Work-Study Employers
Our website strives to provide guidance and outline regulations of the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program. Additional student employment information is available on the Northwestern Student Employment website.
Employer Quick Reference Guide
On-Campus Employers
To the greatest extent possible, employers are encouraged to hire FWS-eligible students. Aside from the intrinsic benefits to eligible students, the arrangement is also cost-effective compared to hiring and employing regular temporary student employees in which the student's wages are fully paid by the department. Hiring an FWS employee allows on-campus units to utilize their budget in other meaningful ways or may allow you to extend your budget long enough to justify keeping your student employee on the payroll once their FWS earnings limit has been exhausted. Learn more about the Federal Work-Study Program here at Northwestern!
Off-Campus Community Employers
- Northwestern's Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program partners with approved off-campus community service agencies, schools, government, and nonprofits in Evanston. Approved partners must enter into a written contractual relationship with Northwestern University and abide by all program policies and procedures.
- The focus of the off-campus organization and the positions filled by FWS-eligible students should provide services that are open and accessible to Evanston community residents, particularly low-income individuals and are designed to improve the quality of life and to solve issues related to their needs. Such services may be direct or indirect and address the following areas: health care, child care, literacy training, education, welfare, social services, transportation, housing and neighborhood improvement, public safety, crime prevention, recreation, and community development and improvement.
- FWS student employees must be supervised by a professional employee of the off-campus organization. The off-campus agency supervisor will work with a liaison from Northwestern's Federal Work-Study Program to ensure all program regulations and contractual agreements are adhered to.
- Northwestern invoices off-campus community partners quarterly for their 25% student wage cost share responsibility. To ensure credit to the proper account, all checks should clearly state the invoice number. If paying by wire transfer, contact the Work-Study Program before making the transfer.
- January (October – December wages)
- April (January – March wages)
- July (April – June wages)