Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 15, 1993 TAG: 9306150224
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The program - called "Fund 1, the Part-Time Tuition Assistance Program" - is for part-time students who until now rarely were eligible for financial aid.
"Typically, these students have been eliminated from financial consideration because they are considered to be less than half-time students," said Larry Ewing, financial aid officer at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke.
"This [program] is to help that type of student."
The state's 23 community colleges will share in $500,000 of the system's operating funds that have been set aside for the program.
Virginia Western will receive $25,464; Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, $18,001; New River Community College in Dublin, $16,448; and Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in Clifton Forge, $7,559.
"A lot of that is recognition that tuition costs are increasing, and as a result, something has to be done for students who want to come to school and simply don't have the funds to do that," Ewing said.
Tuition for the 1993-94 academic year is $44 per credit hour, up from $41 in 1992-93.
"We've certainly done things in the past for students who are half-time. This other group just hasn't had much help."
To be eligible, students must qualify for in-state status, must be enrolled in three to five credit hours and must be placed in a specific program leading to a degree, certificate or diploma.
An estimated 3,500 students statewide may be eligible for the Fund 1 program. Funds awarded under the program are grants and do not have to be repaid.
by CNB