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Carnegie Mellon Heinz School Policy Management Information Technology
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Student Employment Programs 

Employment for students at the Heinz School includes federal work study, non-federal work study and federal community service work study. To be eligible for student employment, students must receive a work award as part of their admissions and financial aid process or during the teaching assistant (TA) selection process for the second year. Continuing students must meet satisfactory academic progress requirements to be eligible for federal work study including federal community service work study. Work study employment, with the exception of federal community service work study, is restricted to employment within the Heinz School. Work study recipients apply for the jobs that interest them. The pay rate for Heinz School work study jobs typically ranges from $8.50 to $12.50 per hour depending on the type of job performed. Students may earn up to their maximum award amount and are paid bi-weekly for hours worked. Please note that students usually may not receive more than one type of work award or work in more than one position during the same academic year.  Exceptions, such as changing positions within an academic year, changing from a federal work study position to a federal community work study position, etc., must be pre-approved by the Heinz School Financial Aid before beginning work.

Work Study

Federal Work Study

Students seeking Summer 2008 Federal Work Study positions must complete the 2007-2008 and the 2008-2009 Heinz School Financial Aid Application and FAFSA.

  • Recipient must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program of study enrolled on at least a half-time basis.
  • Recipient must be eligible for federal financial aid.
  • Recipient must be a U.S. citizen or federal-aid-eligible non-citizen.
  • To apply, students must submit the FAFSA and Heinz School Financial Aid Application and must have financial need.
  • Highest consideration is given to applicants who complete the financial aid application process by the suggested deadline.

Non-Federal Work Study

  • A limited number of awards available to students who are not eligible for federal work study.
  • Awarded at the time of admission based on academic merit (except Teaching Assistantships which are not available to students in the first year of enrollment).
  • There is no separate application process.

Federal Community Service Work Study


Students seeking Summer 2008 Federal Community Service Work Study positions must complete the 2007-2008 and the 2008-2009 Heinz School Financial Aid Application and FAFSA.

  • Recipient must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program of study enrolled on at least a half-time basis.
  • Recipient must be eligible for federal financial aid.
  • Recipient must be a U.S. citizen or federal-aid-eligible non-citizen.
  • To apply, students must submit the FAFSA and Heinz School Financial Aid Application and must have financial need.
  • Work performed must improve the quality of life for community residents, particularly low-income individuals, or solve particular problems related to their needs.
  • Employer, position and student must meet federal eligibility guidelines as determined by the school.
  • The student must gain approval for the position with the help of the FCSWS Coordinator before any work is performed.
  • FCSWS students may be eligible to work the following number of hours
    • Academic year - generally 6-10 hours per week while enrolled full-time.
    • Summer – maximum of 40 hours per week if not enrolled, 6-10 hours per week if enrolled full-time. To be eligible for Summer federal community service work study the student must be enrolled full-time in the prior Spring and the subsequent Fall semester.

Types of Work Study Jobs

Research Assistants (RA)

  • Positions in which students assist faculty with research;
  • Award for particular research/faculty member may be included with offer of admission;
  • All work study awardees receive a list of eligible RA positions at the beginning of the academic year.

Administrative Assistants

  • Positions in which students work within the School's administrative offices assisting staff;
  • All work study awardees receive a list of eligible positions at the beginning of the academic year.

Teaching Assistants (TA)

  • Positions available to second-year Heinz students or students in the third semester of a three semester program;
  • TAs aid instructors by grading homework and exams, conducting review sessions and tutoring;
  • First-year students apply during the Spring of the first year and, if hired, are notified prior to the start of the next academic year.
  • TA positions qualify as federal work study employment and TA wages earned count as federal work study earnings for federal aid eligible students.

Management Apprentices (MA)

  • Positions available to second-year MAM students;
  • MAs work in administrative positions in local cultural organizations to gain experience in arts management;
  • Many MA positions qualify as federal community service employment;
  • Interested MAM students should contact the Director of the MAM program.

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