Student Financial Aid

America Reads/America Counts for Students

Western Michigan University works with local schools to provide reading and math tutors to elementary school students. If you would like to earn Federal Work-study funds by becoming a tutor, please contact Career and Student Employment Services at (269) 387-2745.

Obtain a work-study offer

  • Complete the FAFSA indicating interest in Federal Work-study. Monitor your progress using the financial aid checklist.
  • Regularly check your WMU email. That is where you will receive important communication about the status of your financial aid file and offers.
  • Review your financial aid offer letter on goWMU. Verify receipt of Federal Work-study offer.
  • If you would like to receive Federal Work-study during summer I or summer II, you must complete a separate application - available each spring semester on our Forms page. 

Find employment

  • For assistance please visit Handshake. Many students find unique opportunities by talking with campus staff, instructors and other students. For personal assistance with your America Reads/America Counts job search, please contact Career and Student Employment Services at (269) 387-2745.
  • Off-campus America Reads/America Counts tutoring sites must sign an agreement with WMU before they employ students using WMU Federal Work-study programs. Please contact Career and Student Employment Services for more information.
  • Notify your employer that you have a Federal Work-study offer. In order to confirm the type and amount of your Federal Work-study offer, your interviewer may ask for a copy of your offer letter. You may always view and print your financial aid offer letter using goWMU.
  • Plan your work schedule with your supervisor. Please note, the calculations assume you are working all pay periods assigned to the semester/session.

Fall or spring

Your offer amount / Hourly pay rate / 18 weeks = hours per week.

Summer l or summer ll

Your offer amount / Hourly pay rate / 8 weeks = hours per week.

Tutor guidelines

  • A paycheck will be issued only when a valid timesheet has been submitted.
  • Timesheets will not be accepted for pay periods that have not begun. 

If you need to revise the number of hours reported on a previously submitted timesheet, you must complete a new timesheet for the pay period. This “revised” timesheet will replace the original timesheet and should report the actual hours worked during the entire pay period. 

You must meet and maintain general financial aid eligibility criteria for Federal Work-study, including Satisfactory Academic Progress. If you lose eligibility for financial aid, including work-study, due to SAP, your offer may be canceled. 

Stay tuned to your WMU email account for updates about your financial aid status. Changes to your Federal Work-study offer will be reflected in your financial aid offer letter. View it online, as frequently as you like, using goWMU.

If you have not received a paycheck within four weeks of the start of the semester, your Federal Work-study offer may be canceled. If you are approaching the four-week deadline and have not received a paycheck, contact financial aid if you are planning to become employed and wish to retain your offer.