Work-Study & Student Employment

Community Service Learning (CSL) is a partnership between UNI and community non-profit organizations. Qualified students work at off-campus positions while earning Federal Work-Study funds. Student employees receive pay through UNI. Students who do not originally have work-study on their award, may still qualify for CSL. For more information about Community Service Learning visit our Community Service Learning webpage or email workstudy-jobs@uni.edu.

America Reads is a Federal Work-Study program that provides after school tutoring for schools in the community.  During the 2018-19 school year, America Reads is partnered with Lincoln Elementary School in Cedar Falls to offer an after school program focusing on literacy. For more information about America Reads, please visit the Literacy Education webpage in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education.

If I wasn't awarded work-study at first, can I be awarded it later?

With the award of a Pell Grant, a student could request to be placed on the work-study waiting list. There is a possibility that more work-study will be awarded later in the fall semester, near the end of October. The rate of work-study earnings is assessed. If the rate of earnings needs to be higher, more work-study will be awarded.

I work at two on-campus jobs. Can I earn work-study at both of these positions?

No. Students may only have ONE work-study job at a time. However, students may have both a work-study and a departmental job as long as they do not exceed the maximum hours allowed in the Student Employment Policy.

What happens if I earn all of my fall work-study before the end of the fall semester? Can I start using my spring amount of work-study?

If you are enrolled at least half-time for the spring semester, yes, you can start earning the spring amount. Typically, awards are made in equal amounts for both fall and spring semesters. If a student earns over their awarded amount for fall, funds can be used from the spring award, provided the student will also be enrolled in spring courses. Once the total work-study award is earned, the student must be paid by departmental funds or end employment.

When is the last day I can earn work-study?

The last day to earn work-study is the last day of the semester, the Saturday of final's week. For the 2018-19 school year, the last day is May 10, 2019 for a spring-only or full year student. Students enrolled at least half-time both fall and spring semester, can earn work-study during the winter break. For students graduating in fall, the last day to work is the Friday of final's week. For Fall 2018 it is December 14, 2018.

What happens to any work-study money I do not earn by the end of the semester? Can it carry over to the next academic year?

Work-study can be earned only during the academic year for which it is awarded. Work-study awarded in one year cannot carry over to the next academic year. Be sure to file your FAFSA each October to help determine your work-study eligibility for the upcoming year.

**If your work-study question was not answered, feel free to submit your question to us directly and we will be in contact in 1-2 business days.