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.

• 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.

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.

• 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.

What is not covered by Federal Work-Study?

Your employer will be billed for your wages at 100% (as opposed to 0-25%) if any of the following occur:

• You earn wages in excess of your Federal Work-Study award.
• You lose your work-study eligibility and continue to work.

Running out of Federal Work-Study?

When you have earned 70% of your FWS award, you will receive an alert notification in WorkDay. CWSP also receives this notification and will send you and your supervisor a separate email with your balance. Track your hours carefully so you do not exceed your FWS award.

If you continue working after your FWS award ends, or, after your employment term ends, your employer will be billed for 100% of your wages.

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

• First: 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.
• Second: 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.
• Third: Ask your employer if they are able to pay 100% of your wages.