Community-Based Work Study

Instructions for Community-Based Work Study Students

New Student Workers

Either a first year student or student transitioning to a new work study position

  • Make an appointment with the Office of Community Engagement at perezpaeza@sacredheart.edu.
  • Review the Community-Based Work Study Positions for sites that match your interest, skills and class schedule
    • Identify transportation needs (if you do not have your own transportation, you should select opportunities with site accessible via SHUttle or Community Engagement vans)
  • Contact site supervisor directly to see if positions are available; set up an interview and confirm days/times you will be working
  • Sign and print the Referral Form (sent to you from Financial Assistance) and bring the form to the Community Engagement Office (HC 109 in Academic Center). Make note of work site on this form; sign your name at the bottom. A Community Engagement staff member will sign off as supervisor – do not have the site supervisor sign this form. 
  • Complete Community-Based Work Study Information Sheet and bring the form to the Community Engagement office
  • Before starting, complete the SHU Training for Protection of Youth and send the certificate to perezpaeza@sacredheart.edu.
  • Review Student Dayforce Instructions with Graduate Assistant to learn how to log hours weekly

Returning Workers

Did you have an off-campus work study position last year and plan on returning to last year’s site? Check position descriptions for updated information.

  • Identify if you plan on working at the same site (if not, follow the new student checklist above)
  • Sign and print the Referral Form (sent to you from Financial Assistance) and bring the form to the Office of Community Engagement (HC109 in Academic Center). Make note of work site on this form; sign your name at the bottom. A Community Engagement staff member will sign off as supervisor – do not have the site supervisor sign this form. 
  • Complete Community-Based Work Study Information Sheet and bring the form to the Office of Community Engagement.
  • Before starting, complete the SHU Training for Protection of Youth and send the certificate to perezpaeza@sacredheart.edu.
  • Review Student Dayforce Instructions with Graduate Assistant to learn how to log hours weekly.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may not hold two work-study jobs simultaneously, so it is important to select a job that will provide you with enough hours to earn the total amount of your award.

During the semester, work-study employees cannot work more than 15 hours per week. You may work more or less than the recommended hours, but be aware working more than the recommended hours each week will cause you to reach your maximum award sooner.

Work study is a form of financial aid, funded by the federal government. Students are not permitted to work on homework while on the job. Legally, the federal government stipulates work study wages are paid only for hours actually worked. The program is designed to give students a working experience. This means checking in with supervisor when arriving at work, no cellphone use while working, appropriate attire, and communicating with site coordinator is late, sick, etc.

You will need to punch in and out on Dayforce (electronic timecard) every time you work. Your hours are then sent to your supervisor to be approved. Your hours must be approved by your supervisor by the following Monday by 1:00pm for you to receive your paycheck in a timely manner. Students are paid bi-weekly on Friday.

It takes up to two weeks for your first paycheck to be processed. Paychecks/Direct Deposit vouchers are ready for pick-up every other Friday from the Payroll Department, which is located on the second floor of Melady Hall (hours 8:30am-4:30pm).

If you don’t pick up your check on a pay Friday, you can pick up your check the following Monday or Tuesday from 8:30am-4:00pm; otherwise your check is mailed to your home address on Wednesday. This is why we highly recommend Direct Deposit.

It is the student's responsibility to keep track of their award. Your check/direct deposit stubs show your year-to-date earnings. If you have exceeded your awarded amount you cannot continue working. To figure out how many hours you have remaining you can take the difference of your awarded amount and the amount you have made and divide it by your pay rate.

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