Guttman Community College participates in the Federal Work-Study Program, which enables qualified students to have part-time employment while pursuing a degree. Students may seek employment in the following types of positions:
- On-Campus: FWS positions at a Guttman campus location.
- Off-Campus: FWS positions at non-profit agencies approved by CUNY to participate in the FWS program.
- On-Off Campus: FWS positions at another CUNY college or CUNY administrative offices.
Public Service Corps (PSC): PSC is an off-campus internship program offering paid internships in NYC government agencies. It is an opportunity to serve your communities, build professional skills, and learn about careers in the public sector.
Inquiries regarding the FWS program can be sent to Fws@guttman.cuny.edu.
Federal Work Study Program
What are the benefits of the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program?
- The FWS program can provide your first exposure to the workplace.
- You can earn money to assist in paying educational expenses while gaining valuable work experience.
- You may use your FWS job as an employment reference when seeking employment after graduation.
- You can learn new skills to boost your resume.
- FWS earnings do not count against you when completing the FAFSA.
- Flexible work hours and job locations.
How do I qualify for Federal Work-Study?
Federal Work-Study is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. FWS eligibility requirements:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Qualify for federal financial aid (as a citizen or eligible non-citizen).
- Have remaining financial need demonstrated through the FAFSA.
- Provide additional documents according to CUNYfirst “To-Do List” if required.
- Maintain minimum enrollment requirement per semester.
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Federal Work-Study Waitlist
If you are interested in participating in the program but did not receive a Federal Work Study offer, you may appeal by adding your name to the waitlist to be considered for FWS. Receiving an offer is contingent upon the availability of additional FWS funding; placement on the waitlist does not guarantee an offer. Students will be notified of a final determination via their Guttman email in approximately 2-3 weeks.
When funding is available, the Federal Work Study Waitlist can be accessed here.
I received my FWS Offer. What are my next steps?
Step 1. Log into CUNYfirst to view your FWS offer.
Step 2. Accept your FWS offer.
- This step is required; this is how you notify the Office of Financial Aid that you are interested in participating in the program. Follow the instructions below to accept your offer:
FWS Placement/Onboarding Process
The FWS Onboarding/Placement Process begins in the first week of August. You will receive email notifications from the FWS Coordinator about completing the additional steps to participate in the program.
FWS Placement/Onboarding Process Overview:
NOTE: You must complete all three steps above before you are cleared to start working.
STEP 1: Search and Apply for FWS position on Handshake
All Federal Work-Study jobs are posted on Handshake. Access Handshake here: https://guttman.joinhandshake.com/.
First-time users must set up an account using their CUNYfirst login credentials by clicking on “Guttman Community College Sign On.”
Do not use an email to set up the account.
Use the How to Set up Your Handshake Account Guide if you need assistance setting up your account.
Visit the Handshake website often as job postings are updated throughout the semester.
Apply for Work-Study jobs by selecting the Filters button, then checking the “Work study” checkbox under Job Type. You may apply for more than one job. Employers will contact you for an interview.
When deciding which Work-Study job is best for you, consider the factors that matter most to you, such as work schedule flexibility, commute time, and the type of work.
The Center for Career Preparation and Partnerships (CCPP)
The CCPP, Guttman’s Career Center, is committed to helping you develop competencies to assist you in exploring your career. You can schedule a Career Advising Appointment on Navigate 360 to update your resume, practice job interviewing, and receive assistance with the job search process.
STEP 2: When offered a job, you must submit all your onboarding documentation before you can begin working.
NOTE: All onboarding for Public Service Corps is processed through PSC.
Access the document upload through the “Federal Work-Study Onboarding” To Do item on your CUNYfirst Student Center To Do List.
Documents to Upload:
Federal Work Study Placement/Onboarding Forms
- Student Employer Acknowledgment Form – this is a formal agreement between you and your employer.
- Complete the STUDENT INFORMATION section
- Ask your employer to complete the EMPLOYER INFORMATION section.
- Upload the form after you and your FWS supervisors have completed and signed.
- Form W-4– You must submit a completed and signed Form W-4 Employee Withholding Certificate.
- Access this year’s form at https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4.
- The Form W-4 Employee Withholding Certificate is required so that the correct federal income tax can be withheld from your pay as you indicate on the form.
- Instructions for filling out the Form W-4 Employee Withholding Certificate are listed on the form.
- Form IT 2104 or IT 2104-E – A Certificate of NYS Tax Withholding (IT-2104 or IT-2104-E) is required by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and by the City of New York to determine how much New York State (and New York City and Yonkers) tax to withhold from your pay.
- You only need to complete one of the two forms. Do not complete both forms; select the one that works best for you. Select either the Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate (IT-2104) or the Certificate of Exemption from Withholding (IT-2104-E).
- Access this year’s form at https://www.tax.ny.gov/forms/withholding_cur_forms.htm.
- FERPA– A signed Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Form is required before you can be placed in a Federal Work-Study (FWS) job.
- As a student employee at the City University of New York, you may be granted access to confidential and private records. These records are protected from disclosure to third parties under CUNY, Federal and State privacy laws.
- Student records are protected by FERPA and must be treated confidentially. Read, complete, sign, and upload the FERPA Form to indicate your acknowledgement of FERPA regulations.
https://bbhosted.cuny.edu/webapps/login/noportal
NOTE: In addition to uploading the above documents, before you can start working, you must complete the next step!
STEP 3: In-person appointment on Navigate 360 with Jessica Portilla
Make an in-person appointment on Navigate 360 with Jessica Portilla to submit your Form I-9 and identification documents.
- Your last step before you can start working is to make an in-person appointment to submit your Form I-9. You must submit a signed Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification along with the required proof of identification as listed on page 2 of Form I-9.
- Access the form here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9.
- Select the first (1st) link under Forms and Document Downloads; “Form I-9 (Please see the Special Instructions tab on how to use and download this version.) (PDF, 477.5 KB)”
What to bring to your appointment:
- Completed and signed Form I-9 (page 1 only)
- Appropriate Proof of Identification (refer to page 2 of Form I-9).
- All documents must be unexpired and must be original, no photocopies.
- Failure to submit IDs will result in having to reschedule your appointment, which will delay when you can start working.
Appointment location:
Report for your in-person appointment at the Hub located on the 3rd floor of Guttman South (50 West 40th Street).
Clearance to Start Working:
You will receive clearly to start working once you have completed all three steps listed above.
- Your clearance to work will be sent to your Guttman email.
- This email sender will be listed Fws@guttman.cuny.edu.
- Keep the clearance email for your record. It will contain the following:
- Your work start date
- The payroll calendar
- Timesheet instructions
- And the completed Student Employer Acknowledgement.
NOTE: The FWS program will not pay for hours worked prior to receiving clearance from the FWS Coordinator.
FWS Placement/Onboarding Documents and Student Guides
Federal Work Study Payment Resources
Submitting Your Timesheets
Students must submit their timesheets by the “Timesheet Input Deadline” on the FWS Payroll Schedule. Timesheets submitted after the indicated deadline will be retroactively processed, and payments issued during the next payroll period. Be sure to submit your timesheets on time to avoid late payments.
- To submit your timesheet, visit https://forms.guttman.cuny.edu/
- Access the Online Timesheet Guide for instructions on how to complete and submit your online timesheet.
Timesheet Reminders:
- Late timesheet = late paycheck (helpful hint: add a reminder on your calendar!)
- Keep track of all hours worked:
- Your remaining FWS hours are listed on the top right of your online timesheet;
- You will receive biweekly “CUNY Federal Work Study Payroll Notification” email with your remaining hours available to work.
- Do not prefill your timesheet in advance. Only submit your timesheet after you have worked all hours in the pay period. Your timesheet will be rejected if submitted prior to the last day you worked for the pay period.
- You are required to take a half-hour break if you work more than five (5) consecutive hours in one day.
- If you did not take a break during your shift, use only the first “IN” and “OUT” fields.
- You may not work more than 20 hours per week.
Pay Rate
The FWS pay rate is $17.00 per hour.
Direct Deposit
Enroll in Direct Deposit on CUNYfirst for faster transfer of your earnings to your bank account. Use the following guides to help you set up your direct deposit:
Mailed FWS Checks
FWS payroll checks are sent to the home address listed on your CUNYfirst account; this applies to students who have not signed up for Direct Deposit. To verify and update address, log in to CUNYfirst and navigate to Employee Self-Service -> Personal Details -> Addresses.
Pay Stubs
Students currently working as part of the FWS program may view their FWS payment information on CUNYfirst by navigating to Employee Self-Service -> Payroll -> Paychecks.
Form W-2 Statements and E-consent
Students may consent to receive their Form W-2 electronically through CUNYfirst Self-Service. By consenting to receive an electronic Form W-2, students can view, print, and save their Federal Work-Study Form W-2 as soon as it is produced; thus, eliminating the wait time for a paper Form W-2 to be mailed. Students who do not select the electronic option will receive a paper Form W-2 sent to the home address listed on CUNYfirst Self-Service.
The deadline to provide consent for an electronic W-2 is January 12 each year.
- To e-consent, navigate to Employee Self-Service on CUNYfirst -> Payroll -> W-2/W-2c Consent and click the check box to consent. You will receive an email when your Form W-2 is available.
- To verify address: Login to CUNYfirst and navigate to Employee Self-Service -> Personal Details -> Addresses.
More information can be found on the CUNY Federal Work-Study Payments page.
Types of Federal Direct Loans
Subsidized Direct Loan
Direct Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. The amount a student can borrow cannot exceed the student’s financial need. The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on a Direct Subsidized Loan under the following circumstances:
- while you are enrolled in school at least half-time (6 credits)
- for the first six months after you leave school (referred to as a grace period)
- during a period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments)
Unsubsidized Direct Loan
An Unsubsidized Direct Loan allows you to borrow money in addition to any subsidized loan amounts for which you may be eligible. You are not required to show financial need to receive a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. You will be charged interest from the time an unsubsidized loan is disbursed until you pay the loan in full.
Direct PLUS Loan
Parents of dependent students can borrow up to the cost of attendance at Guttman. The federal government charges your parents interest from the date of the first disbursement until the loan is paid in full.
Federal Direct Loan Program
Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are federal student loans offered by the U.S. Department of Education to help eligible students cover the cost of attending college.
The Federal Direct Loan Program provides federally insured, low-interest, long-term loans to you or your parents to help you cover the costs of attending college. The federal government is your lender, not a bank or other lending institution. The Office of Financial Aid determines your Direct Loan eligibility based on the information you provided on the FAFSA and calculates the loan amount. Once the loan is disbursed to your student account, it is managed and collected by the U.S. Department of Education. Your Direct Loan is money that is borrowed and must be repaid with interest after you leave school.
Maximum Annual & Aggregate Loan Amounts
How Much Can I Borrow?
How Much Can I Borrow?
Borrowing limits are based on your cost of attendance, FAFSA dependency status, year in college, and prior borrowing history. Refer to the chart below to determine the maximum annual and aggregate amounts you may borrow.
| Dependent Students | Base Amount (may be subsidized or unsubsidized) | Additional Unsubsidized Amount | Total Subsidized and Unsubsidized Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st year - less than 30 credits earned | up to $3,500 per year | up to $2,000 per year | up to $5,500 per year |
| 2nd year - more than 30 credits earned | up to $4,500 per year | up to $2,000 per year | up to $6,500 per year |
| Undergraduate aggregate maximum | up to $23,000 | up to $8,000 | up to $31,000 |
| Independent Students | Base Amount (may be subsidized or unsubsidized) | Additional Unsubsidized Amount | Total Subsidized and Unsubsidized Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st year - less than 30 credits earned | up to $3,500 per year | up to $6,000 per year | up to $9,500 per year |
| 2nd year - more than 30 credits earned | up to $4,500 per year | up to $6,000 per year | up to $10,500 per year |
| Undergraduate aggregate maximum | up to $23,000 | up to $34,500 | up to $57,500 |
Who is Eligible for a Direct Loan?
You may be eligible for a Federal Direct Loan if you are enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) in a degree-seeking program and satisfy the following:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Meet Federal Student Aid eligibility requirements
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
How do I apply for a direct loan?
- To apply for a Direct Loan, you must first complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.
- Resolve all applicable federal student aid items listed on your “To Do List” in the “Tasks and Holds” tile on CUNYfirst Student Center.
- Complete the Direct Loan Request Form on CUNYfirst
Note: the deadline to submit a Direct Loan request is typically 2 weeks before the end of the term.
What happens after I have submitted my loan request?
- Allow 10-14 business days for the Office of Financial Aid to review your request.
- Respond quickly to any communications from the Office of Financial Aid requesting documentation.
- If applicable, complete the additional tasks listed on your To Do List:
- Loan Entrance Counseling
- Master Promissory Note (MPN)
Disbursement
Once your loan request has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Education, you will receive a Loan Disclosure Statement that summarizes the type of loan you applied for, the approved loan amounts, and the estimated dates of disbursement.
If you are a first-time Direct Loan borrower at Guttman, you must complete an Entrance Counseling before any loan funds can be disbursed. If you have not previously received a Direct Loan, the Federal Government requires you to complete entrance counseling to ensure that you understand the responsibilities and obligations of borrowing a federal student loan.
Your electronic Master Promissory Note (MPN) must be acknowledged and approved by the Department of Education before any funds can be authorized for disbursement. In most cases, you are not required to sign a new MPN for future or additional loan requests. If you previously borrowed a direct loan, then the MPN already on file will be used for subsequent year loan borrowing under the Federal Direct Loan program. You always have the option of resigning your MPN every time you borrow but it is not a requirement.
Note: If you previously signed a Master Promissory Note that did not result in a disbursement of Direct Loan funds, you must resign your MPN for subsequent loan requests.
For a loan covering the full academic year, your two disbursements will be split between the fall and spring semesters. For loans covering one semester, the second disbursement will usually occur just after the semester mid-point of the term. You will receive email notices from Guttman for each scheduled disbursement.
At the time of disbursement, you must be enrolled for at least a half-time (6 credits) basis prior to the release of any loan funds. Withdrawing from your classes may affect your loan eligibility.
Loan Repayment
A grace period is a period of time after you cease to be enrolled in college at least half-time (6 credits) but before you start repaying your student loan. You have a six-month grace period after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time before you begin repaying your loans. During the grace period, you do not have to make payments on the principal, and you will not be charged any interest on the subsidized portion of your total loan amounts. However, you can start repaying your loans any time before your grace period ends without penalty.
Be a Responsible Borrower
If you choose to borrow a Direct Loan to cover your educational expenses, please note that you will be responsible for repaying the loan. How to be a responsible borrower:
- Understand your financial situation
- Borrow only what you need
- Have a clear plan for repayment
- Understand the terms and conditions of the loan
- Make timely payments
- Communicate with your lender about repayment options (grace period, deferment…)
Note that repayment of your Direct Loan begins once you:
- Graduate
- Drop below half-time (6 credits) enrollment or
- Leave school.
Click here for additional information regarding understanding student loan repayment.
Interest Rates
Each year, the U.S. Congress establishes the interest rates for Direct Loans. These rates are in effect for Direct Loans disbursed during their respective award year.
For additional Federal Direct Loan information including up-to-date loan interest rates visit Federal Student Aid.