Work Study & Student Employment

What is Work Study?

Work-Study is a form of financial aid funded by the federal government that helps students meet educational expenses through part-time employment during the academic year. One common misconception about this program is that students study while on the job. Legally, the federal government stipulates work-study wages are paid only for hours worked. The program is designed to give students a working experience; they are not permitted to study while on the job.

Step 1

Students are notified whether or not they have work-study on their Financial Aid Award Letter or by logging into SHU Awards.

Step 2

Students have to complete a Work Application and submit it to Student Financial Assistance.

Step 3

‌During the first week of school, work-study eligible students will receive a Work Study Referral Form in their SHU email. This form contains the awarded work-study amount, the recommended number of hours to work per week, the maximum number of hours for the academic year, and the hourly pay rate - which is $16.35 in Connecticut, as of January 1, 2025. If you don't receive this form, please check with Student Financial Assistance because your Work Application may be incomplete or not received. The Work Study Referral Form should be printed and brought with students when applying for jobs. If hired, the form must be completed and returned to Student Financial Assistance.

Step 4

A complete list of available jobs is located online under Work-Study Job Postings and is activated just before the start of school. It is updated frequently as positions fill up quickly - students should contact departments as soon as possible. If an interview is scheduled, you should bring your class schedule and Referral Form with you. Under no circumstances should a student be hired and begin working until a completed Referral Form is submitted to Student Financial Assistance. Students cannot hold two work-study jobs at the same time.

Step 5

‌When the completed Referral Form is returned to Student Financial Assistance, the student is activated in Dayforce within 48 to 72 hours. Students can set up their Direct Deposit and complete their W4s within Dayforce. Dayforce is also an electronic timecard system that students utilize to track their hours each time they work. The hours are then sent to their supervisor to be approved for payment. Students are paid every other Friday.

Step 6

We highly recommend Direct Deposit because if you do not have Direct Deposit set up then your check will be mailed to your home address. Direct Deposit forms can be completed within Dayforce. Students will have access to set up direct deposit in Dayforce through MySHU within 48 hours after they are hired by their employer. Direct Deposits can take up to two pay periods to be processed so, in the meantime, a paper check will be issued and mailed to your home address.

Confidentiality

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law, enacted in 1974, that ensures the confidentiality of student records. As a student employee of Sacred Heart University, you should become familiar with some of the basic provisions of FERPA to make certain that you do not violate this federal law. FERPA violations may result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, the loss of your job.

You must not, under any circumstances, release student information to anyone, unless your position specifically requires you to do so. You must refer any requests for information about a student to your supervisor to ensure that you do not violate FERPA.

You must avoid acquiring student record information that you do not need to do your job, and you may not exchange student information that you have learned while performing your job. Even a minor disclosure of information (e.g.: telling another student of someone's class schedule) may be a FERPA violation and may result in disciplinary action. Any information you obtain on the job regarding students must remain in the workplace.

Worker's Compensation Policy

All student hourly employees (both Student Employment and Work-Study) are considered to be Sacred Heart University employees and, as such, are covered under the University's Worker's Compensation Policy.

Student Information

• Work Application
  Required for all student workers
• Direct Deposit 
  Students will have access to set up direct deposit in Dayforce through within 48 hours after they are hired by their employer
• Work-Study Job Postings
  List of current available jobs
• Student Dayforce Instructions
• Student Union Jobs
  Learn more about their work-study and non-work-study employment opportunities
• Upward Bound Tutors
  Learn more about opportunities tutoring high school students

If you are a Supervisor, visit Supervisor Information

Frequently Asked Questions