Work-Study Students as Technology or Support Staff
Indiana Legal Services - 030012
Abstract Number: 030012
April 2003
Indiana Legal Services (ILS) developed a program to hire Federal Work Study (FWS) students as technology and support staff to provide additional technological expertise and help in the program's offices. As part of this program, ILS currently employs at least15 students around the state as on-site technology support personnel. To participate in the FWS program, the participating university or college is required to identify ILS as a "community service" organization. In doing so, ILS can employ work-study students. In section 443(b)(2)(A) of the Higher Education Act (HEA), "an institution must use at least seven percent of the total amount of its FWS Federal allocation granted for an award year to compensate students employed in community service."* Once ILS was determined to be a community service organization, ILS advertised at the colleges and universities and hired the students they needed. The university or college pays the students directly and bills the community service group for a portion of the students pay.
In managing this project, ILS learned that academic institutions define "community service" in varying ways. Some schools do not consider technology support work as "community service" but will allow students to work legal researchers, receptionists, and interviewers. ILS' approach has emphasized that technology support students are working alongside staff who are themselves dealing directly with the public. Occasionally, ILS has educated schools about the program but they have found that generally they are already well-equipped to sign up programs as community service agencies, and post job descriptions. To learn more about this project, contact Mr. Bohlsen below and visit the links further detailing the program.
LSC:
America's Partner for Equal Justice 