Thanks to ongoing support from our donors, the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation offers short-term financial support to students through the following programs.
Virginia Western Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund
The Virginia Western Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund is designed to address exceptional and urgent financial hardships impacting Virginia Western students residing in Virginia Western’s six-locality service region. Examples of types of emergencies or hardships to be considered: house fire, medical issues, homelessness, food insecurity and lack of transportation or technology.
Criteria (Effective March 13, 2023)
Funds may not be used for tuition or course fees. Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid and/or scholarships to help with these expenses.
Emergency Fund application requests may be made for up to $300. Requests for food/gas gift cards are also an option. A student may only apply once in an academic year (fall and spring semesters) for emergency funds (either vendor payment or gift card) and apply only twice in a 5-year span.
Payment will be made directly to the company/business owed or, if awarded, a food/gas gift card will be provided.
Students are encouraged to apply for SNAP benefits to assist with food needs.
Determination of Emergency Advisory Council is final.
Eligibility
Students must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and be enrolled in the current semester in six (6) credits or more in a for-credit program of study at Virginia Western in order to receive funding. For-credit students must have completed at least six (6) credits with a minimum 2.0 GPA in one previous semester of coursework within the last 2 years at Virginia Western.
Students are also eligible to apply if currently enrolled in a Virginia Western Career & Corporate Training program.
Students must be in good standing with the college. Eligibility details will be confirmed through the student’s VWCC SIS account.
IMPORTANT: Receipt of monetary assistance through the Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund will cause recalculation of a student’s financial aid eligibility, which may result in a reduction of previously-awarded financial aid.
Textbook Assistance
The Educational Foundation Textbook Scholarship, in support of students’ needs for textbooks and required course materials, is available through the Foundation’s scholarship application process in fall and spring semesters. For more information, visit the Scholarships site.
Students with an unanticipated need for assistance to pay for textbooks and course materials required by their classes may apply for funding through the Virginia Western Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund application.
Veterans Assistance Fund
The Educational Foundation Veterans Assistance Fund is designed to address emergency financial needs impacting military and veteran students at Virginia Western Community College. Examples of types of emergencies or hardships to be considered: house fire, medical issues, homelessness, food insecurity and lack of transportation or technology.
Veterans must be honorably serving or have honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces including the U.S. Coast Guard and its components. Priority will be given to those demonstrating financial need.
Apply for Veterans Assistance funding through the Virginia Western Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund application.
Additional Services for Veterans
Apply Now
Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund Application will open on the first day of fall classes, August 21, 2023.
If you are interested in donating to any of these funds, contact the Educational Foundation at 540-857-7312 or click here to donate online.