Response to COVID-19

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Click here to read all official communications from President Sandel.

Click here for the Re-Opening Plan for Fall 2020

Click here for the Re-Opening Plan for Summer 2020

Click the categories below to find many resources and information about how to access services remotely.

Have you been tested for COVID-19?

If you had close contact with a person ill with COVID-19, the Virginia Department of Health recommends that you stay at home for 14 days after the last time you saw the person and practice social distancing. Social distancing means keeping a distance of at least 6 feet from others. Monitor your health and be aware of the most common signs of COVID-19: fever, cough, or shortness of breath. If you get a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, call 877-ASK-VDH3 right away. If you have more questions about staying home or practicing social distancing, please contact your local health department.

Virginia Western’s priority during the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) pandemic is to maintain the health and safety of our students, employees and community. If you believe you may have contracted the virus and are being tested, please let us know so that we may adequately clean campus areas and prepare a response.

• Students who are being tested
• Employees who are being tested

CARES Act Student Relief Funds Reporting Requirements

Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) received $2,763,297 from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Virginia Western signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

VWCC received $1,381,649 from the Department of Education (DOE) pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

As of, May 18^th, 2020, VWCC distributed $1,380,840 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

VWCC has an estimated 2,554 students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

As of, May 18^th, 2020, VWCC processed Emergency Financial Aid Grant to 1,866 unique students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

VWCC distributed 99% of these funds to students who had already established Title IV eligibility with respect to Section 484 of the Higher Education Act equaling a total of $1,380,840. There was no application required. VWCC sought to model the distribution of funds consistent with the methodology used to determine the amount of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) VWCC would receive and three additional institutionally determined eligibility requirements.

• Seventy-five percent of our funds were distributed to Pell eligible students and the remaining 25% were distributed to non-Pell eligible students as determined by EFC on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• The student must be in at least 6 credits.
• The student must not have been enrolled in all online courses prior to March 13^th, 2020.
• The student had an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) between 0 and 19,000.

All eligible students (1,866) for Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act were awarded the same dollar amount ($740). Our method aimed to promptly make available emergency financial aid grants from the advanced funds directly to students for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.

Funds were disbursed directly to each eligible student in its entirety, no funds were held for possible debts owed to VWCC. Additionally, VWCC provided eligible students with this information:

• The funds you will receive are intended for costs you incurred due to this disruption and may include course materials, technology (i.e. laptop, internet access, data plans, etc.), food, housing, health care, and childcare. This also includes costs to support continued online education during the pandemic.
• The amount that will be issued to you is: $740.00.  The college will begin to issue these funds on Thursday, May 14th at noon, and you should expect to see them within 21 days, depending on your current refund preference.  Please verify your payment method prior to this date.
• If you have questions about the tax implications please visit this IRS link: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-higher-education-emergency-relief-fund-and-emergency-financial-aid-grants-under-the-cares-act. For more specific questions you should contact a tax professional.
• You will receive your funds either by direct deposit or a check will be mailed to the current mailing address on file. If you are already set up for direct deposit from the college and/or your mailing address is current and correct in SIS, then no additional action is required.
  • To review your refund options visit https://vwcc.afford.com/.  If it is your first time setting up direct deposit, you will need to create an account by using the ‘Resend Registration Email’ using your school email account (do not use your personal email).
  • To check the mailing address the college has on file log into your MYVWCC account and click the SIS (Student Information System) tile. Then go to the ‘Student Center’ and scroll to the bottom of the page to review and edit your mailing address.

Questions or concerns?

Do you have a specific question about Virginia Western’s response to COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)? Before submitting your question, please be sure to check our frequently asked questions as your answer may have already been provided. Please use the form below and a member of our staff will respond as soon as possible.