Community Service Learning

Community Service Learning (CSL) is a partnership between UNI and community nonprofit organizations. Qualified students work at off-campus positions while earning Federal Work-Study funds. Student employees receive pay through UNI. Students who originally do not have Federal Work-Study on their award, may still qualify for Community Service Learning.

Nonprofit organizations are responsible for 25% of the earnings. A normal Federal Work-Study award is $2,000. The maximum amount an agency would be responsible for is $500.

Benefits to Students

Students gain valuable work experience.
Earnings are exempt from FICA taxes if you are enrolled full-time.
Paid via UNI Direct Deposit.
The work performed is in the public interest. It improves the quality of life for the community.

Benefits to Nonprofit Organization

Employers pay only 25% of the wages earned.
Interns enrich the agencies by bringing with them the latest information and practices in their fields of study.

UNI student playing a game outside with a group of children

How CSL Works

Off-campus agencies can advertise for positions through UNI Career Services: How to Post a Job.
The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships can determine which students qualify for Federal Work-Study: CSL Request (Word document).
The agency interviews and selects student(s) for the position.
The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships awards Federal Work-Study to eligible student employees.
The student employee meets with Financial Aid Office staff for set up in UNI payroll.

Students currently working for an organization may also qualify. Contact our office to determine if a student qualifies.

Receiving Federal Work-Study Payments

Your way of receiving pay will differ from the way of receiving other aid such as grants and loans which credit to the U-bill. To receive pay for work study you will record the hours worked and submit time cards on the Oracle E-business site. A link is available through MyUNIverse. Your payment will be directly deposited to your personal bank account.

Students can access their Work-Study Monitoring Report to track their work-study earnings at any time on the Oracle e-business suite where you complete and submit timecards.

Helpful Resources:

Information for Agencies

Nonprofit Employer Responsibilities

Pay 25% of students’ federal work-study earning and 100% of any earnings over students’ work-study earning paid by UNI.
Sign into Oracle E-Business suite every Monday to review submitted timecards.
Communicate with Work-Study Coordinator on employee terminations in a timely manner.

How to Post to Job Board

Request for CSL Student

Employer Work-Study Monitoring Report