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 Fall 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 2024

  • 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 Fall 2024 open for new LAEP students in October
  • Information sessions for students happen in 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 mid-July 

 

Important Dates

LAEP Fall 2024 Semester

  • May 24, 2024: Deadline to apply for Fall 2024
  • July 15 or 22, 2024: Students may start to apply for positions depending on priority
  • August 26, 2024: Students hired into a LAEP position may begin work on the first day of classes
  • December 18, 2024: Students hired into a LAEP position must end work term on the last day of finals

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

Supervisors

Requirements for Research component:

  • Provide participating students with direct opportunities to participate in the research that is undertaken by the respective research centers, departments and institutions​
  • Research should be directed and supervised by faculty, staff or another mentor who will determine the research requirements​
  • Employer will provide research mentor/supervisor name, title, and research project topic​

Educationally beneficial position:​

  • A student shall only be placed in an educationally beneficial position that relates to the student’s area of study, career objective, or the exploration of career objectives. ​
  • Students will describe their career objectives in the LAEP placement form​ after being accepted in the position
  • In addition to the research component LAEP students are eligible to complete tasks that align with their career objectives

LAEP Fall 2024 Semester

  • May 24, 2024: Student Deadline to apply for Fall 2024
  • June 15, 2024: Employer deadline to post positions
  • July 22, 2024: Priority students may begin applying for positions and students hired into a LAEP position may begin work
  • July 22, 2024: All LAEP applicants may begin applying for LAEP positions
  • August 26, 2024: First day students can begin working in their LAEP positions
  • December 18, 2024: Students hired into a LAEP position must end work term

  • Attend LAEP Employer Information Session
  • Register or Login to CareerLINK as an Employer and post your position Employers | California State University Long Beach (csulb.edu)
    • Submit registration using the format “CSULB – X Department” to ensure that CDC can categorize them appropriately
    • Select Jobs & Internships
    • Post a Job
    • Position Type: Experiential Learning
    • Resume Receipt: Accumulate Online
    • Title: Include LAEP in the title- Example: LAEP Health Research Advocate
    • Description: Must include detailed description of research component and student learning objectives aligned with career readiness skills
    • The Career Development Center will contact you if more information is needed or email laep@csulb.edu for any questions
       
  • Interview your potential employees
    • LAEP is considered part-time employment at CSULB. The Office of Financial Aid highly encourages employers to conduct interviews with potential candidates to ensure the student is a good fit for the department
       
  • Once you have selected your employee, contact your ASM for what forms and documentation must be submitted

In order to maintain eligibility for LAEP, a student 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

Any student that applies to the LAEP position in CareerLINK has been reviewed and approved by financial aid to meet the eligibility criteria. Students need to maintain the above listed eligibility throughout their LAEP employment.