Students
Welcome to the Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) at National Louis University! FWS is a federally funded employment program available to both undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate a financial need. The FWS Program provides funds for students to earn money to assist with educational and living expenses through part-time employment. The program encourages the student employment position to be related to the student's course of study. New participants in the FWS program are strongly encouraged to attend an information session. These information sessions covers expectations of FWS students, how to contact employers, and how to earn the award.
Federal Student Aid Eligibility
To receive FWS, Students must qualify for federal student aid based on financial need and other criteria.
To receive federal student aid, you must meet certain requirements:
- Students must apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year of attendance. The application can be completed at www.fafsa.gov. The federal school code for NLU is 001733.
- Students must have a completed financial aid file including compliance with all needed documentation and verification process.
- Students must have documented financial need. Financial need is defined as the Cost of Attendance (COA) minus the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). (COA is the amount it will cost the student to go to school. EFC is the amount you and/or your family are expected to contribute to your education. EFC is determined from information submitted by you on the FAFSA and reported to you on the Student Aid Report, SAR).
- Students must be admitted into National Louis University.
- Students must be enrolled in a degree seeking program or qualified certificate program.
- Student must be registered and enrolled at least half-time (6 hours for undergraduate students and 3-4 hours for graduate students) each eligible term employed under FWS.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
- Must have a valid social security number.
- Students must be in good academic standing and make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) to maintain eligibility. Please visit our website at Satisfactory Academic Progress (link in pdf format) for complete information regarding Standards of Academic Progress.
- Students must not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal student loan. Click on the following link for default information http://www.collegezone.com/10_3403.htm.
- Must be registered with the Selective Service if required. You can use the paper or electronic FAFSASM to register, you can register at www.sss.gov, or you can call 1-847-688-6888. (TTY users can call 1-847-688-2567).
- Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, pass an ability-to-benefit (ATB) test approved by the U.S. Department of Education, meet other standards your state establishes that the Department approves or complete a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as such under state law.
- Not have a *drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, loans, or work-study).
- Students must receive a Financial Aid Award Letter from the Student Finance Office with Federal Work-Study eligibility.
*The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (HEA) suspends aid eligibility for students who have been convicted under federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs, if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study). If you have a conviction(s) for these offenses, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or go to the FAFSA on the WebSM site, click on "Before Beginning A FAFSA" in the left column, then click on "Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet" to find out how this law applies to you
If you have lost federal student aid eligibility due to a drug conviction, you can regain eligibility if you pass two unannounced drug tests conducted by a drug rehabilitation program that complies with criteria established by the U.S. Department of Education.
Students who meet the above criteria and are interested in obtaining a position must apply for student employment by completing all student employment documents. The documents should be returned to the attention of the FWS Coordinator via email at FWS@nl.edu or fax at 847.465.5894 and you will be contacted by the FWS Coordinator.
Click here to view a list of all open positions.
NOTE: Per Section 224, 227 and 401.5 of the Illinois Unemployment Insurance guidelines, any work positions that are paid and classified as student employee, such as Federal Work-Study, College Employment, Graduate Assistant and Harrison Fellow, etc. are not eligible for unemployment compensation, once the position has ended. Participation in the Federal Work Study program does not constitute bona fide National Louis University employment status.
Benefits of Participating
Benefits of participating in the FWS Program include:
- Valuable professional development opportunities and support.
- Opportunity to find employment that corresponds with your educational interests.
- Marketable skills and added work experience.
- Convenient locations on and off campus.
- Competitive pay rates up to $13.00 per hour.
- Flexible work schedules.
About FWS Jobs
It is your responsibility to find a job and work toward earning your FWS award. Students awarded with Federal Work-Study can begin searching for and securing a job accordingly:
Average work schedules range from 10 to 15 hours a week, with a maximum of 20 hours.
Follow these 10 easy steps to begin your participation and employment in the FWS Program:
- Complete and submit a FAFSA.
- Complete and submit all required Student Employment documents to NLU.
- If awarded with FWS funds, you will be notified via email.
- Attend an information session (Optional but strongly recommended).
- Search the FWS website for job openings that interest you.
- Contact FWS on or off campus supervisor by sending them your cover letter and resume. In the job description, the supervisors contact information is listed. Be professional in your phone call and/or email. Inquire about setting up an interview in both your email and your cover letter.
- Attend your scheduled interview! It is highly recommended that you prepare ahead of time for your interview and you get to your interview early.
- Secure a position.
- Submit a on or off campus FWS Student Employment Authorization form to your supervisor to sign and send to the FWS Coordinator.
- Begin working when you receive confirmation from the FWS Coordinator and start earning your FWS award!
How FWS is paid
A FWS award is not credited toward your tuition bill or received up front. The amount you earn depends on your hourly rate and how many hours you work. Students are paid directly through bi-weekly paychecks.
Non FWS Employment
You do not have to apply for financial aid or be awarded with FWS to secure a permanent job with National Louis University. For non-FWS listings, please contact Human Resources at http://www.nl.edu/hr/.
Click here to view a list of all open positions.
Student Employment Hiring Forms:
| Form Name | Explanation of Use |
| Application for Student Employment | Students complete this form to determine Federal Work-Study eligibility for student employment. |
| Acknowledgement and Confidentiality Form |
Students complete this form to acknowledge a copy of the handbook and confidentiality notice was received, read and understood. |
| Control Substance Abuse Form | Students complete this form as acknowledgment you have read the University's policy titled "CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE WORKPLACE" and will abide and adhere to this policy. |
| Payroll Data Form | Students use this form for Paycheck Processing. |
| Illinois W-4 Form | Students complete this Employee Withholding Allowance form for Payroll process. |
| IRS W-4 Form | Students complete this Employee Withholding Allowance form for Payroll process. |
| I-9 Form | Students and a NLU Financial Aid Representative complete the Employment Eligibility Verification form. |
| Direct Deposit | Students complete this form for paycheck processing. |
| Attachment A | Students complete this form for off campus positions only. |
| On Campus Student Employment Authorization Form | Use this form to hire for an on campus student employment position. |
On-Campus Form to Request Student Worker:
| Form Name | Explanation of Use |
| Request for Position Approval | NLU departments use this form to request student workers. |
Off Campus Community Service Agency Forms to Request Student Workers:
| Form Name | Explanation of Use |
| 2011-2012 Community Service(CS) Contract | Agreement between NLU and Off Campus Non-Profit Agency. |
| CS Job Description and Request for approval | Non-Profit Agency provides NLU with a detailed description of duties and responsibilities and details of specific skills or requirements. |
| Employer Need Assessment | Non-Profit Agency provides information. |
| Off Campus Weekly Timecard | Students and supervisors complete and submit this form to payroll to report and keep track of hours work. |
| Off Campus Student Employment Authorization Form | Non-Profit Agencies use this form to hire eligible students for student employment. Students and Supervisors must complete this form. |
| Supervisor's Responsibilities | Student Worker Supervisors must complete this form. |
Payroll Calendar