Are you invested in helping students build their resumes and explore their career interests? Do you have a project on the back burner that you just haven’t had the time for?
By posting a Federal Work Study (FWS) program job for the summer semester, you can support students as Georgia Tech’s top priority as they, in turn, help you tackle office projects. FWS students are current Tech students who work in designated positions across campus.
Students qualify for the program based on financial need, and the program is managed by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. FWS students work up to 20 hours a week, and the hourly wage they receive is used to pay for expenses related to their education. The majority of their wage is covered by federal funding.
Financial Aid has been working to rebuild program infrastructure and revitalize student interest following the limits to such opportunities imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. With the 2024-25 school year being the first with all program rules reinstated, Financial Aid asks campus partners to expand access to a diverse range of job options for students.
“As we continue to rebuild this program, we encourage offices across campus to consider posting a job for this group of students,” said Jennifer Mullins, associate director for special projects in Financial Aid. “You can imagine that these students, by virtue of being Yellow Jackets, are extremely self-sufficient, flexible, and ready to work on a variety of projects. They are a fantastic addition to any office.”
Beyond the offer of financial support, FWS students are more connected to their campus and show increased retention rates compared to the average student. Ishwarya Pichaimani, a current Tech student working in Financial Aid through FWS, said that her position gives her the flexibility she needs to focus on her education while supplementing her continued development of essential workplace skills.
“I cover the front desk and greet students and parents when needed. I also attend meetings and work with data and spreadsheets to help estimate future cost of attendance,” she said. “This work will help me later on when I start looking for full-time positions — it’s a great opportunity, and people in the office understand I’m a student, too.”
Tech students are prepared to help your office meet its goals. For Andrew Cohen, director of guest experience for the Office of Undergraduate Admission, FWS students assist in ensuring prospective students have a positive experience visiting campus and understanding the admission process.
“Our Federal Work Study student employees serve as our office’s front-line customer service team, answering questions from prospective students by email and phone, and welcoming visitors to campus. They are essential to the work we do,” said Cohen. “I highly encourage providing students with opportunities to work on campus through Tech’s Federal Work Study Program. It offers them valuable skills to prepare for their careers after graduation, while also supporting the crucial work of your office.”
Students hired for the summer may continue through fall, so long as they are pre-registered and continue to qualify for the program. The first day newly hired students may work Summer 2025 FWS positions is May 12, and the last day they can work is July 31.
Posting a job does not guarantee a student will seek employment with your office, but expanding job opportunities encourages students with varied professional goals to pursue FWS positions.
Ready to share the benefits of FWS? It starts by creating a job posting that can be shared with students who are seeking positions.
The first step is to reach out to fws@finaid.gatech.edu for a Position Request Form.