Stipend FAQ
Hours required to receive a stipend
Letters of reference
Receiving funding from another source/second job
Terminated internships
Incomplete internships
Receiving a second stipend
Selecting a stipend program
Taxes
Transcripts
Transferring after receiving a stipend
How many hours of work am I required to complete?
Students are required to complete an 8-10 week, 350 hour internship during the summer. These hours must be completed between the end of classes in the spring and the start of classes in September.
What type of letters of reference do I need?
Students only need to submit one letter of reference from a present or past faculty member or supervisor. Transfer students may submit letters from faculty members or supervisors from their previous institution. Please refer to the Guidelines for Requesting References for the CWS Summer Stipend Program.
Will the letters of reference and the completed CWS Stipend Reference Forms that I handed in be placed in my permanent CWS file?
E-mails or unsigned letters of reference are not considered official references and may only be used for CWS programs. These letters of reference will not be included in your permanent file. Students needing official references for graduate school or potential employers should have their recommender send a signed copy to the CWS.
The organization has offered to pay me; can I accept this money and still receive a stipend?
Students cannot receive funding from another source (a stipend from another department, outside source, or pay from the organization) if they accept a stipend from the Center for Work and Service. Organizations can provide travel/transportation costs, room, board, and other in-kind gifts, but they cannot pay the student. Students can have other jobs in the evening or on weekends not related to their internship/community service work.
What happens if I am terminated from my internship?
Students, who are terminated from their internship before completing the required 350 hours, are required to return the stipend check in full.
What if I am unable to complete my internship due to illness or injury?
Students who are unable to complete their internship due to illness or injury will be handled on a case by case basis.
Last summer I received a stipend from the Center for Work and Service. Is it possible for me to be funded again this summer?
No, students are only eligible to receive one Center for Work and Service Summer Stipend during their four years at Wellesley College. Students may apply to one of the Center for Work and Service Identified Internship Programs. Students can only receive one funded internship experience each summer from the college.
Are taxes taken out of my stipend?
Tax information for U.S. citizens:
Fellowship and Scholarship Grants are not payments for services rendered but may still be taxable. The taxability is dependent upon how the funds are used. To help students determine the taxability of these payments the IRS issues Publication 970, “Tax Benefits for Education.” To obtain a copy of Publication 970, go to http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/index.html. The IRS publication is updated each calendar year.
Tax information for non-resident aliens:
Fellowship and Scholarship payments made to non-resident aliens are subject to a 14% federal tax withholding. Tax treaty provisions may allow non-resident aliens to claim exemption from federal tax withholding on teaching assistantships and fellowships. The IRS requires the college to report fellowship and scholarship payments to non-residents aliens on a 1042-S form. Non-resident aliens are required to file Form 1040NR each calendar year using the information provided on Form 1042-S. To help students determine the taxability of these payments the IRS issues Publication 970, “Tax Benefits for Education.” To obtain a copy of Publication 970, go to http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/index.html. The IRS publication is updated each calendar year.
Does the transcript need to be official?
Transcripts must be submitted as part of the application materials uploaded to MyCWS. Access your online transcript for Banner Self Service and save it as a ".doc" document. Note: Your account with Student Financial Services must be cleared before you can access your transcript online.
I will not be returning to Wellesley College following my summer internship. Am I eligible for a stipend?
Only students who will be enrolled at Wellesley College the semester following their summer internship are eligible for a summer stipend. Students involved in an exchange program or study abroad program in the fall or the full academic year, but who return to the college after that experience are eligible for a summer stipend.
I received a summer stipend, but I was not selected by the organization to which I applied. Can I use the stipend to work at another organization?
Unfortunately, the stipend cannot be transferred to another organization. If you received a stipend but did not get selected by the organization the stipend will be withdrawn and awarded to another student.