Staying on course

Guidelines for WMU on-campus employers

Departments who compensate students using the work-study program must:

• maintain a job description for each student in the program  

• collect time sheets for hours worked. Timesheets must be signed by the student’s supervisor, certifying that: 1) hours worked were authorized and 2) the time reported accurately represents hours worked on tasks related to the department’s normal course of business.

• make these records available for review upon request from financial aid

• maintain the records according to WMU Human Resources policy.

• employ the students at the department’s regular place of operation

• employ the students during the department’s normal business hours

• provide direct supervision for the students

• coordinate the pay rate with the model established by Career & Student Employment Services. Pay rates must be assigned based on the position and skills necessary to complete assigned tasks.

Students who are paid using work-study must work to earn wages. Please do not use work-study to compensate students for hours of study, or other non-work-related activities. To do so would be a violation of federal, state and University guidelines.

When you employ a student you must compensate them regularly for hours worked. It is not appropriate to permit a student’s hours to accumulate while finalizing the details of the student’s financial aid.
Work-study payrolls are assigned as follows:

• Summer 2 - pay periods 02 through 08

• Fall - pay periods 10 through 26

• Spring – pay periods 28 through 44

• Summer 1 – pay periods 46 through 52