There is hereby created a program of financial aid to students pursuing a post-secondary education which shall be known as the state work-study program.
[ 1994 c 130 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 177 § 1; ]
The purpose of the program created in RCW 28B.12.010 is to provide financial assistance to needy students, including needy students from middle-income families, attending eligible post-secondary institutions in the state of Washington by stimulating and promoting their employment, thereby enabling them to pursue courses of study at such institutions. An additional purpose of this program shall be to provide such needy students, wherever possible, with employment related to their academic or vocational pursuits.
[ 1994 c 130 § 2; 1974 ex.s. c 177 § 2; ]
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Eligible institution" means any postsecondary institution in this state accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, or a campus of a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the student achievement council for purposes of this section, that is eligible for federal student financial aid assistance and has operated as a nonprofit college or university delivering on-site classroom instruction for a minimum of twenty consecutive years within the state of Washington, or any public technical college in the state.
"Financial need" has the same meaning as in RCW 28B.92.030.
[ 2019 c 406 § 26; 2017 c 52 § 1; 2012 c 229 § 519; 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 § 142; 2002 c 187 § 2; 1994 c 130 § 3; 1974 ex.s. c 177 § 3; ]
The student achievement council shall develop and administer the state work-study program. The council shall be authorized to enter into agreements with employers and eligible institutions for the operation of the program. These agreements shall include such provisions as the council may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
With the exception of off-campus community service placements, the share from moneys disbursed under the state work-study program of the compensation of students employed under such program in accordance with such agreements shall not exceed eighty percent of the total such compensation paid such students.
By rule, the council shall define community service placements and may determine any salary matching requirements for any community service employers.
[ 2012 c 229 § 520; 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 § 143; 2009 c 560 § 21; 1994 c 130 § 4; 1993 c 385 § 3; 1985 c 370 § 58; 1974 ex.s. c 177 § 4; ]
The office of student financial assistance shall disburse state work-study funds. In performing its duties under this section, the office shall consult eligible institutions and postsecondary education advisory and governing bodies. The office shall establish criteria designed to achieve such distribution of assistance under this chapter among students attending eligible institutions as will most effectively carry out the purposes of this chapter.
[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 § 144; 1994 c 130 § 5; 1987 c 330 § 201; 1985 c 370 § 59; 1974 ex.s. c 177 § 5; ]
Within existing resources, the office of student financial assistance shall establish the work-study opportunity grant for high-demand occupations, a competitive grant program to encourage job placements in high-demand fields. The office shall award grants to eligible institutions of higher education that have developed a partnership with a proximate organization willing to host work-study placements. Partner organizations may be nonprofit organizations, for-profit firms, or public agencies. Eligible institutions of higher education must verify that all job placements will last for a minimum of one academic quarter or one academic semester, depending on the system used by the eligible institution of higher education.
The office may adopt rules to identify high-demand fields for purposes of this section. The legislature recognizes that the high-demand fields identified by the office may differ in different regions of the state.
The office may award grants to eligible institutions of higher education that cover both student wages and program administration.
The office shall develop performance benchmarks regarding program success including, but not limited to, the number of students served, the amount of employer contributions, and the number of participating high-demand employers.
[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 § 145; 2009 c 215 § 12; ]
The office of student financial assistance shall adopt rules as may be necessary or appropriate for effecting the provisions of this chapter, and not in conflict with this chapter, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act. Such rules shall include provisions designed to make employment under the work-study program reasonably available, to the extent of available funds, to all eligible needy students in eligible postsecondary institutions. The rules shall include:
Providing work under the state work-study program that will not result in the displacement of employed workers or impair existing contracts for services;
Furnishing work only to a student who:
Is capable, in the opinion of the eligible institution, of maintaining good standing in such course of study while employed under the program covered by the agreement; and
Has been accepted for enrollment as at least a half-time student at the eligible institution or, in the case of a student already enrolled in and attending the eligible institution, is in good standing and in at least half-time attendance there either as an undergraduate, graduate or professional student; and
Is not pursuing a degree in theology;
Placing priority on providing:
Work opportunities for students who are residents of the state of Washington as defined in RCW 28B.15.012 and 28B.15.013, particularly former foster youth as defined in *RCW 28B.92.060;
Job placements in fields related to each student's academic or vocational pursuits, with an emphasis on off-campus job placements whenever appropriate; and
Off-campus community service placements;
To the extent practicable, limiting the proportion of state subsidy expended upon nonresident students to fifteen percent, or such less amount as specified in the biennial appropriations act;
Provisions to assure that in the state institutions of higher education, utilization of this work-study program:
Shall only supplement and not supplant classified positions under jurisdiction of chapter 41.06 RCW;
That all positions established which are comparable shall be identified to a job classification under the director of personnel's classification plan and shall receive equal compensation;
Shall not take place in any manner that would replace classified positions reduced due to lack of funds or work; and
That work-study positions shall only be established at entry-level positions of the classified service unless the overall scope and responsibilities of the position indicate a higher level; and
Provisions to encourage job placements in high employer demand occupations that meet Washington's economic development goals, including those in international trade and international relations. The office shall permit appropriate job placements in other states and other countries.
[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 § 146; 2009 c 172 § 1; 2005 c 93 § 4; 2002 c 354 § 224; 1994 c 130 § 6; 1993 sp.s. c 18 § 3; 1993 c 281 § 14; 1987 c 330 § 202; 1985 c 370 § 60; 1974 ex.s. c 177 § 6; ]
Each eligible institution shall submit to the office of student financial assistance an annual report in accordance with such requirements as are adopted by the office.
[ 2012 c 229 § 602; 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 § 147; 1994 c 130 § 7; 1985 c 370 § 61; 1974 ex.s. c 177 § 7; ]