Does work with Community Engaged Scholarship (CES) Projects qualify for Federal Work Study (FWS)?

Yes. Click here to learn more about FWS.

If the agency requires students to complete their FWS timesheet/attendance sheet, do students also need to complete a Chicago School timesheet?

Yes, even if you complete an agency timesheet, you still need to complete a Chicago School timesheet for our records. Otherwise, you will not get paid.

What if I am not eligible for FWS? Should I still complete a timesheet?

Yes, you still need to turn a timesheet into The Chicago School so that your hours can be tracked.

What steps may be taken should I encounter an ethical dilemma or other concerns with the agency during CES activities?

If ethical dilemmas are related to your own service at the agency, then you should discuss these issues with you seminar leader and other students during seminar. 

If your ethical concerns are related to organizational issues —e.g., lack of work space, not enough projects, etc.—you should first talk to your site supervisor/director and then to community engaged scholarship coordinator Dr. Machizawa-Summers.

What should students do when they cannot attend the monthly CES service learning seminar?

For most CES projects, you are required to attend and participate in a one-hour Monthly Seminar AND one Topic Seminar each semester.  Missing more than one class per semester may result in disqualification from your CES projects. You are required to inform your seminar leader as soon as possible if you are unable to attend the seminar. 

Can students get paid for attending the CES seminar?

No, however, time spent preparing for a presentation at Job and Volunteer Fair counts as work hours.

Can I get paid for attending a CES project orientation?

No, the orientation for a CES project does NOT qualify as payable time. You must sign up for the actual project to be paid. Onsite training, however, counts toward work hours. Contact Dr. Machizawa-Summers if you are unsure whether you can count hours spent on service learning activities on your timesheet.

What are the minimum and maximum work hours for service learning projects?

Students are required to spend a minimum of two hours per week on the CES project. The maximum you can work and get paid through FWS is 10 hours per week unless otherwise approved.

If you are already employed as a student worker or FWS, you may not be eligible to be paid for maximum hours. Please check with the Financial Aid Department for details.

Can students participate in more than one CES project?

Yes, but it depends on availability. Students may participate in more than one project, if there are still positions that need to be filled. Students are required to complete separate timesheets for each CES project.

What if I am already employed by the Chicago School?

You still need to complete a separate Employment Application Form, even if you already completed it for another position at the school.

For more information regarding CES projects email smachizawa@thechicagoschool.edu or call 312.410.8953.