How do I know if I am eligible for Off-Campus Federal Work Study positions?
First, you must have applied for student aid by completing the FAFSA.
If you completed the FAFSA, you can check your FWS eligibility on FLASHline:
Login to FLASHline and click on the ‘Student’ tab
- Hover over the ‘Finances’ tab, and click on ‘Scholarships & Financial Aid’
- Click on ‘Financial Aid Dashboard.’ (You can pin this item to your Student Dashboard if desired.)
- Confirm that the Aid Year displayed in the upper right corner is the correct aid year.
- Click the Offer tab in the top menu.
- Scroll down to view your scholarship(s) & financial aid.
Click on each type of financial aid to read more information about each offer.
If you do not see a FWS award listed in FLASHline, that means that you have not been awarded FWS. If you have completed the FAFSA and are a Kent campus student, you can request an eligibility review by completing the Federal Work Study Request Form on the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center website.
Where can I find the job postings for Off-Campus Federal Work Study positions?
Like all on-campus student employment opportunities, Off-Campus Federal Work Study positions are posted on Handshake, the university’s job posting board, when available.
Most Off-Campus FWS positions are posted in Handshake by ‘Kent State University, Career Exploration and Development’ on behalf of the organization. Most of these job posting titles are formatted as follows: ‘Job Title @ Organization Name – Off Campus, Federal Work Study Position.’ However, note that the ‘America Reads/America Counts Tutor’ positions are posted by ‘Kent State University, Community Engaged Learning.’
What organizations offer Off-Campus Federal Work Study positions?
Kent State has relationships with several non-profit organizations in the surrounding area that employ FWS-eligible students. Current partners include: Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, United Way of Portage County, the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA), Davey Elementary School, Willyard Elementary School, West Main Elementary School, King Kennedy Community Center, and Skeels-Mathews Community Center.
What is America Reads / America Counts tutoring, and is this program a part of the Off-Campus Federal Work Study Program?
The America Reads / America Counts tutoring program is a part of Off-Campus Federal Work Study and aims to enhance the primary-level reading and math skills of children in the Kent/Ravenna area while offering Kent State students a chance to gain valuable experience and engage with their community. America Reads / America Counts tutors are compensated through FWS funds and training from their site.
America Reads / America Counts sites include:
- Davey Elementary School (Kent)
- King Kennedy Community Center (Ravenna)
- Skeels-Mathews Community Center (Ravenna)
- Willyard Elementary School (Ravenna)
- West Main Elementary School (Ravenna)
These tutoring positions, when available, can be found on Handshake under “America Reads/America Counts Tutor.”
What is the difference in the hiring process between the regular Off-Campus Federal Work Study program and America Reads / America Counts tutoring?
In the regular Off-Campus Federal Work Study program, your application is collected by Career Exploration and Development in Handshake and reviewed by the organization hosting the opportunity. If you are eligible for a FWS position and meet the qualifications, the hiring
organization will contact you directly to schedule an interview. If hired, you will be considered an employee of that organization and hired directly through the organization.
In the American Reads / America Counts tutoring program, your application is collected by Community Engaged Learning and a staff member will review your application. If you are eligible for a FWS position and meet the qualifications, Community Engaged Learning will contact you to schedule an initial interview. If you advance in the process following this conversation, you will be responsible for contacting your respective site(s) to schedule a second interview with the site supervisor. If selected by the site, you will work with the Community Engaged Learning office to complete hiring paperwork with Kent State University before working your first shift.
Can I work as many hours as I wish?
No. Your earnings cannot total more than your overall FWS award.
Can I have more than one work study position?
As long as you do not exceed 28 hours per week combined between all positions, you can have more than one work study job. If you are working multiple jobs, you will need to monitor yourself to ensure that you do not work more than 28 hours in a week.
Are Federal Work Study positions on-campus or off-campus?
Both! If you work on-campus, you will work for Kent State University. If you work off campus, your work site will be a private nonprofit organization or a public agency, they will treat you like an employee, and you will perform work in the public interest.
How much can I make?
Pay rates vary depending on the role and particular job responsibilities. Pay rates for each position can be found on the job posting in Handshake. As stated above, you cannot earn more than your award for the year, though if you work enough hours, you could earn your year’s award all in one semester—the higher your rate of pay and the more frequently you work, the quicker you might earn all of your funds for the year.
If you have any other questions, please email Career Exploration and Development at career@kent.edu.