Student Jobs

Become a Federal Work-Study Partner

What is Federal Work-Study?

Work-study is a need-based, part-time employment program in which the government and the employer share the payroll cost of employing a student. Since Work-Study is a need-based program, it is included as a part of the Financial Aid Offer for students. Not every UW-Madison student is eligible as eligibility is determined based on an individual student’s financial need. More information on Federal Work-Study can be found here.

What does it mean to be a Federal Work-Study partner?

Federal Work-Study Partners are organizations where UW-Madison students are able to work to earn against their work-study allotment. This helps our partner organizations find and recruit highly qualified students while keeping costs towards employee wages low. We work with community-based non-profit organizations and local municipalities within the state of Wisconsin that serve the public good. All partners are reviewed for eligibility by our team based on UW-Madison’s administration of this federal program.

Some current work-study partners include:

  • Madison School & Community Recreation
  • Community Justice, Inc.
  • Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Wisconsin Historical Society
  • Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)

Why should I become a Federal Work-Study Partner?

Streamlined Application Process

Federal Work-Study Partners are the only non-UW organizations with full access to the Student Jobs platform which is utilized for posting positions and collecting applications, allowing for a streamlined recruitment process.

Easier Recruitment of Student-Employees

Students with Federal Work-Study are more likely to choose an off-campus site that allows them to use their work-study award than one that doesn't.

Financial Benefits

For off-campus non-profit organizations, the student's Federal Work-Study allotment covers 75% of their hourly wage until the amount runs out. If you pay students $10/hour, that leaves just $2.50/hour that your organization is responsible for!

How it works:

  1. Federal Work-Study Partners post their positions through the UW-Madison Student Jobs Platform.
  2. After a student is hired, they complete a Student & Employer Information Form within the Student Jobs platform.
  3. Students are paid through the UW Payroll System, and Federal Work-Study partners are invoiced for their portion of the students’ wages on a monthly basis.

Next Steps?

Complete a Work-Study partner eligibility form. This form can be found at he bottom of this page. If approved, our Student Employment Manager will reach out to share the contract, which defines the partnership and will be renewed on an annual basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How long is Work-Study valid?

Work-study is awarded in two terms, the Academic Term and Summer Term. The Academic Term typically spans from the beginning of September through the last week of May with the Summer Term then running the end of May through end of August. Since a student is awarded Work-Study separately by either Academic or Summer term, this means their award can differ from term to term. A new Student & Employer Information Form is required to be completed for each term that a student is awarded Work-Study and seeks to work at an approved Work-Study partner site.

How do I become a Federal Work-Study partner?

Email a completed Work-Study partner eligibility form (found at the bottom of this page) to our Student Employment Manager, Kristina kristina.rittel@wisc.edu. Partners must be a non-profit organization and able to show proof of registration as a 501(c)(3) or as a division of local government (state or city).

What happens when a student runs out of their Federal Work-Study allotment?

If you or the student believe that the student is getting close to the maximum dollar amount for Federal Work-Study, please contact the Student Employment team at student.employment@finaid.wisc.edu, as we may be able to make adjustments. However, once the allotment runs out, the employer is responsible for the full amount (100%) of the student’s wages.

Eligibility Questionnaire