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IWORK FAQs

Being admitted to campus and moving to Hawaii can be a daunting experience. It is not unusual not knowing what to do. This list of frequently asked questions can help answer some of the questions you may have.

Please note that the following contents are subject to change. Do not hesitate to contact our office if you need additional assistance. You may email or call us.

Prospective Students

  • There are slight differences in the required financial documents for single applicants and married applicants:

    Single

    • Father’s three most recent pay slips
    • Father’s three most recent months' bank statements
    • Mother’s three most recent pay slips
    • Mother’s three most recent months' bank statements
    • Student’s three most recent pay slips
    • Student's three most recent months' bank statements

    Married

    • Father’s three most recent pay slips
    • Father’s three most recent months’ bank statements
    • Mother’s three most recent pay slips
    • Mother’s three most recent months’ bank statements
    • Spouse’s three most recent pay slips
    • Spouse’s three most recent months’ bank statements
    • Student’s three most recent pay slips
    • Student's three most recent months’ bank statements

    If you are unable to provide any of these documents for you or any of your family members, then please ask his/her Bishop to provide a bishop’s letter explaining the reason for this.

    Please note that all the IWORK applications for prospective students have to be sent through the Admission Application Form.

  • To learn more about it, please refer to the Onboarding Fees webpage.

  • To learn more about it, please refer to the Marriage Information webpage.

  • To learn more about it, please refer to the Medical Requirements and Exemptions webpage.

    Please note that if a student is not able to get these done at home, then it could become a financial burden. All 6 vaccination shots total to $940 USD.

Newly Admitted Students

  • Students in the IWORK program are required to work at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) or on BYU–Hawaii campus. You can find available job positions for both on the Employment Opportunities webpage. To learn more about employment at PCC, please refer to Employment at The Polynesian Cultural Center webpage.

    Accommodations based on disability are provided according to the University's Accommodations of Persons with Disabilities policy.

  • To learn more about it, please refer to the Medical Requirements and Exemptions webpage.

    Please note that if a student is not able to get these done at home, then it could become a financial burden. All 6 vaccination shots total to $940 USD.

  • To learn more about it, please refer to the Immunizations page.

Current Students

  • An IWORK counselor must first approve of all travel before tickets are purchased. Travel information and reasons for travel should be explained using the IWORK Request for Travel Form. A flight itinerary must be submitted to confirm the dates of travel after approval has been received. Students are responsible for their own travel costs (NO buddy passes allowed). In order for students to travel, they will need to meet seven criteria:

    1. Must complete two consecutive semesters BEFORE they can request to travel.
    2. Must get approval signature from their employment supervisor/manager and HR.
    3. Must be current with their BYU–Hawaii financial student account.
    4. Must be in good academic standing.
    5. Travel must not interfere with scheduled classes.
    6. Must meet with SMB representative for clearance.
    7. Must pay for the daily empty room rate (the IWORK program will NOT pay for students' housing and meal plans during any student traveling).

    Traveling for more than two weeks is highly discouraged for several reasons.

    Please refer to the IWORK Travel Terms & Conditions webpage for more detailed information.

  • Certainly! All IWORK students are eligible to apply for additional scholarships, provided they fulfill the requirements specified for each scholarship.

    For more scholarship information, please refer to our Scholarships webpage.

  • To learn more about it, please refer to the Marriage Information webpage.

  • For any BYUH approved internship during a semester, IWORK students will not incur charges for the student contribution (IWORK payback); only the family contribution will apply.

    In the case of an approved internship on the island of Oahu during a semester, IWORK students must reside on campus.

    For additional information, please refer to the Internships webpage.

  • To qualify for the IWORK Scholarship without maintaining full-time student status (12 credits for fall/winter, 8 credits for spring), the student must obtain approval for a reduced course load through Handshake.

    Additionally with an approved reduced course load, it is the student's responsibility to ensure that they are half-time enrolled (6 credits for Fall/Winter, 4 credits for Spring) in that respective semester to receive the IWORK Scholarship.

  • To allow self-funded students or current F-1 visa holders to adequately prepare for this change, those who graduate and return home during the next academic year or through the Spring 2024 Semester will have their airfare paid by the university according to current practice. During the Fall 2024 Semester, self-funded students who have not graduated and returned home, but have previously paid an IPF, will have the fee refunded as a credit to their student account. J-1 visa holders who paid their own IPF will also receive a credit if they have not returned home after the Spring 2024 Semester.

  • Please visit the Leave of Absence webpage first. Once your LOA request is approved, you will receive an email from Financial Aid & Scholarships for further instruction.

    If you wish to gain further insight into the implications of a LOA for an IWORK student prior to submitting the LOA request, we encourage you to arrange a consultation with your designated IWORK counselor via the Contact Us webpage.

  • Please arrange a consultation with your designated IWORK counselor first via the Contact Us webpage.

    After meeting with your IWORK counselor, you will be required to meet with the dean of students for emergency leave approval. Following approval from the dean, kindly return to our office with the IWORK Travel Request Form signed by Residential Life and your work supervisor (SMB signature is not required in this instance).

  • The process for requesting travel for a field trip is similar to the standard travel request. You must complete the Travel Request Form and obtain signatures from Residential Life and your work supervisor (SMB signature not required in this instance).

    Additionally, please email the following details to the IWORK counselor, LaVerne Puhi at laverne.puhi@byuh.edu:

    • Flight itinerary.
    • Written permission via email from all professors whose classes you will be attending, granting approval for travel during the semester.
    • The confirmation email from the organizing professor for the trip.
  • Once you submit the discontinuance request, please also fill out the IWORK Graduate/Discontinuance Contact Information Form.

    If you are thinking of returning to the school in the future and wish to gain further insight into the implications of the discontinuance for an IWORK student prior to submitting the discontinuance request, you could arrange a consultation with your designated IWORK counselor via the Contact Us webpage.

Graduating Students

  • Please come in to see an IWORK counselor for an exit counseling if you are graduating, leaving on a mission, or discontinuing from school.