Sens. Toomey, Gillibrand introduce legislation to increase work-study program focus on students’ fields of study

U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) recently introduced legislation to expand the Federal Work-Study program to provide students with more opportunities to find jobs related to their areas of study.

The Federal Work-Study Program provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students who have financial need. Currently, students enrolled in the program often work in part-time, on-campus jobs not directly related to their fields of study.

The Classroom to Careers Act would shift the focus of the work-study program toward giving students employment experience related to their fields of study through cooperative education and other work-based learning opportunities.

“Co-op programs, such as the program offered at Drexel University, allow undergraduates to gain valuable full-time work experience and develop career skills while still in college,” Sen. Toomey said. “This bipartisan measure will make it easier for more Pennsylvania students with financial needs to access meaningful, paid work experiences in their chosen field of study and use their earnings to help pay for college.”

According to the Department of Education, approximately 3,200 postsecondary institutions currently participate in the Federal Work-Study program. The federal government distributes over $1.1 billion each year to provide more than 600,000 students with approximately $1,700 in annual wages each to assist with paying for college. More than 50 percent of co-op students accept permanent jobs from their co-op employers, institutions with co-op programs report.

“Expanding experiential learning opportunities through the Federal Work Study program will enhance the ability of the nation’s colleges and universities to meet the nation’s growing demand for innovation in a changing and dynamic economy,” John Fry, president of Drexel University, said. “I applaud Senator Toomey and his Senate colleagues for their foresight on this pressing issue.”