SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

Federal Work-Study Program

SIPA's Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is a matching funds program that allows nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organizations and New York City agencies to provide paid internships when they might not otherwise be able to do so. Students are able to utilize their work-study allocation for an off-campus internship during the academic year, earning $8 to $16 per hour through the matching funds program. The program only provides funding for citizens or permanent residents of the U.S., who have been awarded financial aid funding. The program works on a 60/40 split basis, with the federal government paying 60% of the salary and the employer paying 40% of the salary. Columbia University will pay 100% of the student's wages and will bill the agency for the employer's share of the student's wages.

If you are interested in participating in the program, please call Patricia Macken, Director of Employer Relations, at 212-854-4654 or send an email to sipa_ocs@columbia.edu with "Federal Work-Study Program" in the subject line.

Employer Eligibility Requirements

Agencies may qualify as FWS employers if they are federal, municipal or private not-for-profit organizations; they are willing to contribute 40% of the student's salary; and the employment opportunity they offer meets the requirements listed below. Private not-for-profit organizations must submit a copy of the 501(c)(3) letter from the IRS (Tax Exemption Letter). The work to be performed by the student under the FWS program must be work in the public interest, which:

• Will not result in the displacement of employed workers or impair existing contracts for services.

• Will be governed by such conditions of employment, including compensation, as will be appropriate and reasonable in light of such factors as type of work performed, geographical region, and proficiency of the employee.

• Does not involve the construction, operation or maintenance, of any facility as is used, for sectarian instruction or as a place for religious worship.

• Does not involve any partisan or non-partisan political activity associated with a candidate, or contending faction or group, in an election for public or party office.

Work will not be considered to be in the public interest if:

• It is work for which the political support, affiliation, or affinity of the student is a pre-requisite or consideration for employment.

• It is work to be performed for an elected official other than as part of the regular administration of federal, state or local government.

• It is work for a membership agency (such as a credit union, a fraternal order, or a cooperative) which is primarily for the benefit of the member of such organization rather than the public.