Ignite Work-Study is an inclusive employment program that funds a variety of on-campus part-time jobs for UWindsor students. All positions are paid and provide valuable experiences and opportunities for students to gain career-ready skills to help them prepare for life post-graduation.
Fall 2025/Winter 2026 Key Dates
| Applications Open: June 6, 2025 | Application Deadline: July 8, 2025 | First day of Work: September 8, 2025 |
Program Objectives
The Ignite-Work Study Program focuses on students' career and skills development. The objective of the program is to:
- Help students gain career-ready skills through experiential learning.
- Provide mentorship and supervision for students.
- Encourage students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations, enhancing their understanding and retention of material while developing practical skills.
How does the program work?
- On-campus employers interested in supervising an Ignite student must submit a job proposal on mySuccess in June/July for the Fall/Winter academic year.
- Job proposals are received and evaluated by the Ignite team and positions approved for funding are communicated to employers by mid-August.
- Successful job proposals are granted $2,400 of funding per position per academic year.
- Employers hire students directly or through the mySuccess portal, pay the student from a departmental account, and receive reimbursement of funds at the end of the academic year.
Who Can Host an Ignite Student?
Ignite positions are available to on-campus employers, including:
- Academic departments and faculties
- Administrative units
- Campus services and affiliated organizations
To host an Ignite student, employers must:
- Be a full-time, permanent University of Windsor employee authorized to supervise student staff.
- Have authorized access to an appropriate research/trust account or student wage account (WKS classification ending in 81520) to pay student employees.
- Provide meaningful work opportunities that contribute to student learning and skill development.
- Comply with University employment policies and workplace health and safety regulations.
Note: Faculty and staff must be actively employed with the university while supervising students in an Ignite role. Professor Emeritus, Part-Time and Sessional employees, and those on sabbatical are not eligible to host an Ignite student.
Funding & wage subsidy information
Job proposal submitted are evaluated by the Ignite team. Successful positions are granted $2,400 per position per academic year (Fall/Winter), to be used towards actual expenditures on student hourly wages, vacation pay, and other mandatory employer-paid costs (EI, CPP, EHT, etc.). Each student can hold only one Ignite-funded position per academic year.
Note: Beginning in Fall/Winter 2025, every funded position will now receive $2,400 to be used over the course of the Fall and Winter terms. There is no option to apply for only a single term of funding.
Departmental Accounts and Reimbursements: Employers must pay students directly from a research grant account or their department’s student casual wage account with a WKS classification ending in 81520 and will be reimbursed after the end of the academic year. Any expenditures over the funding allocation from Ignite are the responsibility of the department.
Departmental Accounts and Reimbursements: Employers must pay students directly from a research grant account or their department’s student casual wage account with a WKS classification ending in 81520 and will be reimbursed after the end of the academic year. Any expenditures over the funding allocation from Ignite are the responsibility of the department.
Hourly Wage Rate and Staying Within the Subsidy: Supervisors set the student’s hourly wage (minimum of $17.60/hour minimum wage). To contain all costs within the subsidy, employers can restrict the number of hours a student is approved to work.
If you choose to pay more than minimum wage, you must reduce the number of student hours to stay within the subsidy.
Estimated Number of Hours Covered by the Subsidy: The estimates below show approximately how many hours $2,400 in funding will cover, including associated costs (EI, CPP, EHT, WSIB) to minimize impact on your departmental budget.
| Hourly Rate | Approximate Hours Covered |
| $17.60 | 124 hours |
| $18.00 | 122 hours |
| $19.00 | 114 hours |
| $20.00 | 110 hours |
| $21.00 | 104 hours |
| $22.00 | 100 hours |
| $23.00 | 94 hours |
| $24.00 | 90 hours |
| $25.00 | 88 hours |
Supervisors are responsible for tracking student hours to ensure spending stays within budget. If your budget allows, you may choose to continue employing your student on a casual basis beyond the subsidized amount, but any wages paid in excess of the subsidy will be the responsibility of the department.
Note: Students are not permitted to work more than 24 hours per week across all on-campus positions. Students with a GA role are limited to 100 hours of additional work per semester. If your student holds multiple roles on campus, it is the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure their combined hours do not exceed their limit.
Replacing a Student Who Leaves Early: Ignite positions can be shared among multiple students and if an initial hire leaves early, supervisors may hire a replacement and continue using the allocated funds.
Faculty/Staff resources for hiring an Ignite student
Principals of Ignite Student Job DesignStep-by-Step Guide to Submitting a Proposal on mySuccess
Proposal Rubric
How to Complete a Supervisor Final Check-In
Questions
For questions related to the Ignite Work Study Program, contact ignite@uwindsor.ca or call 519.253.3000 x 2577.