SC Texas News

Wharton County Junior College issued the following announcement.

Wharton County Junior College has created the WCJC – Fund Your Future initiative to help students cope with the costs of education.

Anyone needing financial resources to attend WCJC should visit the college’s website and access the WCJC – Fund Your Future link. A page has been created to help students find more information on scholarships, financial aid, tuition installments and much more.

“Our highest goal here at the college is to provide our students with all of the resources they need to be successful,” said WCJC President Betty McCrohan. “WCJC offers a wide array of assistance that makes college more affordable for all of our students. Don’t let finances hold you back from attending. We want to help you in any way possible.”

WCJC’s Fund Your Future resources include the following:

• CARES Welcome Back to WCJC Scholarship. Funds from the CARES Hispanic-Serving Institutions Grant will be used to fund Spring 2021 scholarships in the amount of $1,000 for WCJC students who attended in Spring 2020, when the COVID-19 national emergency was declared, but did not enroll at WCJC in Fall 2020. 
• G. and Lillie A. Johnson Foundation Scholarships. Students enrolled in Allied Health majors, Pre-Allied Health majors or in Emergency Medical Services courses may qualify for a $1,000 scholarship. Students must reside in one of 15 specific counties – Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Colorado, Dewitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, Matagorda, Refugio, Victoria, Waller or Wharton – or within the Needville Independent School District. Deadline for the Johnson Foundation scholarship is Jan. 15, 2021.
• Pioneer Restart Debt Forgiveness Program. This program offers a waiver of up to $500 for former WCJC students who left school with an outstanding balance but plan to return to the college for the Spring 2021 semester.
• Spring 2021 First-Time-at-WCJC Scholarship. This scholarship is available for incoming Spring 2021 WCJC students who have no prior enrollment in credit-hour courses at WCJC, beyond dual credit. The scholarship amount is $1,000.
• 2021 Spring Endowment Scholarships. More than 70 endowment scholarships are available, each in varying amounts and each awarded based on donor specifications. Visit the Financial Aid page on the WCJC website for more information.
• Tuition & Fee Installment Plan. WCJC’s Tuition & Fee Installment Plan enables students to pay 20 percent of their tuition and fees up front, plus a $35 non-refundable enrollment fee, and then spread out the remainder of their tuition in equal monthly installments. All registered WCJC students can apply for an installment plan. 
• Discounted Tuition and Fees Program. Additional assistance is being provided for WCJC students who take more than 13 hours of academic transfer courses. Under this policy, tuition and fees will be waived for any courses above the 13 credit hours. For example, an in-district student taking 19 credit hours will pay roughly $1,214 – the same amount paid by a student taking only 13 hours. 
• Federal Direct Student Loans. Students who have a complete financial aid file at WCJC and are achieving Satisfactory Academic Progress may qualify for subsidized and/or unsubsidized student loans. The fixed interest rate on 2020-2021 direct student loans is a low 2.75 percent.
• Financial Aid Special Condition Request. This request enables qualified students to receive an increased Pell Grant award and possibly additional subsidized loan funds. It’s aimed at WCJC students who have faced a reduction in household income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Pell Grants. Students who display exceptional financial need may be awarded a Federal Pell Grant.  A Pell Grant is a form of “gift aid” that does not have to be paid back.  Students must complete a 2020 – 2021 FAFSA and submit supporting documentation to the WCJC Financial Aid Office for eligibility consideration.

WCJC’s Fund Your Future resources are limited in availability for qualified students enrolling with WCJC for the Spring 2021 semester. Visit wcjc.edu for details.

Registration is already under way for the Spring 2021 semester, with classes beginning on Jan. 19, 2021. WCJC is offering more in-person classes in the Spring to accommodate various learning styles.

Capacity restrictions and strict cleaning protocols will remain in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and online courses will remain available for students who prefer distance learning. Face masks are required of all students, employees and visitors on WCJC campuses.

Original source can be found here.