Proposed Revision to 504.2 - Montana Work Study Program
Statutory authority:
20-25-701
Montana Codes Annotated
Board policy:
1. The Montana Work-Study Program shall
be implemented according to the following procedures.
Procedures:
I. Allocation of funds - Funds
appropriated by the legislature for the Work-Study Program will be
allocated on the basis of the number of full-time students classified as
residents for fee purposes at each participating institution for the fall term
of the prior year as reported to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher
Education.
II. Eligible Institutions - Any
public institution of postsecondary education governed, supervised or
coordinated by the Board of Regents of Higher Education is eligible to
participate in the program.
III. Program Criteria - Students
eligible for the Montana Work-Study Program may work for the educational
institution itself or work for a public or private non-profit agency
within the State of Montana. Such
employment must meet the following criteria:
A. must not result in the displacement of
employed workers or impair existing contracts for services.
B. must not involve the construction,
operation or maintenance of that portion of any facility which is used or is to
be used for sectarian instruction or as a place of worship.
C. the work provided under this program
1. must not involve any partisan or non-partisan
political activity associated with a candidate or contending group or faction
in any election for public or party office and
2. must 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,
proficiency of the employee, and any applicable Federal, state or local
legislation.
D. Work for a public or non-profit
organization other than the institution must
1. be in the public interest (devoted to
the general, national or community welfare rather than that of a particular
interest or group), and
2. be evidenced by a written agreement containing
the conditions of such work between the institution and the organization.
The
institution is responsible for ensuring that any arrangements executed will be
with a reliable organization with professional direction and staff, that the
work performed by each student will be properly supervised and that such work
will be consistent with the purposes of the 20-25-701 M.C.A. et
seq.
E. In no event shall work be considered to be
in the public interest where
1.
it is work for which the political
support or affiliation of the student is a prerequisite or consideration for
employment,
2.
it is work to be performed for an
elected official other than as part of the regular administration of Federal,
state or local government or
3.
it is work which is primarily for
the benefit of the members of a limited membership organization (such as a
credit union, fraternal order, or a cooperative) rather than the public.
F. In no event can any of these funds be
used as matching for Federal Work-Study funds by any institution.
G. Institutions shall maintain a separate
account for Montana Work-Study funds.
H. Institutions may establish a policy
whereby the employing unit shall pay an administrative expense to the
institution based on gross earning of students employed under this program.
IV. Eligibility and Selection of Student
Participants - A student will be eligible for employment under the
Montana Work-Study Program during periods in which all of the following
conditions are met:
A. The student must be a Montana resident
for fee purposes, as established by the educational institution.
B. The student must be accepted or
enrolled as a full-time student at the institution. An enrolled student must be in good standing
for financial aid purposes as determined by the educational institution.
C. The student is expected to complete the
Financial Aid Form (FAF) Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) or other acceptable application in applying to participate in the
program.
V. Administration - Each
institution will be responsible for the administration of the Montana Work-Study
Program in its own school. There must
be no discrimination against any individual
participant because of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, age or
non-job related physical handicap.
The financial aid administrator in the college or university who is
responsible for administration of other forms of financial aid, will be
designated as the institution's representative with responsibility for the
general conduct of the programs.
In
addition, the financial aid administrator or the president's designee shall
have the following responsibilities:
A. determine which students are eligible
to participate in this program. The
financial aid director may classify as full-time, any student who is
enrolled for remedial instruction when such enrollment, in addition to other
courses being taken, represents the equivalent of full-time enrollment.
B. determine which institutional jobs are
to be assigned to students.
C. return non-allocated funds to the
Commissioner of Higher Education who may allocate them to another eligible
institution if such transfer is mutually agreeable.
D. file annual reports with the chief
administrative officer of the institution and the Commissioner of Higher
Education.
E. determine if a student should continue
participation in the program if the student's work proves to be unsatisfactory.
VI. Determination of Financial Needs and the
Making of Awards
A. At least 70 percent of the funds
allocated to program shall be used to provide job opportunities for students
with demonstrated financial needs. The
remainder of the funds allocated to this program may be used to provide job
opportunities on a basis other than financial need. Such other bases include, but are not limited to
1. laboratory, teaching, and tutorial
assistantships requiring particular skills; and
2.
cases in which a student's family
cannot demonstrate financial need but in which the student has a desire to
contribute toward his education through employment.
B. Total applicant resources shall be
determined according to the uniform methodology system of need analysis. Institutional financial aid offices may make
reasonable adjustments to the computed total applicant resources if individual
circumstances warrant such adjustments.
In addition, non-liquid assets may be disregarded. Any adjustments must be documented and
placed in the student's financial aid file.
VII. Number of Hours of Employment -
During periods of regular enrollment, when classes in which a student is
enrolled are in session, the student shall be limited to working no more than
an average of 20 hours per week under the program, averaged over the semester
or payroll period as determined by the institution. Work performed during any week when classes are not in session
shall not exceed 40 hours and shall not be counted as contributing toward the
average per week established in the preceding sentence. Also, a student may be employed for up to 40
hours per week during summer session or other similar period when not enrolled
as a full-time student.
VIII. Wage Rates - Wages must be the
same as those paid to other student employees with similar qualifications and
experience. Compensation shall be
calculated on the basis of the hourly rate paid the student for actual time on
the job, but such calculations shall not include sick leave, vacation pay or
holiday pay.
IX. Payment to Students - Payments
to students shall be made according to established student payroll
procedures. The institution is
responsible for ensuring that students are paid the full amount of wages earned
under the program, whether the work is for the institution
or for a public or private non-profit organization.
X. Reports - the institution
shall submit such reports and information as the Commissioner of Higher
Education may require in connection with the
administration of the program. Reports should be
submitted no later than September 15, following the close of the fiscal year.
XI. Funds Supplemental to Other Funds -
All funds allocated through this program are supplemental in nature and are not
meant to replace existing federal and state student financial assistance funds
or any other funds that would otherwise be appropriated for student assistance.
XII. Employer Share of Student Compensation
- The employer shall pay a minimum of 30 percent of the student's wages
plus any other student employee benefit entitled by law.
History:
Item 40-002-R0783, Montana Work Study Program, July 29, 1983.