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Community College Access Program
Did you know that every 2008 Salem High School graduate who meets certain criteria can attend
Virginia Western Community College in fall, 2008 tuition free?
Introducing the City of Salem Community College Access Program (SCCAP), a public/private partnership pilot program funded by the City of Salem and supported by the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation. The purpose of the City of Salem Community College Access Program (SCCAP) is to:
- Provide opportunity for 2008 Salem High School graduates to attend Virginia Western Community College;
- Enable these students to continue their education in preparation for good, well-paying jobs within the region and/or transfer to a 4-year college;
- Provide an educated and well-qualified workforce;
- Provide an incentive for young people to remain in the area.
Eligibility
To be eligible for consideration for the City of Salem Community College Access Program (SCCAP), an individual must:
- Graduate as a member of the 2008 class with a Salem High School diploma and have attended Salem High School for at least his/her junior and senior years;
- Meet all Virginia Western Community College admission guidelines and demonstrate the ability to benefit from higher education by achieving satisfactory scores on the college's placement tests;
- Have a custodial parent or court-approved legal guardian, supported by documentation, who has resided within the City of Salem for 24 months prior to the student’s high school graduation date;
- Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency;
- Meet all SCCAP deadlines for submission of application materials;
- Enroll at Virginia Western Community College in a degree/diploma/certificate program that is at least one year in length in the fall semester immediately following their 2008 Salem High School graduation.
Please note: Students not enrolling as degree-seeking students or certificate-seeking students in the fall semester immediately following their Salem High School graduation or not meeting all program deadlines will not be eligible for the program in future semesters.
General Program Provisions
- Applicants must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by May 30, 2008.
- Applicants must submit all City of Salem Community College Access Program (SCCAP) application materials by NOON, June 27, 2008, to the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation.
- Applicants must provide an official Salem High School transcript to the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation by NOON, June 27, 2008.
- 2008 Salem High School graduates may receive tuition assistance starting with the fall semester, 2008, and concluding after the spring semester, 2010 for their specific program of study or on completion of 72 credits whichever, comes first.
- Students must enroll in and maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester (and may enroll in a maximum of 6 credits in the summer if necessary to complete their program of study) as well as maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA to be eligible to receive tuition assistance.
- Students must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by May 29, 2009, prior to participation in the second year of the program.
- Students must complete and submit a SCCAP application for the second year of the Program by NOON, June 26, 2009.
NOTE: The City of Salem Community College Access Program (SCCAP), a private/public partnership, is funded by the City of Salem and supported by the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation on a year-to-year basis. Depending on the number participating in the program and the availability of program funds SCCAP will fund tuition fees needed if financial aid is not available or does not adequately cover tuition. SCCAP does not cover the cost of books and supplies or living expenses. Students participating in the City of Salem Community College Access Program are not eligible for Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation scholarships. Application Procedures
Individuals must submit the information requested and meet the deadlines listed below to be considered for the City of Salem Community College Access Program funding.
To Be Completed/Submitted:
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Applicants who have not yet applied for federal aid for 2008-2009 must submit a 2008-2009 FAFSA online (www.fafsa.ed.gov) by May 30, 2008. To be eligible for the City of Salem Community College Access Program funding, a student must have a complete financial aid file. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check with Virginia Western’s Financial Aid Office to ensure all required documentation has been submitted. Please call the Financial Aid Office at (540) 857-7331 to ensure all information has been received or if you have questions.
- City of Salem Community College Access Program Application
Hand-deliver the completed application below to the Virginia Western Educational Foundation, Fishburn Hall, F214, 3093 Colonial Ave. (Virginia Western Community College) by NOON, June 27, 2008.
- Virginia Western Community College Application for Admission
You must have met with a Virginia Western Community College counselor in Chapman Hall 105 and applied for admission by June 27, 2008. For more information visit: www.virginiawestern.edu/admissions or call (540) 857-7231.
- Final High School Transcript
Request that your final high school transcript indicating graduation with a high school diploma be sent to and received by the Virginia Western Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 14007, Roanoke, VA 24038-4007 by NOON, June 27, 2008.
- Copy of applicant’s proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency by NOON, June 27, 2008.
- Proof that custodial parent or court-approved legal guardian of applicant has resided within the City of Salem for 24 months prior to the student’s high school graduation date (tax receipts, etc.) by NOON, June 27, 2008.
Performance/Accountability Criteria
- Students must maintain a cumulative 2.0 overall grade point average (GPA), including satisfactory completion of all developmental courses, to remain eligible for program assistance. Students who do not maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA at the end of any semester will not be eligible to receive City of Salem Community College Access Program funds during any subsequent semester.
- Students must maintain full-time enrollment in a specific program of study (a minimum of 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester) through spring semester, 2010, or until 72 credits have been completed, whichever comes first. They may also enroll in a maximum of 6 credits in the summer during this time period to help fulfill their specific program of study requirements, if necessary. It is a requirement of the City of Salem Community College Access Program that full-time enrollment is maintained in the fall and spring semesters, but some programs such as Nursing have different full-time enrollment requirements. A Virginia Western Admissions Counselor will help determine the full-time requirements of the student’s specific program of study. Students not maintaining continuous full-time enrollment will not receive City of Salem Community College Access Program funds during any subsequent semester.
- At the end of the first semester, program participants must pass a minimum of 9 VWCC credit hours with a cumulative 2.0 GPA and successfully complete any developmental coursework attempted in order to continue receiving College Access funds during the second semester.
- At the end of the second semester, program participants must have passed a minimum of 24 VWCC credit hours with a cumulative 2.0 GPA and successfully complete any developmental coursework attempted to continue receiving College Access funds during the third semester.
- At the end of the third semester, program participants must have passed 36 VWCC credit hours with a cumulative 2.0 GPA in order to continue receiving College Access funds during the fourth semester.
NOTE: Program participants who do not meet the minimum credit hours and/or GPA listed above for a given semester will no longer be eligible to receive City of Salem Community College Access Program funds during any subsequent semester.
Individuals must submit the information requested above and meet all program deadlines to be considered for the City of Salem Community College Access Program funding.
**Please note: as applicants are required to submit proof of residence for their custodial parent or court approved legal guardian in Salem for 24 months prior to their graduation date (defined as continuous residence from May 2006 through May 2008), we encourage all applicants to submit their completed application after they are able to meet this requirement with the required verification through May 2008.**
For more information on the City of Salem Community College Access Program, please contact:
Physical Address:
3093 Colonial Ave, SW
Fishburn Hall, Room F214
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 14007
Roanoke, VA 24038-4007
Phone: (540) 857-7312
Fax: (540) 857-6370
E-mail: SCCAPinfo@vw.vccs.edu
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