The funds were made available through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act passed by congress in December and will be dispensed by February 15.
Administrators at Northwest Michigan College in Traverse City announced a new round of financial assistance meant to help students who show the greatest financial need. Over 900 students will receive awards ranging from $275 to $1600 to cover expenses related to tuition and fees, housing, food, health care, child care, and technology. The full total of the grant was $4.1 million, $1 million of which has been designated for direct student aid. NMC awarded $898,000 to students who were automatically qualified and the remainder will be awarded to students who submit an application that will be available by February 18, 2021. The college will use $3.1 million to cover COVID-19 related expenses.
In addition to the financial need requirement, students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits for the semester. In a release from Northwestern Michigan College, NMC President Nick Nissley said, "This financial support is critical to helping NMC meet the needs of the learners of our region. In 2020, we pivoted quickly and made major changes to keep delivering education, while also keeping our students and employees safe, all without raising tuition. While we are proud of the work we've done to balance the budget so far, we know that some of those adjustments are one-time fixes. The pandemic will have a longer lasting impact on many industries, including higher education and we need to continue to look for ways to right the ship." The college is analyzing how the balance of the federal grant can best be spent to help deal with efforts on campus to limit the spread of COVID-19. NMC states that spending will most likely be centered on infrastructure upgrades related to health and safety.