James Madison University (JMU) allocates 36% of Federal Work-Study funds to community service, including America Reads and other positions. With the national average at 15%, this figure makes JMU a leader in meeting the intent of the FWS legislation to focus the power of student education and talents on meeting community needs.

The Federal-Work Study program at James Madison University includes both a well-established America Reads program and a program run in parallel to place students with community agencies. In both cases, the focus is on meeting the needs of community members through effective communication, assessment, training, and program administration.

For the past decade, James Madison University has placed an average of 30 students a year in the Federal Work-Study America Reads Program in 10 different elementary schools within Harrisonburg/Rockingham County, Virginia. Each school designates how many America Reads tutors it can successfully train and supervise.

Placement for America Reads takes place during the first three weeks of each semester. This timing allows for only two orientation and training sessions, so they have to be effective. The schools and JMU’s center for Community Service Learning (CS-L) conduct the training sessions jointly. In addition, all America Reads tutors are required to attend two reflection sessions each semester. These sessions, facilitated by CS-L, engage students in exploring and defining their learning during the America Reads tutoring experience and help refine the program for future students.

JMU’s Federal Work-Study program also provides an average of 40 students a year placed in approximately 85 nonprofit agencies in the community. The process for placing students in the community and partnership agreement is administratively parallel to that of the America Reads Program. The only variance in the programs is an information and orientation session held at the beginning of each semester for community partners. This session, which is required for new agencies choosing to participate in Federal Work-Study, helps ensure that both the agencies and the students get the most from the experience.

The FWS program works deliberately to match students with community-identified needs through communication, assessment, and ongoing training. At the end of each academic year, a needs assessment is sent to each community agency working with JMU’s program. A FWS staff person follows up to project potential matches for the upcoming year. In-service training for America Reads tutors, held one to two times per semester, focuses specifically on helping students more effectively meet the needs of the schools and children they serve. In addition, educational specialists from JMU give instruction and provide teaching tools and techniques to FWS participants. Monthly reflection sessions provide educational and development value to what many consider simply a financial aid program. Finally, FWS Student Handbooks are given to both FWS participants and site supervisors to use as a resource for program policies and procedures.

The Federal Work-Study program is managed by an Associate Director, an Administrative Associate, and two student employees, in collaboration with JMU student employment. The office of Community Service Learning continues to receive strong support from JMU, which recognizes Federal Work-Study as a strategic link in connecting classroom learning with real-world living for both students and community partners.