Work-Study

The work-study component of a financial aid award represents the opportunity to have a job on campus or through one of our off-campus employment partners. Students are responsible for finding a position that aligns with their preferences and schedules, and are encouraged to apply early for the best selection of jobs.

Students may work to earn money for books and supplies, to pay tuition accounts, or for personal spending money. There is no obligation to work all or any of the hours awarded, though income not earned is not replaced with other aid.

Students With Work Study Have Priority For Jobs

Students with "Federal Work-Study" or "Smith Campus Job" in their award notification have priority for all jobs on campus. 

Students without work-study should not apply for jobs until October 1 in the fall, and wait two weeks after classes start in the spring to apply for on-campus jobs.

Graduate students do not receive work-study as part of their financial aid and are therefore not eligible for campus jobs until after the work-study priority period has ended.

Where Can I Work?

Entering Students

Smith Campus Job

If your award letter states "Smith Campus Job," you are eligible to hold a position in dining services or housekeeping or elsewhere on the Smith campus. You can apply for jobs after you have completed the required Payroll paperwork upon arrival. This type of work-study excludes Off-Campus Work-Study and America Reads Tutoring jobs.

Federal Work-Study

If your award letter states "Federal Work-Study," you are eligible to hold a position in dining services or housekeeping or elsewhere on campus; or off campus at a college-approved America Reads/America Counts tutoring position or Off-Campus work-Study agency. You can apply after you have completed the required Payroll paperwork upon arrival.

Smith Campus Job

If your award letter states "Smith Campus Job," you are eligible to hold a position in dining services or housekeeping or elsewhere on campus. You can apply for jobs after you have completed the required Payroll paperwork upon arrival.

International students may not work off campus at any time and are therefore not eligible for the federally funded Off-Campus Work-Study or America Reads Tutoring programs.

Smith Campus Job

If your award letter states "Smith Campus Job," you are eligible to hold an on-campus work-study position. You may work in any on-campus position.You can apply for jobs on campus only after you have completed the required Payroll paperwork upon arrival.

Federal Work-Study

If your award letter states "Federal Work-Study," you are eligible to hold an on-campus work-study position, an off-campus work-study position or a college-approved America Reads/America Counts tutoring position. You can apply for jobs after you have completed the required Payroll paperwork upon arrival.

Smith Campus Job

If your award letter states "Smith Campus Job," you are eligible to hold an on-campus work-study position. You can apply for jobs after you have completed the required Payroll paperwork upon arrival.

Federal Work-Study

If your award letter states "Federal Work-Study," you are eligible to hold an on-campus work-study position, an off-campus work-study position or a college-approved America Reads/America Counts tutoring position. You can apply for jobs after you have completed the required Payroll paperwork upon arrival.

Returning Students

Smith Campus Job

If your award letter states "Smith Campus Job," you are eligible to hold an on-campus work-study position for any office or department, a residence life position, an internship or fellowship, a research assistantship, etc.

Federal Work-Study

If your award letter states "Federal Work-Study," you are eligible to hold an on-campus work-study position for any office or department, an off-campus work-study position, an America Reads/America Counts tutoring position, a residence life position, an internship or fellowship, a research assistantship , etc.

Smith Campus Job

If your award letter states "Smith Campus Job," you are eligible to hold an on-campus work-study position for any office or department, a residence life position, an internship or fellowship or a research assistantship.

International students are not eligible to work off campus at any time.

Smith Campus Job

If your award letter states "Smith Campus Job," you are eligible to hold an on-campus work-study position for any office or department, a residence life position, an internship or fellowship, a research assistantship, etc.

Federal Work-Study

If your award letter states "Federal Work-Study," you are eligible to hold an on-campus work-study position for any office or department, an off-campus work-study position, an America Reads/America Counts tutoring position, a residence life position, an internship or fellowship, a research assistantship, etc.

Earnings

Refer to your financial aid award on to verify the type and amount of work-study you are eligible for, which in turn determines where you can work and how much you can earn. Your other aid will not be increased if you choose not to work. Your earnings are paid directly to you.

Work-Study Schedule

You may work from the first day of classes in the fall to the last day of exams in the spring.

Fall & Spring Break Employment

All work during fall and spring break counts as work-study earnings.

Interterm Employment

Students may work in excess of the standard number of hours a week during interterm (J-term); on-campus earnings over interterm does not count toward work-study award. Earnings from federally funded Off-campus Work-Study and America Reads/America Counts positions, however, will count as work-study earnings during interterm and may affect scheduling during the spring term.

Summer Employment

You may work up to 40 hours per week during the summer. Summer jobs can start any time after the last day of classes, be any length of time, and must end the day before classes start.