More News

New grant covers entire cost of community college for some

By Scott Nunn, posted 2 years ago
New Longleaf Commitment Grants, which cover tuition and fees, are available to eligible students. (File photo)

 

With COVID-19 posing unprecedented challenges, the Class of 2021 experienced a senior year like none other. 
Now, as the pandemic eases, the governor’s office is hoping to ease the financial burden for 2021 high school graduates looking to attend one of the state’s 58 community colleges. The newly created Longleaf Commitment Grants will cover tuition and fees for eligible students for up to two years.
“It's really a game-changer from a couple of angles,” Dr. Mark Sorrells, senior vice president for academic and student services at Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC), said Monday. 
“One is that it gives the (2021) high school graduates the ability to get a jumpstart on their education without incurring debt,” Sorrells told the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. “It also really allows them the opportunity to get out of the gate quickly.”
That’s an especially important benefit, said Sorrells, who saw enrollment drop at FTCC as would-be students navigated COVID-related disruptions. Students attending or wanting to attend a community college have faced unique challenges during the pandemic, he said.
“We are down (in enrollment) and that is a product of the students we serve,” noting that 60% attend part time. 
Unlike many students at four-year colleges, community college students tend to have full-time jobs and family obligations, which have exacerbated the pandemic's impact on their education. Many community college students are parents.
“So they're working a job, they've got kids at home, and they've got to deal with their own education,” Sorrells said. “That's three full-time jobs. So they had to make hard decisions.”
Sorrells said the biggest drop in enrollment has been among male students, particularly minority men.
With life steadily returning to normal, Sorrells hopes the grants will remove any financial hurdles faced by this year’s high school graduates who want to attend a North Carolina community college.
The grants (state officials emphasized they do not have to be paid back) have several eligibility requirements, the most significant being that they are limited to 2021 graduates from a high school in North Carolina. And not every 2021 graduate is eligible -- the amount of aid is based on need, as determined by the 2021-22 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) score. (FAFSA takes into consideration an individual or family’s income and ability to pay tuition and fees.) Part-time students are eligible for a partial grant.
Dr. Ken Hoyle, vice president of student services at Central Carolina Community College (CCCC), said enrollment has dropped at the school, which has campuses in Chatham, Harnett and Lee counties. He is paying close attention to registration trends, and so far the news is good.
“The numbers that I'm tracking now for pre-registration for the fall term are over where we were last year,” he said Monday. “So we're off to a good start.”
CCCC recently awarded its first grants from the Longleaf Commitment program, Hoyle said, adding that plenty of funds remain.
“Oh, yeah, that's not a problem. No problem at all,” he said when asked Monday about the status of the $25 million pool of money.
And the grants are not tied to specific schools -- it's a statewide program. 
“It's not like they said Central Carolina you have a million dollars. Once you run out, you run out,” Hoyle said. “It’s based on individual eligibility, not a pro-rata share per college.”
According to a news release from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office, the state’s entire higher-education system saw historic drops in enrollment in 2020, with a particularly significant impact at community colleges. 
Available data indicate more declines in college plans and college readiness next school year without a bold intervention, the news release stated.


About the program
> The Longleaf Commitment is a grant program for 2021 North Carolina high school graduates who will attend one of the state’s 58 community colleges starting in the Fall 2021 semester. High school graduates may be eligible to receive this grant – not a loan – to cover tuition and fees toward a degree or to attain transfer credit.
> Full-time eligible students are guaranteed to receive $700 to $2,800 per academic year, for a total of two years. Less than full-time students may receive a partial award.
> The Longleaf Commitment Grant ends at the conclusion of the 2023 spring semester.

 

Eligibility Requirements
> Graduate from a North Carolina high school in 2021
> Be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes
> Be a first-time college student [Career & College Promise (CCP) and Early/Middle College High School students are eligible]
> Enroll in a curriculum program during the 2021-22 academic year
> Enroll in at least 6 credit hours per semester
> Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2021-22.
> Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from $0 - $15,000 (“EFC” is based upon a student’s FAFSA determination)
> Renew the FAFSA for the 2022-23 academic years and meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements of the college

Learn more at tinyurl.com/3t8vfdm6
https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/student-services/north-carolina-longleaf-commitment-grant.
 

Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT

In The Current Issue

Dream Makers: Deconstructing the gender gap in the construction industry

Leslie Groves has served as Division President of Dream Finders Homes since June of 2022. PHOTO PROVIDED BY LESLIE GROVESWhile construction may be a historically male dominated industry, times are certainly changing. Leslie Groves, Division President