Campus Based Policies
Each academic award year College of the Desert is allocated a certain amount of campus-based funding intended to assist students who are attending institutions of higher education to help pay for educational costs. Students must meet general eligibility criteria and be enrolled in at least half-time status. To ensure compliance with federal regulations, this policy outlines the criteria for each campus-based program to ensure students are awarded consistently over the entire award year.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federal grant program designed to assist undergraduate students who have demonstrated the greatest financial need, with priority for those who are Pell Grant eligible. Students who apply early have the greatest opportunity for this award as these funds are limited.
Award Amount
The maximum annual award amount is $1,000.
Eligible students
Students with the lowest EFC number (zero) on their FAFSA applications who are Pell grant eligible for the award year and are enrolled in 9 units will have primary consideration for FSEOG awards. Priority will be given to students with the highest need.
Federal Work Study (FWS)
FWS is federally subsidized employment available to students who demonstrate financial need. The amount of a work-study award depends on the student’s financial need and the availability of funds at College of the Desert, the amount will never exceed $6,000 annually. The length of a student’s employment under FWS is based on the student’s FWS award, hourly pay rate and hours worked per week. FWS funds are disbursed directly to students in the form of a monthly paycheck by the District unless the student has registered for direct deposit with the Payroll Department. Eligible students will receive the same rate as the current minimum wage.
Award Amount
The maximum annual award amount is $6,000.
Eligible students
To be eligible for employment, FWS students must meet the following criteria:
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Meeting general federal financial aid eligibility criteria;
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Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards;
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Be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units;
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Have remaining financial need
How does a student apply for an FWS position?
A student can follow the steps outlined on JobHub.
Days Students May Work
Student employees generally are hired to work during hours when the employing department is open for business. Students may not be scheduled to work during times they are scheduled to be in class.
Evening and weekend hours are permitted according to the demand of the position as long as they are done under the supervision of a permanent staff member and approved by the Financial Aid Office.
Hours per Week
Students are not able to work more than 20 hours per week unless approved by the Financial Aid Department. Hours scheduled for work are assigned in accordance with the student class schedule.
Termination/Dismissal
Student employees may be terminated immediately based on a number of reasons such as failure to perform up to minimum standards or lack of available work.
Dismissal is proper when the employee does not possess the qualifications, skills, and/or ability to meet the requirements of the job, or when the employee does not adhere to the office policies regarding work schedule, excessive absences, tardiness, acceptable language, behavior, or failure to adhere to dress requirements.
Employees may also be terminated for insubordination, incompetence, dishonesty, disrespectful behavior, or any other justifiable cause.
Dismissal may also result when the student’s financial aid eligibility has been reached, the department has depleted its budget allocation, and/or the student withdraws from the College or fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
A student work study employee may or may not be invited to return a subsequent semester and will be notified prior to the end of the term.
Each school that participates in the FWS Program is required to expend at least seven percent of its total FWS federal allocation to compensate students employed in community service activities.
Students working on campus at offices whose services are open to the general public are considered in the seven percent requirement. College of the Desert meets this requirement by offering employment at the McCarthy Child Development and Training center.
