Thanks to ongoing support from the Virginia Community College System and our private donors, the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation offers short-term financial support to students through the following programs.
Virginia Western Student Emergency Fund
The Virginia Western Student Emergency Fund is designed to address exceptional and urgent financial hardships impacting Virginia Western students. Examples of types of emergencies or hardships to be considered: house fire, medical issues, homelessness, food insecurity and lack of transportation or technology.
Students apply by completing a simple online application. Awards start at $500 in assistance. When possible, payment will be made directly to the company/business owed, or a student may be awarded a food/gas/transportation gift card.
Students may only receive assistance once in an academic year. The application generally opens one week before the first day of each semester and closes the last day of classes.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be currently enrolled in Virginia Western Community College
- Have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application, with all financial requirements completed
- Be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Must demonstrate financial need
Note: A student may still be eligible for other emergency funding if they do not meet the above requirements. They are encouraged to complete the application and reach out to the Educational Foundation for further assistance.
Students who are enrolled in classes and currently employed by Virginia Western College are not eligible for assistance through this fund.
Students currently enrolled in a non-credit Virginia Western Workforce Solutions program should contact workforce@virginiawestern.edu for more specific information on eligibility.
Apply Now
Click the button now to apply for assistance.
Other Resources
Single Stop
Students should consider applying to the Virginia Western Student Emergency Fund after other traditional methods of funding have been exhausted. This fund is not meant to replace existing financial aid, and the award does not need to be repaid.
Students are strongly encouraged to complete the Single Stop online screening tool, which can help them estimate what other supplemental resources they might be eligible to receive, such as government benefits (SNAP, WIC, etc.) and health insurance options.
Check your eligibility for Single Stop assistance.
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 Student Emergency Fund application (apply above).
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 (apply above). Reach out to the Military Student Center for more information at military@virginiawestern.edu.
Support Virginia Western
If you are interested in donating to the Virginia Western Student Emergency Fund, contact the Educational Foundation at 540-857-7312 or click here to donate online.