The Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP) offers eligible 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 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.
Our Campus will have around 150 positions available under this program and student must meet and maintain program eligibility requirements
Program Requirements
Eligible students are from an underrepresented background and meet all the following criteria:
- Must be enrolled at least half-time
- California resident classification
- Satisfactory academic progress
- Demonstrated financial need
- Eligibility to work in the United States
- Employed in an approved research position on campus
- High need defined as:
Qualifies for Pell Grant,
OR
Expected Family Contribution of $6657 or lower for Dreamers
Eligible students are from an underrepresented background and meet all the following criteria:
- Must be enrolled at least half-time
- California resident classification
- Satisfactory academic progress
- Demonstrated financial need
- Eligibility to work in the United States
- Employed in an approved research position on campus
- High need defined as:
Qualifies for Pell Grant,
OR
Expected Family Contribution of $6657 or lower for Dreamers
All eligible students will be awarded on their FAN based on funding and eligibility requirements.
For UCLA LAEP questions contact us via Message Center and make sure to include LAEP in the subject.
Note: DGSOM has elected to not participate in the program at this time.
Overview
The Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP) offers eligible students at UCLA the opportunity to earn money to help defray their educational costs while gaining education-aligned, career-related employment. 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. At UCLA, learning-aligned employment opportunities provide participating students with direct opportunities to participate in the research. The position is fully funded through work study and does not require financial support by the faculty. For general information on this statewide program visit: California Student Aid Commission.
At this time UCLA LAEP Research Work study appointments are only available during the academic year. Students may be hired for 1-3 quarters. Students will be hired for 12 hours per week for 10 weeks (120 hours total) for each quarter. All positions end in week 10 of Spring quarter. Please note: Students cannot work during finals week, on holidays or during intersessions.
FAQs
Interested in hiring a LAEP research work study student?
If you would like to hire an undergraduate research intern fill out, Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP) Research Work Study.
The form is short and can be completed in 5 minutes or less. The information you provide will be used to create a job description that will be posted on the campus job portal, Handshake. It will be tagged as a LAEP work study position.
Eligible students will be notified how to access the open positions. You may encourage your current students to apply, but only students eligible for LAEP funds as defined by the California Student Aid Commission may take the position, visit them for more information on student eligibility in general.
Already submitted the form to create a LAEP research work study job?
It takes at least two business days for processing of your submission to create a LAEP position. Once your job description is created, it will be sent to you for final approval before the job is posted and students are invited to apply. The email will come from handshake@notifications.joinhandshake.com with the Subject: Application package for LAEP Scholar Research Work Study Internship in ... Check your spam folder. Handshake will also send you a direct link to the job posting to share with students in your classes.
Students will be asked to submit a resume and cover letter through the Handshake Portal. You will be emailed a link to these documents each time a student applies. You should interview applicants and make a selection from those students who can confirm that they have a LAEP work study award as part of their financial aid package. For information on UCLA student eligibility visit Learning-Aligned Education Program (LAEP). For Spring 2023 hires, send the names and emails of the applicants to: Brianne Compton laep@fas.ucla.edu from the Financial Aid Office. She will be able to screen your applicants to confirm LAEP eligibility so that you only interview those that are eligible.
Once you have selected the LAEP-eligible student for the position, the UCLA Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) will hire the student on your behalf. DUE LAEP Human Resources (HR) will also close your job in handshake for you. Email the selected student’s name and email address to: LAEP Scholars LAEP-hr@college.ucla.edu. Please note: Although the Division of Undergraduate Education will hire the student for you, you will be required to approve the student's bi-weekly timesheets.
The link to Handshake doesn’t work because I don’t have a Handshake account!
The link we sent is for your students. It doesn’t work for you if you don’t have a Handshake account. You don’t need a Handshake account. All UCLA students have a Handshake account, so they can see the link.
Tip: If you want to see a preview of the posting you can type /share_preview to the end of the link that was sent to you earlier. Like this: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/jobs/101010101/share_preview
We sent this preview link to the faculty who most recently submitted their request for a LAEP intern. It will work for students and for you. We will always send this link in the future.
Do I need a Handshake account?
No, you don’t need a Handshake account.
Can I have an account so that I can access the job posting and view the applicants online?
Technically, this is possible, but it requires you to take steps to register and be approved as a UCLA employer because it gives you access to post, edit, and delete all job UCLA job postings on Handshake, as well as the ability to view, approve, reject any applicant to these positions. Handshake does not provide guest access that would allow you to view applicants for just your position. We tried to get Handshake to make a change to allow this, but it’s not going to happen.
How will I review applications?
Each time a student applies you will receive an email from Handshake with the student’s application materials attached. The emails may go to your spam folder. Searching for “handshake application package” will surface these emails. Feel free to check with Christine (cwilson@saonet.uclla.edu) if you are concerned that you are not receiving these emails.
How do I know if an applicant is eligible for LAEP?
For Spring 2023, please send the names and emails of the applicants you wish to interview to: Brianne Compton laep@fas.ucla.edu from the Financial Aid Office. She will be able to screen your applicants to confirm LAEP eligibility.
LAEP is a California work study program open only to California residents who qualify for work study (or the Dream Act equivalent). Eligibility is based on these criteria and the student’s financial aid award.
Can I have more than one LAEP intern?
Yes, there is sufficient funding this year for you to hire more than one LAEP-eligible student. We hope this will continue to be the case, but this could change as awareness about the program grows.
Who does the hiring?
Once you have identified the LAEP-eligible student(s) for the position, the UCLA Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) will hire the student on your behalf. They will also close the job posting. To get the hiring process started, email the selected student’s name and email address to: LAEP Scholars LAEP-hr@college.ucla.edu. Please note you will be required to approve the student's bi-weekly timesheets
How long will the position be posted?
Spring positions will be posted through March 31, 2023, unless your candidate is hired before that date.
Do I have to wait until the position closed to hire?
No. You can hire at any time. When the hire has been made, the position will be closed.
I’d like to close the position before March 31, 2023, without hiring a LAEP intern.
Please contact Christine (cwilson@saonet.ucla.edu) to expire the posting.
Who do I contact with questions?
Contact Christine Wilson at cwilson@saonet.ucla.edu with any questions related to the posting of the position and general questions about the program.
Contact Brianne Compton regarding student eligibility at laep@fas.ucla.edu
Contact Department of Undergraduate Education Human Resources at LAEP-hr@college.ucla.edu when you have identified the student you wish to hire.