FWS | JCTC

Federal Work Study Award (FWS)

If you have been awarded financial aid, you may be eligible for a Federal Work Study position on campus or in the community.

What is Federal Work Study?

A work study position is essentially a part-time job. It is an opportunity for you to earn extra money while gaining valuable work experience in a field or department that aligns with your academic and career goals. The supervisor hiring you will consider your class schedule and other personal obligations when assigning work hours. Federal Work Study is not automatically awarded to you. There are limited positions and not all students that are eligible are guaranteed a position. There is a wait list and eligible students are awarded on a first come, first served basis. As soon as you are awarded your financial aid, you should inquire about your eligibility and contact or visit the Financial Aid Office. Students are encouraged to consider community service positions On-campus community service opportunities are available at the campus Libraries, tutoring centers, Workforce Solutions, and the Access Ability Resource Center (ARC).

Eligibility Requirements:

  • You must be awarded Financial Aid
  • You must be enrolled at least half-time for each semester you are awarded (6 credit hours)
  • You must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and all other Financial Aid requirements

How am I paid?

The total amount you are eligible to earn is determined by your financial aid award. Once you begin working, the monthly wages are paid in two weeks intervals, usually on the 15th and the 30th of each month. You may participate in FWS if you maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and meet all other financial aid eligibility requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions:

I'm eligible for Federal Work Study (FWS) funds, what are my steps to get a job? 

Once you are awarded FWS funds, please follow the steps below: 

  1. Review the list of jobs posted below and determine if you are interested in any of them.
  2. If you are interested in a position, please email the FWS Coordinator from your KCTCS email account with your name, student ID, and the job you are interested in.
  3. The FWS Coordinator will follow up to discuss your eligibility and opportunities. If the job you have chosen is not available, other placements may be recommended.
  4. After speaking with the FWS Coordinator, you will be directed to speak with the supervisor for the job you have applied for to ensure that you are a good fit for their location.
  5. If the supervisor determines that you would be a good fit for their location, they will communicate to the FWS Coordinator that they wish to hire you.
  6. The FWS Coordinator will then email you a copy of the HR New Hire packet with instructions on how to complete it.
  7. Once the packet is returned and HR processes it, the FWS Coordinator will contact you and your supervisor with your start date.

Is Federal Work Study (FWS) the same thing as Ready to Work (RTW)?

No. While both offer an avenue for a student to have a part time job on campus, they are separate programs. Federal Work Study is based on financial aid awarded through the Federal Government. Ready to Work (RTW) is a partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children to better serve Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) clients in the Community and Technical Colleges. It has different eligibility requirements and processes and is a program for students who are receiving aid from the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP). For other RTW eligibility requirements, please contact the Ready to Work Office.

What is the pay rate for Federal Work Study?

The hourly rate is $13.00 but the total amount you can earn and the number of hours you can work are dependent on your financial aid award.

How many hours can I work?

The maximum a student can work under Federal Work Study is 20 hours a week for the semester of current enrollment. The average student at Jefferson is eligible for 14 hours per week. 

How are students chosen for Federal Work Study?

Federal Work Study is available to all students who meet the eligibility requirements listed above. There are limited slots, however, so no one can be guaranteed a position. It is awarded on a first come, first served basis so we recommend applying for financial aid early and inquiring about a position as soon as possible after you are awarded. Here are some recommendations to ensure you have a head start:

  • Apply for financial aid and submit your FAFSA by March of each year for the following academic year
  • Check your KCTCS student email account and Self-Service often so you know when your financial aid has been awarded (or if additional information is needed on your application packet)
  • Come to Financial Aid or contact the Federal Work Study Coordinator as soon as you see financial aid awarded or offered on your self-service.

Student Worker Job Qualifications

  • Must be reliable, flexible and mature 
  • Must be able to communicate professionally with students and staff 
  • Must be able to multi-task 
  • Must be a team player and work within the placement setting
  • Must be willing to learn new skills and ask questions when unsure
  • Basic computer and email skills may be required
  • Ability to speak multiple languages is a plus
  • Specific job postings may require additional qualifications

Current Openings

Below is a list of current placements for Federal Work Study (FWS) at Jefferson. Jobs are on a first-come, first-served basis, and FWS eligibility does not guarantee placement in a job. Jobs posted are not guaranteed to be available.  

Current Openings - Downtown Campus

Job Duties:

  • Greeting visitors with a smile.
  • Answering the front desk telephone.
  • Transferring phone calls and taking messages for ARC staff.
  • Providing information, if you know it, to anyone asking for it. If there is information you do not know, then find out the answers.
  • Assist in scheduling intake and other interview appointments.
  • Assist in scheduling testing appointments.
  • Assisting with other daily duties as assigned.

Fluency in Spanish is a plus, but is not required to apply. 

Job Duties:

  • Assist front desk with walk-in traffic.
  • Scan Admissions documents as needed.
  • Assist team members with individual projects such as Orientation.
  • Assist staff with ensuring front office materials are available and ensuring front office area is tidy.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Job Duties:

  • Assist students with self-service registration.
  • Schedule appointments and make reminder calls.
  • Keep Advising Center and student areas clean.  
  • Work front desk, student worker office desk and/or staff waiting room.
  • Assist advisors and staff members with special projects as requested by supervisor.
  • Filing Advising forms and documents.
  • Ensure copies and print materials are adequately stocked.
  • Pick up and deliver documents from various departments on campus.

Job Duties:

  • Help with preparation of food set for catering events
  • Set up workstations for classes
  • Clean and organize the kitchen

Job Duties:

  • Working within the Facilities area on special projects, reporting to the AVP of Administration for Facilities and Operations.
  • Documenting Facilities needs.
  • Following up on project statuses.
  • Assisting with communication and coordination.

Job Duties:

  • Working within the Environmental Services area, reporting to the AVP of Administration for Facilities and Operations.
  • Assessing areas for needs and reporting those needs.
  • Assisting with communication between departments
  • Conducting walkthroughs of key areas to identify needs and ensure areas meet the department standards.

Job Duties:

  • Assist with clerical operations for program activities.
  • Provide customer service to students, visitors, and HUB office staff.
  • Obtain and distribute mail, correspondence, memos and documents for staff.
  • Utilizing computer for development of forms reports, correspondence, and other documents.
  • Receive and place calls to students and service providers as needed.
  • Record messages for staff and maintain log-in sheets.
  • Assist with meetings and special events.
  • Assist with maintaining and stocking Dare to Care food pantry, including sweeping the floor, wiping counters and tables, unloading trucks, and other duties as needed.
  • Assist with copying, bulk mailings and other office duties as assigned.
  • Assist with scheduling student and student follow-up, via phone, verbal or correspondence.
  • Provide program assistance to HUB staff as needed. 

Job Duties:

  • Electronic Filing into OnBase
  • Office support (copies, faxing, emailing)
  • Ordering supplies
  • Setting up interviews 

Fluency in Spanish or Arabic is a plus, but is not required to apply.  

Job Duties:

  • Working the front desk to assist students with basic information needs.
  • Assisting students with basic computer needs.
  • Working on various library projects.

Job Duties:

  • Making daily trips to the post office
  • Helping answer the loading dock door
  • Helping with delivering mail/boxes
  • Contribute in suggestions to help engagement with students and staff
  • All other duties assigned by your supervisor 

Job Duties:

  • General administrative support
  • Typing up needed documentation
  • Following up with vendors for quotes and invoices
  • Filing
  • Assist in communication and coordination of needs

Job Duties:

  • Trade and Manufacturing Student Liaison.

  • Become familiar with tech programs and faculty.

  • Reach out to prospective students who have expressed interest in trades.

  • Connect students with appropriate faculty.

  • Assist new students with navigating matriculation.

  • Perform other duties to assist divisional administrative assistant as needed.

Job Duties:

  • Assist with organizing and distributing SWAG requests to students, faculty and staff.
  • Assist with copy editing marketing materials prior to distribution. 
  • Assist with student outreach events when available.
  • Other duties as assigned. 

Job Duties:

  • Setting up, cleaning, scheduling, and inventorying our skills lab for Nursing.

Job Duties:

  • Student customer support
  • Scanning and document review
  • Assists with basic administrative duties
  • Filing, sorting, maintaining records
  • FERPA compliance 

Skills looking for:

  • Detail oriented
  • Customer service focused
  • Dependable
  • Organized 
  • Oral/written communication
  • Microsoft Office

Job Duties:

  • Work with Student Engagement to be present at events and share Sustainability values of the College
  • Flyer creation
  • Tree planting events
  • Be a key person for a sustainability committee with heavy student involvement.

Job Duties:

  • Pushing / pulling carts of varying weight.
  • Climbing ladders.
  • Lifting up-to 25 pounds.
  • Making several trips a day across campus.
    While we try to limit time outside in poor weather, please know that trips outdoors in poor weather may occur, so dress accordingly.
  • Inventorying equipment & supplies.
  • Imaging computers.
  • Repairing computers, printers, & projectors.
  • Replacing existing equipment with pre-configured equipment.
  • Pulling network cable.
  • Making deliveries.
  • Retrieving items.
  • Gathering garbage and taking to the dumpsters 

Current Openings - Other Campuses

Job Duties:

  • Stocking paper in classroom printers. 
  • Cleaning whiteboards.
  • Dusting/ cleaning off computer and work surfaces they are on. 
  • Other duties as assigned. 

Job Duties:

  • Answering phones
  • Making copies
  • Filing documents
  • Filing folders

Job Duties:

  • Front desk coverage
  • Answering phones
  • Filing
  • Other duties as needed

Job Duties:

  • Answering phones
  • Making copies
  • Filing documents
  • Filing folders

Job Duties:

  • Answering Phone

  •  

    Greeting students and visitors

  •  

    Serving as the “Face of Jefferson” to those who come to the offices.

Job Duties: 

  • Help manage campus events; assist with set up ,help sign student in that participate in those events, and help distribute supply items to participants.
  • Provide directions to various campus locations
  • Assist in the Southwest HUB
  • Daily tasks to help maintain the function of the site director office (filing, phone calls, hanging posters around campus and signing students in for advising etc.)

Current Openings - Off Campus

Please note that a background check will need to be completed prior to beginning work. 

Job Duties:

  • After school tutoring of K-12 students
  • Other duties as assigned 

Job Duties:

  • Interacting with guests at the Louisville Zoo
  • Greeting guests and giving tours around the Walaroo Walkabout exhibit.
  • Performing animal care by working with our petting zoo goats (cleaning barns, feeding them, etc.).
  • Providing a good guest experience at the Louisville Zoo.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For assistance, please contact the Financial Aid Office or call 855-246-5282 (855-2GO-JCTC) or visit our Student Service Center online.