Work Program

All eligible (citizen or eligible non-citizen) students will be emailed instructions, in early summer, on how to identify and apply for work program jobs.

Once you have secured a work program job and completed all work-related documents (I9, W4, work permit and student worker agreement), one of 3 work program funds will be added to your financial aid package.

The current pay rate is $7.25 per hour for most work program positions. Some work program jobs may pay a higher hourly wage. More information on those job opportunities can be found in the actual job descriptions when identifying job openings.

The typical work program award is $1400 per semester. Please refer to your Financial Aid portal for your individual work award once you have secured your position.

You are expected to work 193 hours per semester to earn your entire work program award amount.

Starting with the first week of the semester, students are expected to work 13 hours per week to earn the full award by the end of the semester. Some student work positions are more cyclical than others, requiring more hours worked during some weeks per semester, resulting in fewer hours worked other weeks. Students should discuss the work schedule with their supervisor to determine actual work requirements and schedules. Students may not work when they are scheduled to be in class. If your class is canceled or meets at a time different from what is listed on your schedule, you are still not allowed to work during your official listed class times.

Students are expected to work and earn the full work program award amount. Student worker positions are available to assist departments on campus with daily needs within those departments. Some students use the full work award to apply to their account balance, while others use the award to help cover living expenses while attending college. Regardless of how you intend to use the work award, departments depend on student workers to assist with various tasks. Students who do not show up for work or do not fulfill their work award may put an unexpected burden on the department they are working for. If you are unable to fulfill your work program position, you should discuss with your supervisor what options are available to you.

UMHB uses an electronic timekeeping system. Students will either record their hours on a time clock or use a computer at their work site to record their hours. Your supervisor will provide instructions on how to record your hours in timekeeping. Hours must be reflected in the timekeeping system each week for you to be paid. Hours not recorded properly and timely in the official timekeeping system will not be processed.

Pay days are every other Friday. You may obtain a student work payday schedule on your myCampus > My Account page.

You may have funds direct deposited into your personal bank account, or you may apply them to your student account if you have an outstanding balance due on your account. Once your account is paid in full, your work program wages are no longer eligible to apply to your student account.

If you do not sign up for direct deposit, a paper check will be mailed to you each payday. Checks will be mailed to the address you provide on your iSolved account. Work Program checks are not eligible to be picked up from the Bursar’s or Payroll Offices.

When you sign your work permit, you elect how your work program funds are processed – either via direct deposit to you or applied to your student account. If you elect direct deposit, you will be emailed instructions on setting up your direct deposit. If you elect to apply to your account, and you have a balance due, your funds can be applied to your student account each payday. You may track your applied earnings and outstanding balance on your myCampus, My Account page, Course and Fee Statement. If you do not have a balance due, you will need to sign up for direct deposit of your work program earnings.

On your preliminary statement, your work award showed as a lump sum total along with other preliminary aid. On the first day of the semester, all preliminary aid is removed, including the work program award, and only actual disbursed financial aid appears on your statement. The work award is only paid as it is earned, therefore, the credit to your student account will only appear every two weeks on payday. As long as the balance due on your account is less than or equal to the work program award remaining, and you work the expected 13 hours per week, your account will be considered cleared, and you will not incur any additional late fees. As you work, your earnings are applied to your account and you will see a declining balance due until your account is paid in full. If you have taxes deducted from your check or you are short on hours, you may owe money at the end of the semester which will be due in full before finals. Late fees may be assessed to students whose work program award is not earned at the expected rate per period.

You will need to make a personal payment to pay your account balance in full immediately, or discuss other possible payment options with the Bursar’s Office. It is important to notify the Bursar’s Office as soon as you realize you are unable to earn the full work award to be able to take advantage of other payment options. The further into the semester, fewer options remain available. Late fees may also be assessed to students whose work program is not earned at the expected rate per period.
It is the student's responsibility to monitor their hours and to earn the full award by the end of the semester, or make payment for the shortage as soon as identified.

Once your student account has a zero or credit balance, work program checks are no longer eligible to be applied to your student account. You will either receive a paper check in the mail or will need to sign up for direct deposit to your personal bank account. The Bursar’s Office staff will contact you when/if this occurs.

Student worker wages paid through the Financial Aid work program are automatically exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes. Federal income tax withholding, however, is based on the information you provide on your W4 form. You should refer to your personal income tax return, tax planner or your parents/legal guardians for assistance on completing your W4.