Registration Process

When determining federal work study wage rates, there are several factors that should be considered. At minimum, students must be paid the greater of either the federal or state minimum wage rate, currently $15/hour. As a yardstick, we researched our jobs database and found the average wage rate is $18/hour. We do suggest taking a thoughtful approach and have provided, below, some other factors to keep in mind when setting your rate:

• The skills needed to perform the job.
• How many people with those skills, are paid in the area for doing the same type of job.
• Rates you would normally pay students who do not have FWSP.

Please review the form and gather all necessary information before submitting. Choose one of the links provided in the above table for the appropriate form.

On-Campus Employment

Federal Work Study Program eligible students may work anywhere on campus and utilize their FWSP award. Some departments may be looking for only FWSP eligible students while others are able to hire any students. Either way, having a FWSP award makes you an attractive candidate from a financial standpoint. If your FWSP status hasn't been discussed during the application and interview process, then please inform your supervisor as soon as you are offered a position. 

• Within 2 business days of form submission, the student and employer will receive an email confirming the student's Federal Work Study eligibility, earnings ceiling, and next steps.
• Please confirm the accuracy of the information in the email including the start date, end date, and pay rate.
• The employer should make the quick-hire in PeopleSoft and send the Employee Record Number (most often a 0, 1, or 2) to the SEO by replying to the eligibility confirmation email.
• The SEO will activate WST coding the Saturday after the referral form is received and processed.

Off-Campus Employment

• Within 2 business days of form submission, the student and employer will receive an email confirming the student's Federal Work Study eligibility, earnings ceiling, and next steps.
• Please confirm the accuracy of the information in the email including the start date, end date, and pay rate.
• The student must complete the required tax documents (including I-9, M-4 and W-4).*  The student will also need to provide appropriate identification (listed on Page 9 of the I-9 form) before we can accept their I-9.  Harvard is an E-Verify employer.
• Once we obtain the required documents, we will hire the student into PeopleSoft and send an e-mail with instructions on how to report their time.

If the student would like to set up an appointment with the SEO, please contact us at seoweb@fas.harvard.edu.

*If the student has worked either on-campus or through the SEO in the past 12 months, new tax documents do not need to be submitted.