Community Service Learning
Community Service Learning (CSL) is a partnership between UNI and community nonprofit organizations. Qualified students work at off-campus positions while earning Federal Work-Study funds. Student employees receive pay through UNI. Students who originally do not have Federal Work-Study on their award, may still qualify for Community Service Learning.
Nonprofit organizations are responsible for 25 percent of the earnings. A normal Federal Work-Study award is $2,000. The maximum amount an agency would be responsible for is $500.
Benefits to Students
- Student gain valuable work experience.
- Earnings are exempt from FICA taxes if you are enrolled full-time
- Paid via UNI Direct Deposit
- The work performed is in the public interest. It improves the quality of life for the community.
Benefits to Nonprofit Organization
- Employers pay only 25% of the wages earned
- Interns enrich the agencies by bringing with them the latest information and practices in their fields of study
How CSL Works
- Off-campus agencies can advertise for positions using online resources through UNI Career Services. For more information on posting a position, click here.
- Staff in the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships can determine which student applicants qualify for Federal Work-Study. For instructions, please click here.
- The agency interviews students and selects student(s) for the position.
- The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships awards Federal Work-Study to eligible student employees.
- The student employee meets with Financial Aid Office staff for set up in UNI payroll.
Note: Students currently working for an organization may also qualify for Community Service Learning. Contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for help in determining if a student qualifies
Receiving Federal Work-Study Payments
Your way of receiving pay will differ from the way of receiving other aid such as grants and loans which credit to the U-bill. To receive pay for work study you will record the hours worked and submit time cards on the Oracle E-business site. A link is available through MyUNIverse. Your payment will be directly deposited to your personal bank account.
Students can access their Work-Study Monitoring Report to track their work-study earnings at any time on the Oracle e-business suite where you complete and submit timecards.
Instructions for Completing a Student Timecard
Instructions on Viewing your Work-Study Monitoring Report
Information for Agencies
Nonprofit Employer Responsibilities
- Pay 25% of students’ federal work-study earning and 100% of any earnings over students’ work-study earning paid by UNI
- Sign into Oracle E-Business suite every Monday to review submitted timecards
- Communicate with Work-Study Coordinator on employee terminations in a timely manner
Nonprofit Employer Resources
For more information, contact:
Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, Work-Study
(319) 273-2700