Faculty/College General Information and Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

The Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP) offers eligible underrepresented students at public colleges and universities the opportunity to earn money to help defray their educational costs while gaining education-aligned, career-related employment. LAEP was established in the 2021-22 State Budget and designed in accordance with California Education Code Sections 69950 – 69969.

LAEP allows a participating student placement 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 are capable of providing 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.

Please see the LAEP Overview slide deck and recorded webinar for more information about the program.

FAQ

• When is an employer agreement needed?
  At CSUSM, a signed and approved employer agreement is required by all employers who participate and/or
  hire a LAEP CSUSM student, even if the employer is CSUSM or if the job/assignment is on campus.
• How is student eligibility for LAEP determined?

  Student demonstrates financial need, as determined by the Financial Aid office.  

  This is the language for the 2023-24 FAFSA: Students demonstrate financial need by completing a FAFSA. The FAFSA is the federal application used to apply for financial aid. The student’s (and parents, if the student meets the federal standards to submit parental information) income is used to determine the Expected Family Contribution. The federal formula for determining if a student has demonstrated financial need is:

  Cost of Attendance (COA) – Expected Family Contribution (EFC) – All other grants (scholarships, awards, stipends, gifts) = Demonstrated Financial Need    

  If a student has a demonstrated financial need of $6000 or above, and have met the other program criteria, they are included in the LAEP eligible student list. Students can see their demonstrated financial need in their MyCSUSM portal, by reviewing their College Financing Plan in the section, “College Costs You Will Be Required to Pay”.     

• Are lecturer faculty eligible to supervise students for LAEP positions?
  There is no distinction on the California Student Aid Commission rules, so YES. When signing off on position proposals, department chairs should be aware that faculty are not compensated for mentoring/employing LAEP students, so their workload should be considered.
• Can two professors submit a joint position?
  Two professors can co-mentor a student, but one faculty member would be the one submitting all forms and overseeing timesheets. You should describe the involvement of both faculty in the job description section of the position proposal. 
• How do I advertise my LAEP position?
  Email Career Center (careers@csusm.edu) with the approved LAEP position proposal form and Faculty agreement. Currently, they email LAEP-eligible students weekly with new positions, positions that have been requested to be re-advertised, and closed positions. If you have filled your position, you can also let Career Center know by email.
• What is the maximum number of hours a LAEP student can work? * Updated 3/27/24
  The maximum number of hours a student can work for all CSUSM jobs combined, including LAEP, is 20 hours per week during the academic year (August-May). Students can work 40 hours/week during winter and spring break when class is not in session. LAEP funds cannot be used for summer employment. The faculty/college shall provide the LAEP coordinator with an accurate account of hours worked and wages earned monthly, and the faculty are responsible for tracking hours and wages to confirm where the student is during duration of the assignment. 
• What is the maximum compensation that a LAEP student can earn?
  The total LAEP compensation received by the student shall not exceed $6.000 per academic year. The student shall be paid at a comparable rate to that paid for comparable positions within the university. If CSUSM has no comparable position, the student shall be paid at a rate comparable to that paid by other organizations in the field for work involving comparable duties and responsibilities. The positions shall be compared on the basis of the nature of the work performed and the background and skills required for the position, and not upon the employee’s part-time or student status.
• Can a student participate in LAEP during the summer?
  No, not at this time.
• Can a faculty mentor request a list of LAEP eligible students specific to a program/major?
  Yes. Email fws@csusm.edu indicating that you are a faculty mentor and would like a list of LAEP eligible students in X, Y, X programs/majors.
• Can graduate students participate in LAEP?
  No, the program is only open to students pursuing an initial undergraduate degree. As with Cal Grant, students in a mandatory 5-year undergraduate program can participate. Students in a teacher credential program can participate as long as the units toward their teacher credential are equivalent to at least half-time enrollment.
• Can students who completed the CA Dream Act Application (CADAA) participate in LAEP?
  Yes. Students must be eligible to work in the U.S. to participate.
  For more information and details about “Student Eligibility”, please see the CSUSM LAEP Faculty/College Agreement.
• Does a student need to be eligible for a Pell grant to be eligible for LAEP?
  No, not necessarily. There are other criteria for LAEP eligibility that don’t overlap with Pell grants, such as veteran status or foster (and former foster) youth.
• LAEP Student Funding by Employer Type
  The percentage of student funding listed below are only valid if LAEP funds are available:
  Up to 100% of compensation for positions at CSUSM
  Up to 90% of the student’s compensation for positions at public educational institutions or nonprofit corporations
  Up to 50% of compensation for positions at for-profit employers
• How many students can be hired for an approved position?
  The current recommendation is that up to two students can be hired for each approved position in one academic year. If an exception is needed, please explain in the position proposal form (job function). 
• Can students receive both LAEP funding and course credit (units) for the same work/project?
  LAEP allows students to receive credit for paid LAEP opportunities. CSUSM guidelines for LAEP are that faculty delineate specific expectations for students who receive both credit and LAEP funding for the same project. These specific expectations should be transparent and reflected in a written document maintained by the faculty member. It is not required for units to be attached to LAEP positions.
• Do students who are driving for LAEP related activities need to complete defensive driving training?

  If the students will be driving FOR the University, then YES, they will be required to complete defensive driving training.

  However, if the students will not be driving for university business (research project is conducted virtually, and/or the research is on campus, then they will not have to complete defensive driving training). 

• Is there a financial report (pivot table) due at the end or some other type of deliverable?
  No, the official LAEP reports and deliverables are all in Financial Aid. However, faculty mentors and students should fill out requested surveys to track faculty and student experiences and outcomes (i.e. job placements, graduation school admissions).
• Is the college receiving a budget transfer for the $6000 paid to the student?

  No, this is processed through payroll, the funds reside in the CSAC LAEP account. As students earn their paychecks, the money is deducted from this account.  

  CSAC fund managed by Financial Aid and Finance.

• How do we track hours/payroll distribution?
  It is recommended the faculty mentor track actual hours with support from the college or department analyst. Departments are responsible for students not to exceed 20 hours/week during the academic year.
• Do students get a paycheck for their LAEP work, or is it tuition deduction/reimbursement?
  Students receive a paycheck for hourly work completed. This is handled through payroll/HR.
• Can students work up to 40-hours a week during Spring/Winter break?
  Yes. This is the same as Federal Work Study (FWS).  Students and faculty mentors should keep in mind the $6000 annual limit when planning work hours.   
• What is the minimum number of units for being enrolled half time to be eligible for LAEP?
  Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units for undergraduates.
• How do I get a job position number?

  Email Susie Martinez (samartinez@csusm.edu) that the College/Dept needs a position number for LAEP, job class code 1880. There will be one position number for each academic department that has a faculty supervisor. 

• Who do I work with in my college for ePAN hiring?
  • CHABSS: Josephine (Josie) Rosas jrosas@csusm.edu 
  • CoBA: Jennifer Martin jmartin@csusm.edu  
  • CEHHS:  
  • CSTEM: Courtney Dow cdow@csusm.edu
    • See this website for info and form for hiring https://www.csusm.edu/cstem/faculty-staff-resources/cstem_laepprogram.html 

  The MPP who approves timesheets for LAEP students is the Associate Dean from the faculty member’s college. 

• When is the last day that students can be paid through LAEP for the academic year?
  LAEP students can be paid through the last day of the semester in May (May 16, 2024), not the last day of the month.