Using Financial Aid in the Bookstore – Policies & Conditions

Students who wish to use their financial aid to purchase books and supplies from the college bookstore are required to complete and sign a Bookstore Charge Authorization each academic year. The Authorization is an online form in your To Do List on the Student Center page in SIS. You will receive an email when the Authorization is ready and available in your student account to complete. Once this Authorization is on file with the Financial Aid Office, you may charge your purchases to your financial aid account during specific dates.

Semester	Charging Period
Summer 2025	May 12 – July 3, 2025
Fall 2025	August 11 – October 30, 2025
Spring 2026	January 6 – March 30, 2026

Online ordering using your financial aid is also available at the VWCC bookstore during the bookstore charging period.

Students may not use financial aid for book charges after the bookstore charging period. If the books you need are on backorder, please speak with bookstore management for special arrangements.

VWCC Bookstore Policy

The student must sign the Bookstore Charge Authorization Form for each year the student plans to use his/her financial aid to make educationally related purchases at the bookstore. The Bookstore Charge Form gives permission to Virginia Western Community College and the campus Bookstore to access the student’s financial aid information for the purpose of charging books and supplies using financial aid while the student is enrolled. Additionally, students must understand the following information when purchasing at the bookstore:

Signing the Bookstore Charge Authorization Form is voluntary, and is not needed if the student chooses to make purchases from a vendor other than the on-campus bookstore.
You were awarded financial aid to help cover the costs of educationally related expenses during your attendance at Virginia Western Community College. These funds should only be used to purchase books and supplies that are required for the classes in which you are enrolled. These funds should NOT be used to purchase multiple copies of the same textbook during a single semester. Your financial aid funds are intended for purchases made by you, for you, and should never be used to purchase textbooks or supplies for other students, staff, or faculty members.

Failure to abide by this policy could result in disciplinary action from the College.

For more information: Financial Aid Bookstore Purchasing Policy

VWCC Bookstore Policy

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