Non-Benefited Employees
Federal Work Study Positions
FWS is an opportunity program that funds jobs for students with financial need, subsidized by the U.S. Department of Education.
FWS students cannot work more than 20 hours per week during times of enrollment.
FWS students can work from Aug. 10 - May 9. They cannot work over the summer. If a department would like to continue to employ a FWS student over the summer, they are transferred into a student worker position.
Departments and students need to work with their HRC to ensure they do not work more than their work study award each semester. If the student has exhausted their hours, they must stop working under the FWS program.
Student Worker Positions (Non-FWS)
Student worker positions must be funded by the department or another grant or award.
Student workers cannot work more than 29 hrs per week in TOTAL between all the positions they hold (students can have more than one student worker position). International students are not permitted to work more than 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters.
Student workers who continue to work over the summer and are not registered for a minimum number of credits and sessions are considered hourly employees, are not exempt from FICA withholdings. The department must pay fringe.
Hiring Process
FWS and student workers do not require recruitment. If departments would like to recruit for their positions, they can work with their HRC to post the position in Handshake.
Departments should complete either the Student Worker Recruitment Request form (if recruitment is required) or Student Worker Hire Request (if candidate is already selected) form on the CHS HR Dashboard.
Department will work with their HRC to complete the required hiring steps.
Timesheets
FWS and student worker positions clock their hours in Realtime, VCU’s timekeeping system.
Supervisors should be reviewing and approving their employee’s hours before the close of each pay period and should contact their department’s HRC for any assistance.
Please see the following resources for more information: