Federal Work-Study Program

Getting Started With Handshake

Create a Student Handshake Account (PDF)

Create a Supervisor Handshake Account (PDF)

Working to Contribute to Education Costs

Though borrowing to fund your education is a reality for many families, working and contributing financially to your educational investment is a key to successful completion of your degree. Not only do you help offset some of the expenses of your education and reduce your reliance on loans, but you earn vaulable opportunities to add to your resume.  indicate that recent graduates who have worked through college are more attractive to hire.

The program is funded by both the Department of Education and 911爆料网红领巾, and offers opportunities for on-campus, part-time employment to undergraduate students demonstrating financial need. Funds are annually recalculated and awarded as part of your financial aid package. Your work-study earnings are paid to you directly and are not deducted from your bill. An additional advantage to working on campus is the enrichment of your college and practical work experience. Please obtain an Authorization Form from our office before beginning work.

911爆料网红领巾 Federal Work-Study Process

For Students

Step 1: Confirm Federal Work-Study (FWS) eligibility

To do this:

  • Log in to
  • Clink on the Financial Aid card, this will open the Home tab
  • Review 鈥淎ccept Award Offer鈥 tab 
Step 2: Complete all required new hire forms

These forms include:

  • Federal W-4 Form
  • State of Maine W-4 Form (required regardless of your home state) 
  • 911爆料网红领巾 Confidentiality Agreement Form
  • Federal I-9 Form which requires in-person review of original forms of ID.

These forms are only required to be completed once. If you have previously done then, please proceed to Step 3. 

Step 3: Enroll in direct deposit
  • This is done entirely online through
  • Delay in enrollment can result in delay in receipt of paychecks
  • Once enrolled, you will not need to re-enroll again unless your banking information changes
Step 4: Review and apply for available positions through your Handshake account

If you do not have access to Handshake and/or experience technical difficulties logging in, please call Career Services at (207) 602-2096 or email bccareerservices@une.edu.

Step 5: Work with your hiring supervisor(s) to complete the authorization process
  • by the hiring supervisor. Authorizations submitted by students will not be accepted. 
  • This must be completed for every individual position in which you鈥檙e employed
Step 6: As you work, report hours on timesheet through the web-time entry (WTE) process
  • Timesheets must be submitted in accordance with the annual payroll schedule available through
  • Email Payroll with any questions about or issues with the WTE process 
Step 7: Continuously monitor your earnings to ensure you do not exceed your total annual FWS award

Thank you for your cooperation in carefully following these procedures. For any questions or concerns regarding student employment and the Federal Work-Study program, please contact Student Financial Services at (207) 602-2342 or workstudy@une.edu.

For Supervisors

Step 1: Create a position via Handshake. Once submitted, it will be reviewed by the offices of Student Employment/Student Financial Services
  • See Handshake instructions (PDF)
  • Pending position approval, you are now authorized to move forward with hiring process. We encourage supervisors to become familiar with Handshake as it offers many great features to streamline the entire hiring process. If the position is not approved, you will be notified of any adjustments necessary to move forward with approval or reason for denial.
Step 2: Confirm FWS eligibility by reviewing the list of authorized students provided by Student Financial Services
  • This list is to be strictly used to confirm eligibility for hiring purposes only. Students included on it have completed all necessary new hire forms and are authorized to earn FWS funds.
  • If you do not have access to this list, please first confirm you have a valid position in Handshake. Access will be provided to this list once position is approved.
  • If you have an approved position but still do not have access, please contact Student Financial Services for assistance. 

If you are hiring for an institutional work (IW) program position, confirming FWS eligibility is not required. Please be aware we strongly encourage first utilizing FWS whenever possible. If you still wish to proceed with the position through IW, you must confirm available funds with your department head.

Step 3: Complete the authorization process for each student hired
  • An individual form must be completed for every student in every individual position in which they鈥檙e employed

At this point, the student is set to begin working.

Step 4: As the student works, report and approve hours
  • For FWS hours: Timesheets submitted in accordance with the FWS payroll schedule through the WTE process in  
  • For IW hours: Paper timesheets submitted to Payroll according to the hourly bi-weekly schedule

FWS and IW are on different schedules. Please be mindful of which schedule you will adhere to and which timesheets you鈥檒l submit for your students.

Email Payroll with any questions about or issues with timesheets.

Step 5: Continuously monitor the student鈥檚 earnings to ensure they do not exceed their total annual FWS award or available departmental budget allowance

Thank you for your cooperation in carefully following these procedures. For any questions or concerns regarding student employment, please contact Suheir Alaskari at salaskari@une.edu.

FWS EMPLOYEE AUTHORIZATION FORM

Before you are authorized to begin working in the work-study program, an authorization must be completed by your hiring supervisor. An authorization is required every academic year for every individual position worked. Any student or supervisor with questions about the authorization process should contact Student Financial