If you receive financial aid through the college, your package falls into one of two categories: campus employment, or no-campus employment. If campus employment is part of your package, then your package will specify if you are Federal Work Study eligible.

What is the Federal Work Study (FWS) program?

FWS, often referred to as simply “work study”,  is a federally governed program that helps provide part-time jobs for approved undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service and work related to the recipient’s course of study by partially funding wages for eligible students at eligible employers — which means,  both the employer and the student must apply for FWS eligibility. This program is administered by the Office of Financial Aid. Here is the Department of Education’s description of the program

How does it work at Williams?

All of the hourly jobs we offer students are labeled either Campus Employment – FWS, or Campus Employment. The large majority of employment at Williams is through campus employment, and not through the FWS program. Generally speaking (but with exceptions), the following is true:

1. Any student may work a campus employment job, provided they’ve been hired in PeopleSoft.
2. Only FWS eligible students may work a campus-employment FWS job (no exceptions).
3. All on-campus positions are campus employment.
4. Most off-campus positions are FWS jobs.

I’m a student, what does this mean for me?

If you’re interested in working for a FWS off-campus employer, make sure you’re eligible by checking your financial aid package. You can check this in your People Soft account, or you can contact the Office of Financial Aid if you’re unsure.  If you’re FWS eligible then you have more work opportunities than those students who aren’t.  Check out the available positions page and look for positions that include the FWS label.

I’m a potential/current FWS employer, where do I get information?

If you are a private nonprofit organization or a public agency and would like to apply to be a FWS off-campus employer, contact the Office of Financial Aid.

If you are a current FWS off-campus employer, check out our FWS hiring procedures and online resources For Supervisors to answer frequently asked questions. Otherwise, please contact Financial Aid.

While student employment is largely handled by the Human Resources department, Financial Aid manages the Federal Work Study Program and monitors student annual earnings limits.