Types of SPIF Awards
SPIF is distributed as either a stipend or Federal Work Study (FWS). The SPIF Office will determine the type of funding you will receive based on both your and your employer's eligibility. Students should proceed with the expectation that they could receive either type of funding.
Federal Work Study (FWS)
FWS is allocated by the University and is used to fund over one-third of the SPIF program. The federal government pays between 67% and 75% the wages of FWS recipients and the SPIF program pays the remaining amount, also known as the "Employer Match."
DISBURSEMENT:
- FWS is disbursed in 10 equal payments. Students who are awarded FWS will receive a stipend equivalent to one week's pay prior to the start of the summer, then 9 equal paychecks throughout the summer.
ELIGIBILITY:
Students are eligible to receive FWS if they are an academic year financial aid recipient* AND they are working for an FWS eligible employer. FWS is not awarded to 2Ls or SJDs.
(* "on financial aid" is defined as receiving need-based loans certified by the Student Financial Services office, such as Federal Direct/Stafford loans or the equivalent)
Eligible FWS employers include:
- non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations within the US
- most US government organizations (except the US Department of Education and positions working directly for a member of Congress); employment outside the US in a US government facility such as an embassy or military base is permissible
Ineligible FWS employers include:
- overseas placements (even if non-profit)
- partisan political positions
- positions that lobby the government
- religious organizations
- for-profit law firms (including private public interest firms)
Stipends
DISBURSEMENT:
Stipends are disbursed as one payment, prior to the beginning of the summer as long as the necessary paperwork is turned in to the SPIF office by April 4, 2007. Stipends can only be requiested once a month, so if a student misses the April 4th deadline, funds will be disbursed on June 1st, at the earliest.
ELIGIBILITY:
All SPIF eligible students are eligible for Stipends, however, FWS will be awarded to all eligible students first. Once we have exhausted our FWS allocation we will begin to award stipends to students who would have otherwise received FWS. All 2Ls and SJDs will receive Stipends.
Applications are due no later than 5pm, Friday, December 14th, 2007 in the SPIF Office (Pound Hall, 324). Funding for this award will be disbursed in conjunction with SPIF funds and is contingent on the recipient accepting and engaging in the placement they describe in their application materials.