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Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP)

The LAEP is a 10-year program offering eligible students at public colleges and universities the opportunity to earn additional state financial aid to help defray their educational costs while gaining quality, education-aligned, career-related employment.

LAEP allows participating students placement in an educationally beneficial position that relates to the student's area of study, career objective, or the exploration of career objectives. The program includes and emphasizes positions for students with employers that are capable of providing them with full-time employment opportunities after graduation, or opportunities to connect with other employers that are capable of providing them with full-time employment opportunities after graduation, within their areas of study.

View the Sac State’s LAEP Information Session slide deck for more details.

Eligible Students

Who Can Participate in the Program?

Undergraduate students from an underrepresented background satisfying all of the eligibility criteria may participate in the program.

First Eligibility Level

The student must match at least ONE of the following “underrepresented background” descriptors to qualify. Underrepresented background applies to the student and cannot be established through a parent:

  • first-generation college students
  • low-income students
  • current or former foster youth
  • homeless students or those at risk of becoming homeless
  • students with disabilities
  • displaced workers
  • students with dependent children
  • Justice-involved individuals
  • undocumented students
  • students meeting the requirements of Assembly Bill 540 of the 2001-2002 Regular Session of the Legislature
    • MUST HAVE DACA
  • students who are veterans

Second Eligibility Level

In addition to meeting at least one of the “underrepresented background” descriptors, students MUST meet ALL the following criteria:

  • Enrolled at least half-time
  • Have demonstrated maintenance of satisfactory academic progress
  • Have demonstrated financial need via FAFSA/CADAA
  • Classified as a California resident
  • Eligible to work in the United States

If a student participating in LAEP no longer meets the “underrepresented background” criteria by which they qualified, the institution may reevaluate and document alternate criteria that qualify the student for the program. If the student no longer meets any of the “underrepresented” criteria, the student is no longer eligible to participate in LAEP.

Find LAEP positions under open recruitment on Handshake

Eligible Employers

Which Employers are Eligible?

Research Centers and Institutions

Research centers and institutions operated by public postsecondary educational institutions, if their learning-aligned employment opportunities provide participating students with direct opportunities to participate in the research that is undertaken by the respective research centers and institutions. Research is not limited to scientific research and can take place outside of an academic discipline. The research should be directed and supervised by faculty, staff or another mentor who will determine the research requirements.

  • If the direct employer is the UC, CSU, CCC, or one of its respective campuses, the program may provide 100 percent of the student’s compensation.

Public Schools

Public schools operated by school districts, county superintendents of schools, the Department of the Youth Authority, or the Department of Education.

  • For LAEP positions with public educational institutions or nonprofit corporations, the program may provide no more than 90 percent of the student’s compensation.

Nonprofit and for-profit employers

Nonsectarian, nonpolitical organizations capable of providing full-time employment after graduation or connection to another employer able to provide full-time employment after graduation.

  • For LAEP positions with nonprofit employers, the program may provide no more than 90 percent of the student’s compensation.
  • For LAEP positions with for-profit employers, the program may provide no more than 50 percent of the student’s compensation.

Employers (Sac State Department/Program)

Sac State Employers LAEP Guide

Welcome Faculty and Staff Mentors! We are delighted that you are interested in the Sac State LAEP program. Let's get started!

STEP 1: LAEP Application

Please complete the Preliminary LAEP Employer Interest Form to apply for LAEP funding. Please make sure the position you are posting will provide students with direct opportunities to participate in research. All on-campus LAEP positions must include at a minimum of 75% research in their position description.

Research is defined as not merely gathering information. It is the studious inquiry or examination; especially: investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts.

The LAEP team will review applications and send out agreements to be completed by those that qualify for LAEP funding.

Please review CSAC LAEP page and the LAEP info session slide deck to get a general overview of the program.

STEP 2: Submit and Sign Agreement Forms

STEP 3: Posting your Positions on Handshake

After you sign the LAEP form, you can now post your positions on Handshake. Please make sure to follow the Handshake guidelines for LAEP job postings.

Your LAEP job description must include, but is not limited to, the following:

  1. Name/classification of position
  2. Name and address of employer
  3. Department or office where the eligible student will be employed
  4. Location where the eligible student will perform his or her duties
  5. Name of the eligible student's supervisor
  6. The term of the eligible student's anticipated employment, including beginning and ending dates
  7. Purpose or role of the position within the organization
  8. Duties and responsibilities associated with the position
  9. Rates of pay for the position
  10. General qualifications for the position and for various levels and rates of pay associated with the position
  11. Procedures to determine an eligible student's rate of pay
  12. Evaluation procedures and schedules, if applicable
  13. Career competencies developed (please indicate all that apply from the list below and exclude those that do not apply):
    • Career and self development
    • Communication
    • Critical thinking
    • Equity and inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Professionalism
    • Teamwork
    • Technology

IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL LAEP positions must provide participating students with direct opportunities to participate in research that is undertaken by the respective research centers and institutions. Research is not limited to scientific research and can take place outside of an academic discipline. The research should be directed and supervised by faculty, staff, or another mentor who will determine the research requirements.

Employers (Off-Campus Businesses)

The Learning Aligned Employment Program will include a cost-sharing opportunity for businesses that would like to host an internship for a student. Internships must relate to the student's field of study or interested industry.

Non-profit organizations and public schools that are not part of the public California Colleges system (California State University, University of California, California Community Colleges) will receive 90% (bold) of the student's salary back from the State of California; roughly $225 per student per semester.

For-profit organizations will receive 50% (bold) of the student's salary back from the State of California; roughly $1,125 per student per semester.

Please note that the student will enter your organization's payroll system and you will invoice Sacramento State for the share you are owned as stated above.

Please complete this pre-interest LAEP form. We are hoping for a Fall 2024 launch for the program for off-campus businesses.