The Community Work-Study Program (CWSP), sponsored by the Einhorn Center, enables Cornell Federal Work-Study (FWS) students to work for nonprofit organizations, schools, and municipalities mainly in Ithaca and Tompkins County.

The US Department of Education allows students to use FWS funds for off campus community service employment. Each fiscal year Federal Work-Study regulations require that Cornell use at least 7% of its FWS allocation to employ students in community service eligible positions. At least 75% of CWSP student wages for community-service positions are covered by the federal government. This gives CWSP the opportunity for students to have unique work experiences that may not have been available without the funding allowance. The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment determines student eligibility for FWS, and CWSP determines student and employer eligibility for CWSP funding.

• A student does not have to provide a “direct” service.
• Work done must benefit communities within the United States.
• A university or college is not considered a community for the purposes of the FWS community-service requirements.
• On-campus jobs can meet the definition of community services, provided the work is designed to improve the quality of life for off campus community residents, or to solve problems related to their needs.
• Off-campus wages can be subsidized with 75-100% work study depending upon employer and position. Employers must pay the unsubsidized portion.
• On-campus positions require that the department pay the remaining 25% from departmental funding once the position is determined to be a community work-study placement.

Interested in working with pre-kindergarten through 9th-grade students in area schools and agencies? Through the national America Reads Challenge and America Counts Challenge (ARC/ACC) programs, FWS will fund 100% of student wages for eligible positions tutoring children in reading and mathematics or coordinating such tutoring programs.

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