Based on financial needs, VSU offers students financial relief through the Federal Work Study program (FWS).

FWS allows students to work on or off campus with jobs that work around the student’s schedule. These jobs, or assignments, are made for the entire academic year.

“FWS provides income just like an off-campus job,” said Rett Moore, the work-study coordinator and financial aid counselor. “Studies have shown that students who work 10-20 hours per week perform better academically than students who work less than 10 hours, more than 20 hours, or not at all,”

Students in the program are given a chance to earn money throughout the year, not just given the money in the beginning for registration and fees.

To qualify, students must be Pell Grant eligible, have financial need, must be enrolled to obtain a degree and make satisfactory academic progress for Federal Student Aid Programs.

If students are accepted into the FWS, they will receive an award letter from the Office of Financial Aid with the amount per semester the student is eligible to earn.

If the Award Letter contains FWS, they will have further information regarding their FWS job assignment at a later date.

However, there are limited spaces for students in the FWS program.

“Over 6,000 VSU students qualify for FWS but the University only receives enough funding to award about 125 students per semester,” said Moore.

For more information on the FWS, students can contact Rett Moore at 229-333-5935 or email him at wemoore@valdosta.edu. Students can also visit the VSU website valdosta.edu/financialaid/WorkStudy.shtml.