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UC Riverside

The Office of Financial Aid

Aid with Work Component

Work Study

Work-Study Programs

Students employed in Work-Study jobs earn money for their college costs through part-time employment in approved on-campus jobs or off-campus jobs at nonprofit and community service agencies. UCR also employs students who are not eligible for Work-Study in similar campus jobs and provides job listings for off-campus positions through our Career Center. 

Students eligible for work-study can participate in the Federal Work-Study Program or the Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP). Students can review their Financial Aid offer in R'Web to determine if they are eligible for work-study programs.

If you have been offered a Work-Study or LAEP job, please fill out the Work-Study New Hire Form.

If you need more information, the Career Center has additional resources. Pleas visit their pages linked below:

Federal Work-Study Program

Federal Work-Study eligibility is a need based employment program created by the federal Department of Education. It is based on financial need and the availability of funds for each award year. Renewal allocations are available to students with Federal Work-Study earnings in the previous award year. When sufficient funds are available, it is sometimes possible to request replacement of a student loan with Work-Study.

  • Eligibility

    For the 2023-2024 academic year, students must have an Expected Family Contribution between $0- $6,657 (based on their FAFSA) to be considered for the program and also meet the following requirements: 
    •    At least half-time enrollment
    •    California resident classification 
    •    Maintain satisfactory academic progress 
    •    Demonstrate financial need 
    •    Eligibility to work in the United States 

  • Process

    Step #1: Determining Your Eligibility 
    Review your financial aid offer to see if you were awarded Work-Study. If you are not currently Work-Study eligible, but have the a qualifying EFC and meet the eligibility criteria, contact our office to review your eligibility at finaid@ucr.edu.


    Step #2: Finding a Work-Study Position 
    For students who are looking for a new Work-Study position, Work-Study positions will be posted on Handshake. Be sure to check regularly for any openings. They will be labeled Work-Study. Apply for the position as you normally would any job opportunity. 

  • Getting Hired

    Once you have been offered a Work-Study position by an employer, fill out the Work-Study New Hire Form and continue the onboarding process by completing any necessary paperwork and/or appointments. 

  • Additional Resources

    Visit UCR's Handshake portal to start your job search!

Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP)

The Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP) is a new, state Work-Study program that provides eligible students with the opportunity to earn money to help offset their educational costs while gaining career-related employment experience. On campus LAEP positions must be research-based and help the student with career exploration, their career objectives, or related to their area of study.

  • Eligibility

    For the 2023-2024 academic year, students must have an Expected Family Contribution between $0- $6,657 (based on their California Dream Act Application or FAFSA) to be considered for the program and also meet the following requirements: 

    • At least half-time enrollment  

    • California resident classification 

    • Satisfactory academic progress in a program leading to a degree or certificate 

    • Demonstrate financial need 

    • Eligibility to work in the United States 

    Priority will be given to eligible students who are first-generation college students, current/former foster youth, homeless, or at risk of being homeless. Further priority will be given to eligible students majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) discipline. 

  • Process

    Step #1: Determining Your Eligibility 

    Review your financial aid offer to see if you were awarded Work-Study. If you are eligible for Work-Study, you are likely LAEP eligible as well. If you are not currently Work-Study eligible, but have the a qualifying EFC and meet the eligibility criteria, contact our office to review your eligibility at finaid@ucr.edu 

    Step #2: Finding a LAEP Position 

    For students who are already participating in research at a location that may qualify as a LAEP employer, please connect your employer with the Financial Aid Office at finaid@ucr.edu to get started. You may use the subject line ‘Potential LAEP Employer’. This approach may be beneficial for students who are currently participating in unpaid research and that can be funded through LAEP. 

    For students who are looking for a new LAEP position, LAEP positions will be posted on Handshake. Be sure to check regularly for any openings. They will be labeled LAEP/Work-Study. Apply for the position as you normally would any job opportunity. 

  • Getting Hired

    Once you have been offered a LAEP position by an employer, fill out the Work-Study New Hire Form and continue the onboarding process by completing any necessary paperwork and/or appointments. 

  • Additional Resources

    Visit the UCR Career Center page about Work-Study Programs, including LAEP.

    Visit UCR's Handshake portal.

Work-Study Programs FAQs

  • The Work-Study Allocation

    • No, your total award amount is for the whole year. It can be earned unevenly throughout the award year.

    • Contact Financial Aid at finaid@ucr.edu or by phone at (951) 827-3878 if your Work-Study funds are about to run out. You could potentially receive an increase based on funding availability. Once you earn all of your Work-Study funds, notify your supervisor immediately for guidance. If you exceed your award amount, your employer will be billed at 100%.

    • No, your Work-Study award does not carry over to the next year.  

    • If unused, the Work-Study award will be lost, and will not be offered in the future.

    • Your total allocation amount includes the Work-Study dollar amount, but the Work-Study allocation will not reduce the direct charges you still owe to UCR for tuition and fees. You will earn your Work-Study allocation as soon as you begin working. You will receive a bi-weekly paycheck.

    • No, a bi-weekly paycheck will be issued as you work your Work-Study job.

    • You must find a job, get hired, and then work in that position to earn your Work-Study allocation. You will be paid bi-weekly.

  • Work Hours and Pay

    • Payday is bi-weekly, as indicated on the payroll calendar. On-Campus Jobs: Speak with your employer regarding procedures and deadlines. Off-Campus Jobs: You will receive instructions within your Letter of Clearance (LOC) email.

    • Visit timesheet.ucr.edu to access the Time & Attendance Reporting System (TARS).  Please review this timesheet infographic if you need help in understanding the process and how to fill out your timesheet.

    • Late timesheets will result in the employee being paid during the next payroll cycle.

    • You are allowed to work up to 19 hours per week.

    • You can use your Work-Study funds between the first day of fall quarter (September 18, 2023) through the last day of spring quarter (June 22, 2024). Work-Study funds are not available during the summer.

    • You are free to spend your earnings as you wish.

    • Both you and your immediate supervisor (employer) are responsible for tracking the hours worked, and for submitting your timesheets in a timely manner.

    • To determine your tax obligations (if any), visit IRS.gov.

  • Work-Study Jobs

    • You may begin looking for a Work-Study position on August 21, 2023.

    • Work-Study funds must be used between September 18, 2023 and June 22, 2024. Work-Study funds are not available during the summer.

    • No, you are responsible for applying for and securing a Work-Study job. UCR does not place students in jobs.

    • All open positions are listed On UCR Handshake.

    • A Federal Work-Study Eligibility Notification is used to “register” you for Work-Study. Visit UCR Handshake to print an Federal Work-Study Eligibility Notification, and take it with you to the interview. One Eligibility Notification must be completed and submitted to Financial Aid for each position you obtain.  

    • If this is an on-campus work-study position, you will not need a Letter of Clearance. However you will still need to fill out the Work-Study New Hire Form found on the Career Center or Financial Aid website. This form will automatically initiate a process to complete a Student Employment Contract through DocuSign. You will be asked to attach a copy of your job description found in Handshake and your Federal Work-Study Eligibility Notification. Once you’ve electronically signed this employment contract, your supervisor will be notified to complete their portion. For off-campus work-study positions, the Letter of Clearance is the final step of the process. You will still go through the same process as detailed above and then await an email from the Financial Aid Office with the Letter of Clearance to inform you and your supervisor that you are ready to start working.  Your supervisor will determine your start date after receiving this email.  Feel free to refer to hiring process outlined in these instructions.

    • Yes, each job description on UCR Handshake will provide details about the placement location.

    • You could potentially earn academic credit from your Work-Study job. The final determination is made by your academic department. To be considered, the job must be a meaningful learning experience, and it must be related to your coursework. For more information, visit Internships or connect with a Career Center counselor.

    • Begin your job search early by using UCR Handshake. Tailor your resume to the needs of a desired position. Before uploading it, bring your resume to the Career Center during Drop-in Hours: To schedule virtual drop-in hours, go to this drop-in schedule link which will be open for sign-ups the evening before and will close 15 minutes prior to the end of drop-in hours for that day. For updated drop-in hours, visit careers.ucr.edu. 

Questions

Contact the Career Center at (951) 827-3631 or careercounseling@ucr.edu for help with:

  • Job search assistance
  • Help with Work-Study job applications
  • Drop-in counseling

Contact Financial Aid at (951) 827-3878 or finaid@ucr.edu for help with:  

Work-Study eligibility
Award adjustments
Letter of Clearance 
Paycheck and timesheet issues

    Dreamer Service Incentive Grant

    The Dreamer Service Incentive Grant (DSIG) is awarded to students who complete 100 volunteer hours per quarter at a qualifying service organization. Students are awarded up to $4,500 for an academic year ($1,500) per quarter. DSIG is a program administered by the California Student Aid Commission. The grant is available to a student for up to 8 semesters or up to 12 quarters while they have an active Cal Grant A or B award. 

    • Eligibility

      Students must meet the following criteria to qualify for DSIG: 

      • Complete a California Dream Act Application (CADAA) for the current academic year 

      • Be an active recipient of a Cal Grant A or B award. Cal Grant A recipients must have met Cal Grant B eligibility. 

      • Demonstrate enough financial need to receive the award 

      • Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress 

      • Volunteer with a qualifying service organization 

    • Process

      Step #1: Students will need to submit a Grant Application form to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to be accepted into the program. Eligible students can retrieve the form to request a financial aid signature by using a link in the Financial Aid Messages section of their Financial Aid portal on R’Web. Completing the DSIG Financial Aid Signature Request form will automatically provide you with the Grant Application to fill out first and then route to the Financial Aid Office.  

      Once a financial aid administrator and the service organization fills out the form, a student can submit it to CSAC at dsig@csac.ca.gov for processing. 

      Step #2: Once accepted into the program, students can begin to complete their service hours. Students should keep track of their service hours and have their organization confirm the hours using CSAC’s Service Hours Tracker.  

      Step #3: Once a student has completed at least 100 service hours, they can use the link in the Financial Aid Messages section of their portal on R’Web to request a financial aid signature for a Payment Request form. Completing the DSIG Financial Aid Signature Request form will provide you with the Payment Request form to fill out and then route to the Financial Aid Office.  

      Once a financial aid administrator and the service organization fills out the form, a student can submit it to CSAC at dsig@csac.ca.gov for processing. 

      Step #4: Check your email! Once CSAC processes the Payment Request Form, the Financial Aid Office and the student will be notified when a check is mailed out. A financial aid administrator will contact students when a check is available for pick up. 

      Step #5: Students can visit the Highlander One-Stop Shop on the 1st floor of the Student Services Building to pick up the check. Students must bring a non-expired, government-issued ID to pick the check up. 

    • Additional Resources

      Dreamer Service Incentive Grant Program (CSAC) 

      DSIG Forms- CSAC - This website provides the PDF version of certain DSIG forms. Please note, the Grant Application and Payment Request form will be provided when you complete the DSIG Financial Aid Signature Request form. Eligible students can retrieve the form to request a financial aid signature by using a link in the Financial Aid Messages section of their Financial Aid portal on R’Web. 

      Other important forms include: 

      • Service Hours Tracker – This form is used to track a student’s hours and have the service organization confirm the hours. It must be provided to CSAC with a completed Payment Request form. 

      • Service Organization Registration- This form is to register an organization as a qualifying site for students to volunteer at for the DSIG program. 

      DSIG FAQS FOR STUDENTS- CSAC 

      Undocumented Student Programs- DSIG Program 

    #CaliforniansForAll College Corps

    The #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program is a statewide initiative that recruits fellows to serve in one focus area (K-12 Education, Climate Action, Food Insecurity) over one academic year while providing funding to offset educational costs. As a result of their service, students will receive a $7,000 living allowance as they serve and a $3,000 education award to be used after their year of service. 

    • Eligibility

      Students must meet the following criteria to be considered for the program: 

      • Full-time, enrolled undergraduate student 

      • Must be and remain in good academic standing 

      • Demonstrate financial need, including meeting at least one of the following: 

      • Qualify for a Federal Pell Grant 

      • Qualify for a Cal Grant 

      • Qualify for a Middle Class Scholarship  

      • Needs to work part-time and/or borrow student loans to meet educational costs 

    • Process

      Students who are interested in becoming a fellow will need to apply on Handshake during the application period, typically during Winter quarter. UCR College Corps staff will review your application and send an invitation to interview if you may be eligible for the program. 

      If you are given a preliminary offer, we will review your financial aid eligibility to ensure that you qualify. 

    • Who to Contact

      If you have questions regarding becoming a UCR College Corps fellow and program details, please contact the UCR College Corps Office at collegecorps@ucr.edu or visit the Student Service Building 2nd floor to speak with a staff member. 

      If you have questions regarding the impact of your participation in the UCR College Corps program on your financial aid or your eligibility from a financial aid perspective, please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@ucr.edu with the subject line ‘College Corps Participation’. 

    • Additional Resources

      UCR College Corps FAQs 

      California Volunteers- #CaliforniansForAll College Corps 

    Federal School Code: 001316

     

    Quick tips

    • Review the links on this page to learn more!
    • Visit the UCR Career Center page! You will find pre-recorded Work-Study student orientations, infographics, and more!
    • Did you get hired? Fill out the Work-Study New Hire Form.
    • If you are hired for an on campus job, speak to your supervisor on when you can start working.
    • If you are hired for an off campus job, you must await a Letter of Clearance and speak with your supervisor before you can start working.