Tri-County to disburse $3 million in grant funding to eligible students
January 13, 2021
Tri-County Technical College plans to award nearly $3 million in grant funding to eligible students within the next few weeks. These funds are part of the 2021 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, which was enacted on December 27, 2020, to provide $22.7 billion for institutions of higher education to lessen the economic hardships that COVID-19 has placed on students and their families.
Colleges and universities are required to use CRRSA funding to provide grants to students for expenses related to disruptions to their education due to COVID-19, including things like tuition, fees, course materials and technology, as well as food, housing, health care and child care.
“We will use equity and flexibility to guide our grant awards process as we did in April 2020, when we disbursed $2.1 million in CARES Act funding to nearly 2,500 eligible students. Grant awards will not be based on credit hours but on who needs it the most,” said Tri-County Technical College President Dr. Galen DeHay.
To be eligible for a COVID-19 Relief grant, students must meet the following criteria:
- Students must be enrolled at Tri-County Technical College for the spring 2021 semester. (The admission deadline for spring term is January 13.)
- Students must also be Federal Title IV eligible and meet the following requirements:
a. Completed a 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with all requirements completed and demonstrated financial need
b. Have a high school credential
c. Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements: GPA of 2.0 or higher; maintain a 67% or higher completion rate; complete your degree/diploma/certificate within 150% of the required program hours of study
d. Be enrolled in an eligible program of study
DACA, dual enrollment, transient, non-degree and I-BEST students are not eligible for COVID-19 Relief grants.
Individuals who are Federal Pell Grant recipients will receive a one-time grant of $1,000. Those who are eligible based on the above criteria but are not Federal Pell Grant recipients will receive a one-time grant of either $625 or $360 depending on the student’s Expected Family Contribution, an index number colleges use to determine how much financial aid a student is eligible to receive based on their income, assets and benefits.
“The quick action of Tri-County employees in awarding these grants at the start of the spring term demonstrates our ongoing commitment to student success. These funds will enable current students to continue their education and allow new students to start their college career when they previously thought they could not afford to do so,” said Adam Ghiloni, dean of enrollment services at Tri-County.
Jackie Jeter, a licensed practical nursing major and single mother of four, said receiving CARES Act funds last year was a “game changer” for her. She was able to catch up on car insurance and other basic living expenses. “I applied and found out within days that I received CARES Act funding. I was so grateful,” she said.
Jeter also is eligible to receive CRRSA Act funding this semester, which again will help her remain a full-time student and stay on track academically.
“Receiving funds again this semester will help me get through another time of hardships and help inspire me as a student to know that I am still capable and willing to continue my education despite minor setbacks within my financial limitations.”
Jeter will graduate in May 2021 with a practical nursing degree. She plans to pursue an associate degree in nursing.
Tri-County’s admission deadline for the spring 2021 semester is January 13. To apply, visit tctc.edu/apply or call (864) 646-1550.
About Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College, a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina, enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, industrial electronics, mechatronics, nursing, and university transfer programs. Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in the state and ranks in the top one percent nationally for successful student transfers to four-year colleges and universities.
