A number of financial aid programs are coordinated through the Financial Aid Office (FAO), including the Campus-Based Aid Programs. Campus-Based Aid Programs, including Federal Work-Study (FWS), are funded by the Federal Government

To be eligible for FWS funds, a student must show sufficient need as determined by use of a federally approved financial aid application. If eligible, 75% of a student's salary is paid by the federal government through FWS funds and the remaining 25% is paid from state or local funds.

FAO determines allocations for FWS funds to be used for Federal Work-Study Graduate Assistantships (FWS-GA) for the academic year. The Graduate School determines the distribution of FWS-GAs throughout the University. As with regular assistantships, each college/department establishes criteria for selecting graduate assistants. FWS funds can not be set aside or distributed based on race or gender, or other statutes protected by law. Each student selected for an FWS-GA must also meet the financial need requirements, as well as the department's criteria.

Students awarded an FWS-GA must be eligible for a full 50% assistantship appointment, requiring 20 hours of service a week. The amount a student may receive in FWS funds is limited by the student's financial need as determined from the financial aid application. A student receiving an FWS-GA may only receive a total of grants, loans, and work in an amount equal to or less than their financial need. Student’s earnings from FWS-GA are reportable as income for federal and state income tax purposes. However, FWS-GA earnings are excluded from the need analysis when the student applies for financial assistance for subsequent years.

1. Graduate students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible for the upcoming 2003-2004 academic year.2003-2004 FAFSA forms are available at FAO or may be accessed on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
   
2. Students must secure an assistantship position by contacting their major department or various other offices and services on campus.
   
3. Approximately two to three weeks after submitting the FAFSA, students will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR).Upon receipt of the SAR, students must go to the Graduate School and place their name on the FWS-GA Priority List.
   
4. The Graduate School will submit a FWS Graduate Assistantship Transmittal form to FAO for a determination of financial need, financial aid packaging and the reparation of an Award Notice, if eligible.
   
5. The Financial Aid Award Notice and FWS Graduate Assistantship Transmittal Form are then submitted by FAO to the Graduate School where determination of award recipients is made.The employing departments are notified of the FWS-GA award offer by means of a letter from the Graduate School These letters are accompanied by the student’s Financial Aid Award Notice and a working copy of the Graduate Assistantship Contract. Questions about FWS-GA should be directed to the School 6. Making sure all forms are signed by the student, the employing department will then process the appointment papers in a manner similar to other assistantships.

Students receiving FWS-GAs are not allowed to work on campus under any other additional work or GA Programs during the semester when an FWS-GA is received.

Students who are not eligible for a full 50% FWS-GA, but who have extraordinary education-related expenses such as art or photography supplies and students who will experience a significant decrease in income from 2003 to 2004 should contact FAO for special assistance.

For further information, click here.

-Prepared by the Financial Aid Office