By Joao Vitor Bonanoni/ Staff Writer

Student Employment and Work-Study Programs are often misunderstood by students looking for ways to earn money and gain valuable work experience during college. 

Derek Bohnsack, Director of Financial Aid, said that it is important to understand the difference between them and consequently understand the reasons why International students have fewer opportunities to work on campus. 

Federal Work-Study is a needs-based program in which students are eligible based on their financial information submitted via their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Any employment not from Federal or State programs is considered “Student Employment”, and is funded totally via the college’s private funds. 

“All students are eligible for student employment on campus depending if the jobs are available,” Bohnsack said. 

As a Federal program, the work-study positions are part-time jobs that only qualified domestic students can apply for. On the other side, International students have limited student employment opportunities in positions such as tutors, athletic training department, dining hall, and bistro staff.  

Based on that, International Students have difficulty getting into student employment positions available on campus based on the short number of options offered and spots available. 

Vitor Furiati, a Senior, has been working in the dining hall and bistro for two years. 

“It was really hard to get a job on campus since it is one of the only places international students are allowed to work on campus, there are a lot of people that want to work there,” he said.

Bohnsack said that the college will look into having more work positions available for International students.  

“It is something that we will look to it and see what it takes to do that, but it won’t be an overnight change,” Bohnsack said.  

Students interested in Work-Study and Student Employment can contact MacKenzie Murphree, Student Employment Coordinator, at murphreem@moval.edu for more information about available positions on campus.