For Students – Einhorn Center for Community Engagement

About CWSP CWSP Current Job Postings For Students

Student Eligibility Finding a Job Interview Tips If You Receive a Job Offer

For Community Partners

Employer Eligibility Requirements How to Hire a Student Job Descriptions

Campus Partners

Payroll Instructions and Policies Important CWSP Program Dates CWSP Student Info Sessions Program Resources & Policies for Students & Employers

For Students

We appreciate your interest in the Community Work-Study Program! Working public interest positions in local communities has proven to be a valuable experience to the students within our program. In addition to earning work-study funds, the benefits to students could include opportunities to explore the inner workings of the nonprofit sector, getting to know and serve the community in which we live, a chance to provide support for those in need, gaining real world work experience and skills to carry into future careers, and an excuse to explore our local area outside of campus life. Whether you are a new student learning about our program, or a returning student looking for information, please see the resources listed to the left. For questions and additional program information, reach out to cwsp@cornell.edu.

Student Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements

Students who have federal work-study funding (FWS) in their financial-aid package or are a member of Cornell Tradition are eligible to participate in the CWSP. Review your financial aid on Student Service Center to ensure you have a FWS award.

Students need to actively accept, reduce, or decline offers for all Federal Work-Study (FWS), federal student loans, and university loans through Student Center. For instructions on how to accept FWS or loans, please review this tutorial. FWS cannot be earned and student loans will not credit to the Bursar statement until they are accepted, or reduced, and all standard Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Notes are complete.

Need help understanding your financial-aid award letter? See the 2-min Cornell video “Understanding Your Award Letter” or call Financial Aid at 607-255-5145.

Eligibility Requirements

Need help understanding your financial-aid award letter? See the 2-min Cornell video “Understanding Your Award Letter” or call Financial Aid at 607-255-5145.

Additional Eligibility Criteria

Taking a leave of absence or withdrawing from Cornell will affect eligibility.
Academic year employment must be registered in classes full time. FWS is not available for part-time enrollment.
Registration holds, including bursar, dean’s, and medical holds will affect ability to start working.
Must maintain satisfactory academic progress for continued eligibility.

Additional Eligibility Criteria

Taking a leave of absence or withdrawing from Cornell will affect eligibility.
Academic year employment must be registered in classes full time. FWS is not available for part-time enrollment.
Registration holds, including bursar, dean’s, and medical holds will affect ability to start working.
Must maintain satisfactory academic progress for continued eligibility.

I9 form must be completed

Students must complete an I9 to be eligible for employment. This is done after the hire has been started. Make sure to have your original documents on hand, copies are not accepted. To ensure you have the proper documents, review the options required at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents.

I9 form must be completed

How Does the Federal Work-Study award work?

FWS award calculations are based on your financial need.
Awards can be earned in one semester or spread across the academic year.
FWS funding not used throughout the year does not roll over into the next year. You must be granted FWS in the next year’s financial aid package to continue funding.
The FWS balance you do not earn cannot be converted to cash, nor can it be applied to your Bursar balance.
Students are automatically terminated at the end of the academic year.

How much can be earned?

You may earn the amount stated in your financial aid package as a Federal Work-Study award. This figure is equal to your “gross wages,” not the taxable portion of your earnings. If you have more than one work-study position, remember to add earnings from all jobs when calculating how much of your award remains. Email the CWSP Coordinator if you’d like to check your FWS balance.

FWS award reduction or cancellation

Your FWS eligibility can be reduced or cancelled by the Office of Financial Aid at any time based on changes to your financial aid package and/or status at Cornell.

Running out of Federal Work-Study?

When you have earned 70% of your FWS award, you will receive an alert notification in WorkDay.

If your FWS award is depleted, you have the following options:

Petition your Financial Aid counselor for an increase to your FWS award. Do not wait to look into this option; it should be done immediately. During this period you are not eligible to work. Contact Financial Aid for more information by phone 607-255-5145.
If you are a Tradition Fellow, notify the Tradition office that you have exhausted your federal work-study award. The Tradition office will notify the CWSP Coordinator with proper documentation.

How Does the Federal Work-Study award work?

FWS award calculations are based on your financial need.
Awards can be earned in one semester or spread across the academic year.
FWS funding not used throughout the year does not roll over into the next year. You must be granted FWS in the next year’s financial aid package to continue funding.
The FWS balance you do not earn cannot be converted to cash, nor can it be applied to your Bursar balance.
Students are automatically terminated at the end of the academic year.

How much can be earned?

FWS award reduction or cancellation

Your FWS eligibility can be reduced or cancelled by the Office of Financial Aid at any time based on changes to your financial aid package and/or status at Cornell.

Running out of Federal Work-Study?

When you have earned 70% of your FWS award, you will receive an alert notification in WorkDay.

If your FWS award is depleted, you have the following options:

Petition your Financial Aid counselor for an increase to your FWS award. Do not wait to look into this option; it should be done immediately. During this period you are not eligible to work. Contact Financial Aid for more information by phone 607-255-5145.
If you are a Tradition Fellow, notify the Tradition office that you have exhausted your federal work-study award. The Tradition office will notify the CWSP Coordinator with proper documentation.

Finding a Job

Search Job Postings

Postings are located on our CWSP current job postings page.

Positions can also be found in Workday.

Interview Tips

Contact the employer/supervisor directly who is listed on the job posting.
Be prepared for an interview that could include a review of the job description, tasks, and responsibilities associated with the job, relevant skills, experience, or coursework.
Discuss scheduling, whether they want you to work during breaks, transportation needs, your extracurricular/co-curricular activities, the office dress code, and the employer’s preference for communication so that each of you is clear on expectations and your availability.
Be sure to tell the employer if you work at another Cornell job(s) or plan on finding another job for the employment term (academic year or summer), so the employer understand that wages will be earned from multiple jobs.
Other helpful interview resources can be found on the Career Service Interview Preparation Page.

If You Receive a Job Offer

You cannot begin working until you have been appointed to University Payroll. After you have received a job offer from an employer, the employer and CWSP Coordinator will coordinate to secure an agreement confirming your position details. Once the agreement is complete, you will receive an appointment letter via Workday along with any necessary on-boarding tasks. If an I-9 form is needed, it will be available to complete as a task in Workday.