FWS is an award that allows students who are able to get a job or jobs to earn up to the amount of the award. It is not a promise of funding, and it is quite possible that an individual student may not be hired … in the job they want, in a job that works with their schedule, or even in a job at all (if no supervisor wishes to hire that particular student for whatever reason).
Every school that receives FWS funding must contribute 25% to the government’s 75% … for most jobs. Some have a more favorable match from the government. All schools must employ at least one student in an early childhood literacy or math position (not an easy feat at a school like the one where I work), and schools have to spend at least 7% of the federal FWS award and institutional match on community service positions (again, not so easy in all cases).
Schools award more in FWS awards than the available hours for jobs … because not all students who accept their FWS award will work, and not all will work the number of hours that would support earning the full award. Why is more money awarded than there are available jobs? Because if the school does not spend every penny of the federal funds, they not only have to give it back in that year … but they may well end up having their FWS funding cut in future years as a result.
FWS is an award that is helpful for some, but not all, students. It cannot be considered a sure thing, and it is earned as it is worked … so it shouldn’t be counted on to pay direct costs for school.
I am a financial aid director who explains FWS in very plain English to students … in person when they visit campus or call and in written explanations that are on the website & accompany the award letter … and in everything I send all summer long. I still have students who are upset that they didn’t “get” the FWS they thought they had coming to them … but they didn’t work the 10 hours a week on which the award was based (and yes, I explain that I base the award on 10 hours a week). AND … we have TONS of FWS job opportunities with no students to fill them. Lots of unused award money on our campus, but it is not for lack of jobs.