The Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP) is a state-funded program that offers eligible underrepresented students the opportunity to earn money to help defray their educational costs while gaining education-aligned, career-related employment.
Leveraging funding from the LAEP program and under the guidance of the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), the Financial Aid and Scholarships office will partner with on-campus and off-campus employers to place LAEP eligible students into a either research-based or career-related job.
Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP)
For on-campus positions, you will be hired into a research-based position and will be paid to conduct research while gaining valuable research skills in a faculty mentored environment. Research is not limited to scientific research and can take place outside of an academic discipline. LAEP allows a participating student to conduct research that relates to the student’s area of study, career objective, or the exploration of career objectives.
- Earn money to pay for college expenses that are not covered by grants or loans.
- Engage in work that relates to your major.
- Develop new job skills while refining others.
- Work and network within our dynamic college community.
- Take advantage of opportunities to further your education and career
Eligible students are from an underrepresented background and must meet all the following criteria:
- Must be enrolled at least half-time (6 or more units) as an undergraduate student each term
- Must demonstrate financial need as determined by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO)
- Must meet and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in a program leading to a degree or certificate program
- Must be in good academic standing with the University
- Must be eligible to work in the United States
- Must meet the California resident classification status
- Must meet the eligibility requirements for LAEP as determined by the Financial Aid Office (FASO)
- Must have the necessary knowledge and abilities required by the campus to adequately perform the duties of the assignment
In the event that a limited amount of funding or a limited number of positions are available, Cal State LA is required to give priority to “underrepresented” students, which include first generation college students, low-income students, students who are current or former foster youth, homeless students, or those at risk of becoming homeless, students with disabilities, displaced workers, students with dependent children, formerly incarcerated students, undocumented students, students meeting the requirements of AB 540, and veterans. Further, priority will be given to eligible students majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) discipline.
Students will have the opportunity to work in a research-based assignment that relates to their area of study, career objective, or the exploration of career objectives. The research is directed and supervised
by a faculty, staff, or other mentor who will determine the research requirements. All LAEP positions are posted on Cal State LA Handshake.
Funding: up to $6,000 per academic year depending on your eligibility
Periods of employment: Fall and Spring
Salary Range: $15.50 - $22.00 an hour
Weekly Hours: LAEP student trainees may work up to, but not more than, 20 hours per week during academic periods (This is combined with any other campus employment, not exceeding 20 hours per week for all campus employment.)
Faculty Endorsement and LAEP Student Agreement Required
You cannot be paid with LAEP funding for a research assignment that fulfills the eligibility requirements for your research Grant or research Stipend.
You can learn more about the LEAP program and funding developing at csac.ca.gov/laep.
Frquently Asked Questions
LAEP is a State of California-funded program that allows eligible students to be placed in an educationally beneficial position that relates to the student’s area of study, career objective, or the exploration of career objectives. The program includes and emphasizes positions for students with employers that can provide them with full-time employment opportunities after graduation, or opportunities to connect with other employers that are capable of providing them with full-time employment opportunities after graduation, within their areas of study.
The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO)
Yes, the FWS is a need-based federal aid program. The LAEP is a need-based state aid program, but the award limit is the same. For example, if a student has a FWS allocation of $4,000, and the student is LAEP eligible, the student can decide to use that $4,000 for a regular FWS job or for a LAEP job.
No.
Research-based jobs are eligible. “Research” should be a significant component of any on-campus LAEP position. Research should be the major function of the LAEP student position. Research is not limited to scientific research and can take place outside of an academic discipline.
The research should be directed and supervised by a faculty, staff, or other mentor who will determine the research requirements. The job opportunities should provide participating students with direct opportunities to participate in the research that is undertaken by the department.
For the LAEP program, low-income students with an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) equivalent to the Pell-eligible range.
No, the program is only open to students pursuing an initial undergraduate degree. Students in a teacher credential program are eligible to participate as long as the units toward the teacher credential are equivalent to at least half-time enrollment.
Yes, students must maintain half-time enrollment throughout the term. Students will become ineligible when they drop below 6 units in the term.
No. The student cannot use the same hours and/or effort for multiple programs. For example, you cannot be paid with LAEP funding for a research assignment that fulfills the requirements for your research Grant or Research Stipend.
The Federal work-study award would be canceled. A $4,000 LAEP award would be awarded if the student qualifies for the LAEP program.
The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO) confirms student eligibility at the point of the referral process and at Census each semester. The FASO will send a communication to the employer indicating that the student is no longer eligible to participate in the program.
Awards can vary based on the student aid eligibility and can be as little as $200 or as high as $6,000. The maximum award is typically $4,000 for the academic year; however, the allocation can be increased up to $6,000 provided that the student has a remaining unmet need. The total compensation received by the student, covered by LAEP, cannot exceed the total amount authorized by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO).
Hourly rate: $15.50 - $22.00 an hour
LAEP students may work up to, but not more than, 20 hours per week during academic periods (This is combined with any other campus employment, not exceeding 20 hours per week for all campus employment.) The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO) recommends 10-15 hours per week so that students can focus on their academic responsibilities.
The LAEP program funds/supports students' wages only; and therefore, must be hired as a student worker. Student workers are paid monthly, and paychecks are processed through Payroll.
Students may earn LAEP funds once their hiring paperwork is processed. Once approved, an “authorization to work” will be issued by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO).
The LAEP eligibility form is used to authorize your participation in the program, and it indicates the amount of your LAEP award eligibility. You also certify that this position relates to your area of study and/or your career objectives. Your LAEP employer must complete this form and sign it with you before you can start earning your LAEP work-study award.
The LAEP program runs through the end of each academic year. However, the student’s eligibility ceases upon graduation, withdrawal, cancellation, the date the student drops below half-time, or at the time the student reaches the award limit.
The LAEP program funds/supports students' wages only; and therefore, must be hired as a student worker. Student workers are paid monthly, and paychecks are processed through Payroll.
The student will not forfeit compensation for hours already worked. Students must be properly and promptly compensated for all hours already worked. However, the hiring/participating department becomes responsible for wages earned after the students become ineligible.
The participating department becomes responsible for 100% of the wages when the student becomes ineligible.
Yes, but it may not be in the student’s best interest because it may be an excessive number of work hours in addition to the student’s coursework. The hours must be separate for each program; the student cannot use the same hours and/or effort for multiple programs.