my employer before quitting.

Annual Responsibilities

The FWS award is not automatically guaranteed each aid year. Eligibility is based on the availability of funding and my federal need. Packaging criteria may vary each year. Therefore, I must:

  • File the FAFSA by December 1st of each year to increase my chances of being considered for FWS.
  • Complete my To-Do List
  • Complete Verification (if selected)
  • Be enrolled and have confirmed attendance for at least ½ time in a degree-seeking program at UCF
  • Sign the FWS contract.

Semesterly Responsibilities

  • I must check my To-Do List often throughout the semester to complete any additional documents that may have been added on a periodic basis.
  • I must maintain at least ½ time enrollment in a degree-seeking program at UCF each semester. If I plan to drop or withdraw from my classes, I must notify the SFA office and seek counseling on the possible outcome.
    *The SFA has the right to cancel my FWS award if I do not meet any of the above criteria*.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at the end of each semester, in order to be considered for FWS for the following semester, which is
    • A minimum 2.0 G.P.A.
    • Completing 70% of my attempted hours
    • Completing degree within 150% of the attempted UCF hour limit for my classification
  • I must present to my employer the following before I may start working each semester:
    • Award Summary
    • Class schedule