Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP)

The Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP) provides funds to participating public colleges and universities to offer eligible students opportunities to earn money while gaining career-related experience in their fields of study. LAEP was established in the 2021-22 California State Budget and is administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC); this program will end by 2030-2031.

Information Sessions

The Career Development Center and Financial Aid and Scholarships will host information sessions for students interested in applying to LAEP for Spring 2024. Zoom links can be accessed via this Student LAEP Information Session Qualtrics form.

If you are unable to attend a Student Information Session, you can watch a recording of a Student Information Session:

 

Student Eligibility for LAEP

In order to be eligible for LAEP, you must be:

  • an undergraduate student or a teaching credential student, and
  • enrolled at least half-time, and
  • classified as a CA resident, and
  • be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and
  • eligible to work in the United States, and
  • demonstrating financial need, as determined by Financial Aid and Scholarships, and
  • from an underrepresented background

You will be considered from an underrepresented background if you are at least one of the following:

  • First generation college student
  • Current or former foster youth
  • Student experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless
  • A student with an Expected Family Contribution in the Pell Grant-eligible range (either FAFSA or CADAA)
  • Student with a disability
  • Displaced worker
  • Student with dependent children
  • Formerly incarcerated student
  • Undocumented students / students meeting the requirements of AB540 (eligible to work in the US)
  • Student who is a veteran

LAEP Timeline

Fall 2023

  • Students can begin working in on- and off-campus LAEP positions starting the first day of the fall semester
  • Remember: if you were enrolled in summer courses, you must wait until your SAP status has been updated with summer grades before you can begin working in a LAEP-funded position
  • LAEP applications for Spring 2024 open for new LAEP students in October
  • Information sessions for students happen throughout October, November, and December
  • Students must stop working in their LAEP-funded positions (or have their employer switch them to Student Assistant funding) after the last day of classes

Spring 2024

  • Students can begin working in on- and off-campus LAEP positions starting the first day of the spring semester, assuming your SAP status is Meets
  • LAEP Applications open for interested students in April
  • Info sessions for students happen throughout April
  • Students must stop working in their LAEP-funded positions (or have their employer switch them to Student Assistant funding) after the last day of classes
  • Access to jobs in CareerLink will be available starting in mid-July

Important Dates

LAEP Fall 2023 Semester

  • May 26, 2023: Deadline to apply for Fall 2023
  • July 14 or 21, 2023: Students may start to apply for positions depending on priority
  • August 22, 2023: Students hired into a LAEP position may begin work
  • December 22, 2023: Students hired into a LAEP position must end work term

LAEP Spring 2024 Semester

  • December 8, 2023: Deadline to apply for Spring 2024
  • January 12 or 29, 2024: Students may start to apply for positions depending on priority
  • January 22, 2024: Students hired into a LAEP position may begin work
  • May 18, 2024: Students hired into a LAEP position must end work term

Frequently Asked Questions

If you meet all of the eligibility criteria listed above, you can apply for a LAEP position. When you submit a Program Application through Career Development Center, Financial Aid and Scholarships will review your financial need to confirm that eligibility criteria. You will be notified of your eligibility and ability to apply for LAEP positions, after you submit the Program Application.

Students can apply to LAEP twice a year.

You can apply for LAEP by completing an application on CareerLINK. You can follow the instructions below:

  1. Log on to Single Sign-on and click on the CareerLINK app.
  2. Click on ‘Experiential Learning’ on the home page.
  3. Click “Add New Application” button.
  4. Complete the application.
  5. Click “submit application”

Once you submit your application, you will see a blue banner on the top of CareerLINK that reads, “Your Experiential Learning Application has been submitted successfully. “

Important things to remember:

  • You must complete the application entries that have a red asterisk next to it
  • You must complete an application each semester
  • You must select all the descriptors that apply to you under the “LAEP Eligibility” section

Students must have room within their Cost of Attendance and financial aid in order to be eligible for LAEP funding. Depending on your individual circumstances, eligible students will be awarded between $4,000-$15,000 for an academic year.

You are able to work up to 20 hours per week, as long as the hours are not during your scheduled class time. The 20 hours per week includes all student positions (student assistant, LAEP, Federal Work-Study, etc.)

No, you cannot work at both a LAEP and a Federal-Work Study position.

You can always attend an information session; register for the sessions at the Qualtrics link at the top of the page. You can also submit a question via the LAEP email address: LAEP@csulb.edu