Work-Study

The College Work-Study Program is a type of financial aid that provides eligible ACC students with the opportunity to work part-time with an ACC employer or an external community service partner. Work-study employees work up to 19 hours per week, receive a semi-monthly paycheck, and are paid $22.00 to $22.50 per hour depending on their position.

To be eligible for work-study: You must show financial need on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet additional requirements and guidelines (listed below). Work-study is limited, so it is best to start early.

Eligibility Overview

Student Eligibility Requirements


Complete the financial aid application process and demonstrate need based on federal guidelines.

  • Enroll and maintain a minimum of six college credits throughout the semester.
  • Meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards each semester.
  • If awarded, pass a Criminal History Background Check and complete all Human Resources tasks.
  • If hired, abide by the Work-Study Employee Guidelines (listed below).

Work-study Employee Guidelines


Once hired, students are ACC employees. They are expected to earn their award by performing job specific duties and abiding by the following guidelines:

  • Students must remain enrolled in at least 6 credits on their declared degree plan. If their enrollment drops below half-time (6 credits), they are no longer eligible for work-study and must stop working immediately.
  • Students cannot start working until they have been cleared to work by the Work-Study Team.
  • Students cannot start working until at least one of their classes has started for the semester.
  • Students cannot work more than the hours per week determined by the Work-Study Team (up 19 hours per week).
  • Students cannot work during scheduled class time.
  • Students must have a reasonable gap between class and work hours to allow them to arrive on time. This includes online classes with a scheduled meeting time.
  • Students cannot work while school is not in session (e.g. intersession or college closure days due to holidays or the weather).

Eligibility for Non-Citizens and Undocumented Students


Non-citizens and undocumented students with Texas residency may follow these instructions to apply for state grants and work-study. You must also have authorization to legally work in the United States through the DACA program.

Part 1: Steps to Apply for Work-Study

Step 1: Complete the Financial Aid Application Steps – This includes submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and turning in any missing documents listed on Self-Service. Students who are undocumented Texas residents with U.S. Work-Authorization can be considered by submitting the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA).

Step 2: Add Your Information to the Interest Form – Using the link below, add your name and information to the form to be considered for work-study.

Step 3: Accept Your Awards – Accept (or reject) your financial aid awards on Self-Service. If you received a work-study offer, accept your award and continue to Part 2.

Work-Study Interest Form

To be considered for work-study funds for the 2024-2025 school year (fall 2024 – summer 2025), we recommend adding your name and other relevant information to the Work-Study Interest Form. Please note that funds are limited and based on eligibility. Adding your name to the Interest Form does not guarantee you will receive a work-study offer nor is it considered an application. You can only add your name once per school year.

(ACCmail login required)

***Note: We are no longer onboarding work-study employees for the 2023-2024 school year. If you are seeking employment, we recommend the following options:

  1. Reach out to our Career Services team and Request an Appointment to connect with a Career Specialist. They are available to assist students with their job search, resume building, interviewing skills, and much more.
  2. Review the available hourly positions on the ACC job board. The non-work-study positions are open to everyone and do not require work-study eligibility.
  3. Browse other student employment positions on Handshake. Handshake is ACC’s student employment job board. It includes on- and off-campus roles, as well as, paid internships and much more.
  4. Contact Texas Workforce Solutions for assistance finding employment.

Part 2: Work-Study Employment Steps

If you are offered work-study in Self-Service, the Work-Study Team will reach out to you via your ACCMail account with these next steps (including any necessary links and documents).

Step 1: Offer and Orientation – Accept your offer and attend orientation. Orientation will cover topics such as applying for work-study roles, interviewing, and onboarding. After you attend orientation, you will be added as a work-study employee in Handshake.

Step 2: Secure a Work-Study Job – Complete your Handshake profile and upload any additional documents. Then, review the available positions and apply for jobs. You will be notified whether or not you have been invited to interview for the position.

Step 3: Employee Onboarding – Once you secure a position, you will be sent a link to complete ACC’s employee application. You will then complete the remaining onboarding steps such as the background check, Offer Letter, Human Resource documents, and direct deposit.

Step 4: Start Working – The Work-Study Team will notify you and your supervisor of your official start date and maximum weekly hours. Students cannot start working until their employee onboarding is complete and the Work-Study Team has provided them with a start date (step 3).

Returning Employees

Work-study employees who would like to return to the program for the next academic year will need to add their names to the Interest Form (link above). If a returning employee is interested in applying for a different role, they must inform the Work-Study Team at workstudy@austincc.edu to receive the necessary instructions. Otherwise, returning employees who wish to remain in their same roles, will be notified of their official start date.

Work-Study Employers

Overview

The Federal College Work-Study Program (FWS) and the Texas Work-Study Program (TXWS) provide ACC with funds to hire eligible students to work while attending college. ACC offers a variety of on-campus and off-campus positions that pay between $22.00 – $22.50 per hour. The goals of the work-study program are to foster workforce readiness, encourage career & professional development, and provide flexible & gainful employment opportunities for students.

Request a Work-Study Position

Non-ACC Offsite Positions

Non-ACC off-site locations seeking work-study employees must contact the Work-Study Outreach/Coordinator at workstudy@austincc.edu. Offsite partners may be required to pay a portion of the student’s hourly wages which is $22.50 for all offsite positions.

ACC Departments & Employers

ACC departments and employers who wish to hire a work-study employee do not need to worry about finding the resources to pay these students. The Financial Aid Office takes care of this through our allocation of government funding.

NOTE: The department hiring the work-study is responsible for any necessary training of the student’s job duties. The position’s supervisor must meet the definition of supervisor as defined by Human Resources.

If you are interested in hiring work-study students, complete the 2024-2025 Work-Study Requisition by the deadline below. You can obtain the requisition by contacting the Work-Study Outreach/Coordinator at workstudy@austincc.edu. While requests may be accommodated year-round, please aim to have your request in by the priority dates:

  • Fall 2024 & Spring 2025 – May 1
  • Spring (only) 2025 – October 15

Once your requisition has been reviewed and processed by the Work-Study Team, we will reach out to you via email with your next steps.

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