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Haas Center for Public Service

Community Service Work-Study Summer Program

Submission information | Application Process | Selection Process | Wages | Timesheets

Community Service Work-Study (CSWS) Summer Program participants can design a service experience in collaboration with a partnering organization at qualified organizations anywhere in the United States.

Applying to the Summer program (Summer 2026 TBD) 

Submission information

Apply on SOLO

Deadlines: 

  • February 20, 2026 (priority)
  • April 25, 2026 (general)

Application Process

1. Request authorization

Request authorization from the Financial Aid Office* verifying your eligibility. You'll receive a return email that reads, “2026 Summer CSWS." The CSWS program is copied on the email to ensure your eligibility. You must complete your 2026-27 FAFSA to be eligible.

For the Financial Aid Office to determine your summer eligibility, you must complete the FAFSA application for the upcoming academic year.

If you have difficulty accessing the Financial Aid Authorization Form for CSWS Summer 2026, please email May Thin with your (1) full name, (2) SUID, and (3) details on whether you've completed your FAFSA for the following academic year to check your CSWS Summer Program eligibility. You must complete your 2026-27 FAFSA to be eligible.

NOTE: Some applicants who are ineligible for work-study during the academic year may in fact be eligible for work-study during the summer. Therefore, it is important to verify your work-study eligibility for the academic year and summer programs separately.

2. Find an appropriate job

It's up to you to find a placement in an organization or department, arrange an interview, and negotiate a job description.

Make sure your host organization reviews "Partner Organization Eligibility" in CSWS Resources to understand which organizations qualify for the CSWS program.

3. Complete the student application (available January 2026)

Find the CSWS Summer Program application here.

4. Have your Community Partner Organization complete the community partner application

Your partner organization supervisor must complete an application online. When you complete your application in SOLO, you should request that a link be sent to your partner organization so they can complete the Community Partner Application/Recommendation through SOLO. No actual recommendations are required for this program.

5. Obtain nonprofit status verification

Nonprofit organizations can verify their 501(c)3 status with a copy of the official IRS letter that includes their federal ID number.  Public or government agencies may submit a letter verifying their tax affiliation. Must be on official letterhead and signed by an official (i.e. senior official, chancellor, executive director, etc.) Upload a copy of this letter with the application. For questions, contact Yvette Zepeda.

6. Complete the Community Partner Contract

The contract can be completed digitally. Download the contract and use the "Edit Text" option in the Adobe PDF application. Once all electronic signatures are obtained, the supervisor at the partner organization should upload the completed contract onto their Community Partner Application on SOLO. Electronic signatures are fine; however, they may not be simply typed – they must reflect actual signatures.

Community Partner Contract for CSWS Summer Program: Available in January 2026

NOTE: All signatures must be on the same electronic document. Have the supervisor, additional signatory, and Chief Financial Officer of the organization complete and sign the same contract electronically.

7. Complete your I-9 form

If you have never worked at Stanford, you must complete an I-9 form and provide original supporting documents. Print the form, complete Section 1, and schedule an appointment with Yvette Zepeda to bring in your original documents.

8. Receive approval

The selection committee will review your application and inform you in writing once you have been approved for the CSWS program.

9. Notify your supervisor

Let your community partner organization know when you're approved for the CSWS program and the dates and hours you will be working. As a participant in this program you agree to abide by your commitments outlined in the Community Partner contract.  Please communicate with your Supervisor regularly with updates.  Please notify Yvette Zepeda immediately if any issues arise that could impact your participation.  

10. Attend a mandatory orientation

All CSWS participants must participate in an orientation at the Haas Center arranged by the CSWS program director.

For questions about any of these steps, contact Program Director Yvette Zepeda.

Selection Process

Applications are reviewed by a selection committee made up of Haas Center staff, and approved participants are notified as soon as possible. The selection criteria includes:

  • Adherence to all existing federal program guidelines regarding the nature of the placement and population served
  • Quality of the application essay
  • Placement opportunity and job description developed by the partner organization
  • Overall value of the experience for the student
  • Level of financial need

Priority is given to students who have not participated in the CSWS Summer Program before or are participating for their second summer, and who can commit to working for at least 35 hours per week for nine consecutive weeks.

Important notes

  • Summer participants may participate in only one Stanford-supported internship or program at a time.
  • Community Service Work-Study participants may NOT be paid for the same work through two different programs.
  • Participants must remain in good academic standing and adhere to the University Code of Conduct.

Participant information

Wages

CSWS Academic Year

The Financial Aid Office determines each student's eligibility and the maximum earnings allowed per quarter. Hourly wages are determined by supervisors and approved by the CSWS program director based on the job requirements and previous relevant Stanford work experience.

CSWS Summer Program

During the summer, all eligible CSWS participants receive a standard hourly wage and maximum earnings allocation, as determined by the Financial Aid Office. This is considered a Summer Program. In Summer 2025, the wage was set at $23.00 per hour, with a maximum allocation of $8,500 per quarter. The wage is expected to remain the same for 2026. The wage is established to adjust for the cost of education expenses and a livable wage in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Timecards

Timecard Completion and Submission: Students are responsible for completing their timecards each day they work and for submitting them by the stated deadlines. Timecards are required for all hours worked. In general, timesheets from outside agencies must be submitted to the Haas Center for Public Service for processing according to the University’s regular payroll schedule.

Timesheet procedures are provided during program the CSWS orientation.

  • Axess timesheets must be submitted online and approved by your supervisor by the published deadline.
  • Late submissions will not be processed or paid.
  • Both the student and supervisor must ensure that timecards are submitted and approved by the pay period end date.

Important notes

  • Students are responsible for tracking their own hours and total wages earned to ensure they do not exceed their work-study eligibility limit. Any hours the student works beyond the approved allocation will render the University non-compliant and may jeopardize the continuation of the program. The Financial Aid Office will be notified of any student that exceeds their allocation.
  • Maintaining accurate and timely records helps ensure that the program remains sustainable for future participants. Students who fail to submit regular, accurate, and supervisor-approved timecards in a timely manner may be asked to exit the program.
  • For assistance with tracking hours, please refer to the “Sample Timesheet” available on the Student Resources page.