College students everywhere are adapting to online studying or limited in-person classes and activities. One of the issues that many of our Addition Financial members are wondering about is the status of federal work study programs.
A recent article in US News talked about what work study programs look like during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article states:
“Whether students can access work-study funding, which is a form of aid that requires them to work for wages paid in part by the U.S. Department of Education, will depend on the policy in place at the college they attend.”
Since work study programs are an essential element of financial aid for students, we want to focus on what three local colleges are doing to keep work study programs available during the fall semester.
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida paid students who were enrolled in work study programs through the end of the spring semester for 2020 after the campus shut down. That meant that anybody who was already working continued to receive payment even if they were unable to do their jobs remotely.
For the summer semester, students had access to limited jobs, including jobs that could be done remotely. Students who were enrolled for the spring had to reapply for summer semester employment.
For the fall semester, work started on August 21st. Students are working at both remote and in-person jobs. If you’re interested in applying for a work study job at UCF, you can do it online via JobX.
Seminole State College of Florida
Seminole State College of Florida is planning a phased reopening of its campus. Most classes will be held online and most on-campus buildings are closed, which limits the availability of work study jobs.
Students who have work study as part of their financial aid can still apply for available jobs online using Handshake. If you have any questions about how to use Handshake, you can access the Federal Work Study Handshake Guide online.
You may also visit the Seminole College Work Study page to find a list of Frequently Asked Questions or get online help. The financial aid office may be able to help you with grants or loans if you are not able to find a work study job at this time.
Valencia College
Valencia College is planning a phased reopening that includes some on-campus classes as well as remote learning. They have detailed information on their website about work study programs and the availability of jobs.
The first thing you should know is that Valencia College students who had work study jobs for the summer semester received pay for the entire semester, even if they could not work.
For the fall semester, they have limited job listings available, including both in-person jobs and remote employment. They encourage students to check the work study page on their site for new jobs, which are being listed regularly.
They also have a comprehensive FAQ about work study, which includes potential resources for students working remotely and advice about how to get work study jobs now and in the future.
If you attend a school other than the three we’ve listed here, your best bet is to contact the Financial Aid office and ask about work study programs. You should also know that, at present, the US Department of Education is not paying students who become sick due to COVID-19.
If you’re a work study student who can’t work due to the pandemic, a student loan can help you meet your expenses. Click here to learn how Addition Financial can help.
Posted on Sep 9, 2020
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