Kansas Career Work Study

Kansas Work Study (KWS) is a state subsidized program intended to provide employers an incentive to hire KU students in career-related positions by reimbursing employers for one-half of the eligible student employee's gross salary. Printable Kansas Work Study Handout.

Student Eligibility

To participate in the KWS program, students must meet the following criteria:

• be a resident of the state of Kansas
• be a degree seeking student, currently enrolled in at least 6 credits hours
• maintain a minimum semester and cumulative grade point average of 2.0
• the job must be related to your major field of study (determined by UCC)

KWS is not a need-based financial aid program; however, there are limits as to what a student may earn. The earnings limit is dependent upon the cost of attending KU and a student's financial aid package.

If a student receives no financial aid, then the cost of attending KU is the earnings limit.

If the student receives financial aid, the amount of aid is subtracted from the cost of attending KU and the remainder is the student's earning limit.

Employers are reimbursed for half of the student's gross salary, up to the student's earnings limit (based on the student's net salary). It is the responsibility of both the student and the employer to see that the student is not paid more than the earnings limit.

A few Kansas Work Study position are posted via the Student Employment Center; however, new business contacts are always desired and students are encouraged to find openings, related to their major, in businesses that are not currently participating in the program and follow-up with the Kansas Career Work Study application procedures. Contact the KWS Coordinator for more information .

Employer Eligibility

To participate in the Kansas Work Study Program, an employer must meet the following criteria:

• have a Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN)
• have a place of business in Kansas
• be willing to act as the student's employer
• agree to submit invoices to UCES as stated in the contract

To become a participant and be awarded a KWS employer contract, the employer must submit an application to the UCES office, 110 Burge Union. The employer must either have eligible students working for them or be in the process of hiring an eligible student. Contact the KWS Coordinator to discuss contracts and applications.

The amount of reimbursement is based on the estimated hours per week that the student(s) will work, multiplied by the hourly wage and the number of weeks of work. This total is divided in half to determine the amount reimbursed to KWS employers through the Kansas Career Work Study program. Contracts can be amended subject to the availability of funds.

Employers are responsible for interviewing and hiring students. Students are put on the employer's regular payroll and the employer is responsible for social security deductions, etc.

Employers must submit an invoice at least once a month to be reimbursed. KWS is a state funded program and it can take up to four weeks for reimbursement checks to arrive. Prompt and regular submission of invoices for reimbursement is recommended.