Welcome to the University of Oregon Off-Campus Federal Work-Study Employer website.

The following offices at the university will work with your agency when you participate in this program:

What is the Federal Work-Study Program?

The university encourages public and private non-profit organizations to hire student employees by participating in the Off-Campus Federal Work-Study Program.  A federal grant underwrites part of the salary expense. Student employees in your organization are placed on the University of Oregon's payroll and paid monthly. Your agency will be billed for your portion of the salary expense (approximately 50%) and for all related employer costs.

Student employees are students first and foremost and, in recognition of this, are limited to a total of half-time employment or 20 hours per week.  This limit includes all student employment positions held simultaneously.  During term breaks students may be employed full-time as long as they have Federal Work-Study awards for the term before and after the break.

Do you qualify to be a Federal Work-Study Off-Campus Employer ?

The university will consider requests to enter into contractual agreements with federal, state or local public agencies, and private non-profit organizations based upon the following rules and upon available funds.

1. Employer must be a public or private non-profit organization.
2. Employment must not result in the displacement of other employees.
3. Work must be in the public interest.
4. Work cannot require religious or political involvement.
5. Work does not involve the construction, operation or maintenance of any facility used or to be used for sectarian instruction or as a place of religious worship.
6. Employer will provide meaningful work. Preferably, work will enhance the student's educational objectives.
7. Employer must provide adequate supervision and training for the student employed.
8. Employer must provide responsible record keeping and monitoring of student hours within the limitations of the student's FWS certification (award).
9. Employer must have funding available and the ability to write checks to pay its portion of the student's compensation.

Step 1. Enroll in Program

Submit the following documents to the Office of Financial Aid:

UO Off-Campus Employer Federal Work-Study Agreement (contract) (in duplicate).

Request to Participate in the Off-Campus Federal Work-Study Program (in duplicate).

Include with your request the following documents:

1.   One copy of the Articles of Incorporation for Non-Profit status (not required for government agencies).

2.   A description of the agency's program indicating major functions and purposes.

3.Student Job Description (one for each position).  Student Wage Schedule and Student Assistant Levels

If your agency is approved to participate in the program, the Office of Research Services (ORSA) will return your contract signed by UO, and the Financial Aid Office will email you confirmation and hiring process instructions.

Contracts run from July 1st through June 30th of the following year. Renewal is NOT automatic. You must re-apply each year. The Financial Aid Office will send you a renewal notice as a reminder.

Important: The contract must be signed by both UO and your agency before a student can begin working at your agency.  You will need to obtain a copy of your student employee's award letter to verify the amount of Federal Work-Study awarded and employment timeframe.  A student cannot begin working prior to the first day of classes of the term for which the Federal Work-Study is initially awarded.

If you have questions about the program, the application procedure, or have problems downloading these forms, please call Kyna Burgett at (541) 346-1173, kmbacon@uoregon.edu

Step 2. Job Posting

All off-campus Federal Work-Study (FWS) approved and all on-campus student jobs are listed in the Student Jobs System (SJS). The SJS can be accessed directly at http://tembo.uoregon.edu/employers/

When your UO FWS contract is approved, the Financial Aid Office will create a profile of your agency’s FWS job in the SJS. Your password will be your FWS contract number. You may change your password at any time as long as you have an active FWS contract with the UO.

Please review the instructions for using the SJS. There are two versions of instructions. The longer one is more of a user manual and should answer any procedural questions you may have.

SJS Instructions Quick Reference

SJS Instructions Detailed

For assistance with the SJS please contact Pat Ferris in the UO Career Center at (541) 346-3214 or at jobs@uoregon.edu.

Step 3. Hire Student

To be placed on the payroll at the University of Oregon, submit all hire documents to the UO Payroll Office according to the Payroll Deadlines & Calendar.  (See Quick References above.)  Incomplete paperwork will be returned to the employer.

The USCIS Form I-9 must be completed no later than (3) three days after the first day of work to comply with federal law. UO Payroll Office policy requires copies of the documents used to establish employment eligibility be attached to the Form I-9.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND FORMS:

Social Security Card - Include one signed copy with the hire paperwork. This is a UO Payroll Office requirement.  A receipt for a SSN card is also acceptable - the employee must submit a copy of the actual card within 14 days. The SSN card or receipt may also serve as supporting documentation for the USCIS Form I-9 (see below).

Permanent Resident Card - If a student indicates on the hire paperwork that they are a Resident Alien or a Permanent Resident they must include a copy of their Permanent Resident Card or Resident Alien card.  This is a UO Payroll Office requirement.  This card may also be used with the USCIS Form I-9.

NOTE:  Do not copy a large quantity of the following forms to keep on hand, as forms may be revised periodically.

Off-Campus Federal Work-Study Employment Form   Completed Example    Student Wage Schedule and Student Assistant Levels
Form W-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate
USCIS FormI-9 Include copies of supporting documents.  If the employee provides a receipt in lieu of the actual document, such as a receipt of application for an SSN card, the employee must produce the actual document within 90 days of the date of hire or be subject to termination.

Signature Authorization Form - List all individuals that will be certifying student time sheets.  Send updates only as needed.      

OPTIONAL FORMS:

Direct Deposit Authorization - Attach a VOIDED check or Deposit Slip

If you have any questions concerning these forms, contact Debra Bohannan at (541) 346-1122 or at dbohanna@uoregon.edu.

Step 4. Time Sheets and Payroll Procedures

For student employees, the pay period is mid-month through mid-month while payday is always the last working day of the month.

Monthly Time Sheets     

Federal Work-Study Student Time Sheet   Completed Example

Due Date:  Time sheets are due in the Payroll Office by mid-month. ( Refer to chart below for exact dates.)

Original Copies to UO Payroll Office: The time sheet, with original signatures, must be submitted to the UO Payroll Office as required for federal audits.  Please verify your student's hours before signing the time sheet. 

Exception : For out of area employers, we will waive the original signature requirement and will accept faxed copies of monthly time sheets.  The agency representative should fax the approved time sheet to the UO Payroll Office at (541) 346-1109. 

Signature Authorization Form: The time sheet may only be signed by supervisors that have been authorized to do so via the Signature Authorization Form (see Step 3).

Lunch Breaks:  BOLI (Bureau of Labor and Industries) law requires that students be given a one half hour lunch break if they work six (6) hours or more per day.  The federal work-study grant does not pay for lunch periods or overtime hours worked. NOTE: Make sure the lunch breaks are clearly indicated on the time sheet.

Do Not Forecast Hours - Do not sign or submit timesheets that include hours that have not been worked by the student.

If you have any questions concerning this form, contact Debra Bohannan at (541) 346-1122 or at dbohanna@uoregon.edu.

The UO has a monthly pay cycle and this sometimes results in students having to wait as long as six weeks for their first paycheck.   You have the option of submitting a time sheet, along with a written request for a manual check to the Payroll Office after your student has worked for two weeks.  Include your name, signature,  email or telephone number along with any special mailing instructions or requests for direct deposit.  All requests will be processed within two days of receipt of the time sheet.  Note:  Checks that are not retrieved within a week's time are mailed.

Direct Deposit

The UO is able to direct deposit both regular paychecks on payday and also any off-cycle manual checks.  On the regular payroll at month's end, the funds are available in the student's account on payday.  The direct deposit for manual checks takes a few days longer.  If you submit a request for direct deposit of a manual check on Monday, the funds will be in the student's account on Thursday morning.

Hourly Rate Change

You may complete the Off-Campus Federal Work-Study Employment Form or send an email to dbohanna@uoregon.edu. Please include the new hourly rate and effective date in the email. On the Off-Campus Federal Work-Study Employment form indicate: the "Purpose" as a "Change," and in "Agency Use" Section enter the new hourly rate amount and effective date.

A new Off-Campus Federal Work-Study Employment Form is required if a job end date was put on the initial employment form or if the student has not worked in six months.

Final Paycheck on Regular Payroll Cycle: 

It is not necessary to notify the Payroll Office when your student is terminating employment if the final paycheck to the student will be paid on our next available payroll.  

Final Paycheck - Special Handling:

If a student requests an early termination check, send the final time sheet and a request in writing to Debra Bohannan in the Payroll Office. Your request should include your name, email or telephone number, and signature. Also, indicate any special mailing instructions if the student does not plan to pick-up the check or requests for direct deposit.

All manual termination checks will be ready within two working days of receipt of the time sheet in our office.  Checks that are not retrieved within a week's time are mailed.  Remember direct deposits takes a few extra days to process.

Step 5. Monitor Federal Work-Study Award & Payroll Expense

Each month you will receive a report from the Financial Aid Office that shows your student employees' payroll history. It will include the student's Federal Work-Study award amount, wages paid to-date, and the remaining allotment. Please be aware that student's award amount can change, so monitor your monthly report carefully.

It is your responsibility to track your portion of the salary expense to the individual Federal Work-Study award. The UO will not process pay for hours worked that exceed a student's Federal Work-Study award.  Your agency is responsible for direct payment of wages to a student who has performed services beyond the Federal Work-Study allotment.  If you wish to retain the student employee after his/her Federal Work-Study is depleted, he or she must be placed on your agency's payroll.

If you have any questions please contact Kyna Burgett at (541) 346-1173, kmbacon@uoregon.edu.

The Office of Research Services and Administration (ORSA) is responsible for billing and the formal contract between the University of Oregon and your agency.

Billing for Federal Work-Study accounts is done shortly after time entry is completed, approximately on the 20th of each month.  Contact ORSA (541) 346-5131 with questions about your invoice.

Please submit the following documents to the Office of Financial Aid:

UO Off-Campus Employer Federal Work-Study Amendment (renewal) (in duplicate).

UO Federal Work-Study Renewal Request

Student Job Description

Contracts are effective from July 1st to June 30th of the following year. You must re-apply to renew your contract. The Financial Aid Office will send you a renewal notice in April or May as a reminder.

A contract signed by both UO and your agency must be in place before you hire and pay a student.

Please note: Summer Session spans two fiscal years and your contract must be renewed before July 1st in order to hire or pay a student past July 1st.

If you have questions about the renewal procedure, please call Kyna Burgett at (541) 346-1173, kmbacon@uoregon.edu.

Payday is always the last working day of the month.  Paychecks can be picked up at the UO Payroll office between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.  Off-campus Federal Work-Study employees who have set up direct deposit of pay to their bank or credit union will receive an earnings statement sent to their mailing address.