Work-Study

Eligibility Criteria

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Demonstrate calculated financial need.
• Undergraduate Student.
• Enrolled half-time (6 credit hours or more) during Fall, Spring, and Summer.
• Maintain EPCC Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) criteria.
• Male students (except exempted individuals) must be registered with Selective Service.
• Not in default on a Federal Direct Loan or owe a refund to a federal grant.
• Priority is given to students applying by the priority deadline of March 15th.

Once the information has been evaluated by our office and eligibility determined, an email of eligibility for financial aid is sent to students to EPCC email account.

Work-Study Guidelines

Factors to know:

• The average work hours are 15-19 hours per week.
• A copy of the student’s class schedule should be provided to the supervisor in order to plan a work schedule. (Your supervisor will monitor your work schedule.)
• Always inform your supervisor if you are not able to attend work for any reason.
• Fall employment is effective as of starting dates on contract agreement.
• Spring employment begins no earlier than the first day of school. (Please do not start before.)
• Paid wage is determined based on Federal Work-study allocations.
• Total pay per Fall or Spring term may not exceed the limit of identified financial need.
• Work-study students are not entitled to sick leave, paid vacation or paid holidays.
• In order to continue employment under the College Work-study Program, students must be maintaining satisfactory academic progress as described in the El Paso Community College Catalog.
• Students who have been placed on Financial Aid suspension, or have attempted 150% or more than the required hours to complete their degree do not qualify for the Work-Study Program.

NOTE: The Work-Study Program does not pay for studying during working hours.

Student Process

The Financial Aid office has revamped the work-study process and eligible students are to complete the following:

• Check your EPCC email account to see if you received a Work-Study eligibility email with further instructions.
• Students are recommended to complete informative videos and quizzes.
• Students will create a Career Coach account to view job postings and schedule an interview.
• If hired, hiring supervisor will contact you with Human Resource instructions.
• Refer to the EPCC Work-Study Guide for Students (PDF)

Supervisor Process

The Financial Aid office has revamped the work-study process for those interested in becoming a work-study supervisor and are to complete the following:

• If interested in being a Work-Study supervisor, notify your direct supervisor. Then contact the Vice President or Associate Vice President of your Division to see if there is availability.
• Once approved, you will receive an email from the FA Coordinator overseeing the Work-Study Program with additional instructions.
• Supervisors are recommended to complete informative tutorials and quiz.
• Supervisors will need to submit a job description.
• Supervisors will conduct interviews from eligible work-study students.
• Supervisors will contact selected candidate to complete HR process.
• After HR process is complete, supervisor will notify FA Coordinator to get confirmation on start date and eligible hours. Student can not begin work until confirmed by all departments.
• Supervisors are responsible for verifying work-study timesheets and submit to Payroll in a timely manner.
• Refer to the EPCC Work-Study Guide for Supervisors (PDF)

Hiring Process

• Work-Study employment for Fall starts no earlier than September 1.
• Students contact the supervisor listed for the position.
• Students must show the award letter of notification indicating their work-study eligibility to the supervisor before the interview.
• If offered position, students must complete the Employment Eligibility Verification form (I-9) with the Human Resources Department. Further instructions provided by hiring supervisor.
• The Personnel Department will provide you with a clearance form that student must take to the hiring supervisor.
• The supervisor completes the Personal Action Record (PAR) Form contract and provides a copy to the student. The form clearly indicates the total hours awarded to the student per semester.
• Current or returning work-study students need to complete only the Work-Study Personnel Action Record Form (PAR) with the supervisor.

Time-Sheets

• Time sheets are obtained from Supervisor.
• The supervisor and student must sign a time sheet and provide an appropriate Payroll Account Number each month.
• Late time sheets, missing signatures, or missing account numbers may delay the pay for the entire month.
• Each student is expected to complete the lower left-hand box of the time sheet giving the student the knowledge of how many hours are remaining. (Do not exceed awarded hours per semester.)
• Each semester students are given a new set of hours, therefore do not carry any remaining hours to the following semester.
• Time sheets are due in the Payroll Office on the last working day of each month.
• Payday is normally the 15th of every month. If the 15th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, your payday is on the Friday before.