Learning Aligned Employment Program (Winter/Spring 2024)
Apply Now!
We are currently recruiting undergraduate student research assistants (to be supervised by Cal Poly faculty and/or research staff) through the Learning Aligned Employment Program (LAEP) for Winter/Spring 2024.
- The rate of pay is $20/hour.
- Applications are due by noon on Th 1/18/24.
- There are 95 research projects available across all Cal Poly colleges, each recruiting 1 or more students for Winter/Spring 2024. You may apply for up to 5 separate research projects.
If hired, students can work up to 20 hours per week (this includes all on-campus employment) and earn up to the amount of their LAEP financial aid award (currently set at $4,000 with the potential to be increased if needed).
Not everyone qualifies to be employed through LAEP. Only students who meet criteria for inclusion in this program can apply.* You will be asked to respond to questions about your eligibility as part of the application. Eligible students should also have received an email from Financial Aid with the link to this page. All student applications will be reviewed to confirm eligibility.
Next Steps
- Review the list of Winter/Spring 2024 LAEP Student Research Assistant Employment opportunities by downloading this Excel file. In addition to identifying opportunities in specific departments or colleges, you are encouraged to search by keyword (e.g., sustainability, transportation, justice, GIS) to identify interdisciplinary opportunities that may be of interest.
- (optional) Join the Info/Q&A Session on M 1/15 from 2:10-3pm via Zoom, Meeting ID 883 6250 1116.
- Apply utilizing this form by noon on Th 1/18/24. You may apply for up to 5 positions by submitting this form separately for each application.
- Email studentresearch@calpoly.edu with any questions!
* LAEP eligibility criteria: To be LAEP-eligible, students must be California residents, able to work in the United States, have unmet financial need and be from one or more underrepresented groups, as defined by the CA legislation establishing this program: “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 (with Work Authorization), students meeting the requirements of Assembly Bill 540 of the 2001– 2002 Regular Session of the Legislature (with Work Authorization), and/or students who are veterans."
About LAEP
The new Learning Aligned Employment Program (LAEP) offers eligible students at public colleges and universities in California the opportunity to earn money to help defray their educational costs while gaining education-aligned, career-related employment.
LAEP implementation at Cal Poly is a partnership between Financial Aid, Student Payroll Services, Office of Student Research, and Career Services.
One way to think about LAEP is that it is an academic-year state-funded work study program that places eligible undergraduate students in paid employment experiences. Students are hired as LAEP student assistants and charge hours worked in their roles. Students can work up to 20 hours per week, inclusive of all of their Cal Poly employee positions, and up to the amount of their LAEP financial award, which is based on their unmet financial need.
