Students at Glen Oaks Community College may be eligible for additional financial assistance through new initiatives undertaken at the state and federal levels.
In separate releases, administrators at Glen Oaks Community College recently provided details about two new financial aid opportunities. The first is the announcement of additional funds being made available to the college through the federally funded Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), reserved for students enrolled in the Winter 2021 semester who meet the application requirements. The second is the newly established Michigan Reconnect program aimed at attracting Michigan residents, 25 and older, who have not yet completed a college degree, to enroll in qualifying programs.
On February 1, GOCC released a statement saying it had emailed students earlier in the week regarding over $288,000 in additional funding received from the U.S. Department of Education under CRRSAA. The money is available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and may be used for educational expenses or personal expenses such as housing, food, childcare, or healthcare. Students must be enrolled in the current semester and meet a number of eligibility requirements. As Vice President of Student Services, Tonya Howden explained, "We are pleased that our students have this grant opportunity available to them during these challenging times. The grant requires colleges to prioritize the funds for students with exceptional financial need. We are encouraging applicants to provide detailed information that supports financial hardships incurred resulting from the pandemic and we will review applications on a case-by-case basis."
The following day, administrators at Glen Oaks released a second statement, announcing the college's participation in a statewide initiative recently signed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Michigan Reconnect will help pay tuition and fees for eligible students, filling in the gap left over after other forms of aid have been applied. The measure is focused on increasing degree completion for Michigan residents over the age of 25 who have not yet completed a post-secondary degree program. Applications for the program will be available beginning in May 2021 and qualified applicants can use the aid at a public Michigan college or at any of 70 private training schools approved by the state. Many in the state, including business leaders, have applauded the crafting of the program as a promising way of expanding Michigan's highly-qualified workforce by shrinking the skills gap, a common woe of employers based in the state. Vice president Howden expanded on how Michigan Reconnect is expected to benefit the state, "Michigan Reconnect will not only help individuals and families pursue their dreams, but will also help build a strong economy that requires a talented and modern workforce to compete for the jobs of the future."