Brad D. Smith, president of Marshall University, expresses appreciation for Gov. Jim Justice, Chancellor Sarah Tucker, and the West Virginia Legislature during a ceremonial signing of SB 1007, which allocates more than $80 million to the stateƵs higher education system.
Brad D. Smith, president of Marshall University, expresses appreciation for Gov. Jim Justice, Chancellor Sarah Tucker, and the West Virginia Legislature during a ceremonial signing of SB 1007, which allocates more than $80 million to the stateƵs higher education system.
CHARLESTON Ƶ Gov. Jim Justice ceremonially signed a bill Friday that allocates $83 million in funding for higher education in West Virginia.
The legislation, , would reappropriate surplus funds of $40 million to the Higher Education Grant Program, $32 million for support for colleges and universities and $11,215,351 to the College Access Emergency Grant for fiscal year 2025.
Another bill, , was passed in May to accept over $83 million in unappropriated surplus from the ƵPEIA Rainy Day Fund.Ƶ This fund was created to offset expenses and is sometimes made up from money from the Legislature, investments or other deposits.
ƵWe appreciate the actions Gov. Jim Justice and the Legislature have taken to help our students receive critical and necessary financial aid to further their education in West Virginia. These measures help provide access and affordability for our students and families as they prepare for the coming academic year,Ƶ said West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee in an email to The Herald-Dispatch.
The Higher Education Grant, according to the ƵƵ Higher Education GrantƵ , is a need-based financial aid program for West Virginia students. The funding going toward the newly created College Access Emergency Grant will help provide up to $2,000 for qualifying students.
ƵWe appreciate Gov. Jim Justice, Chancellor Sarah Tucker, and the West Virginia Legislature for unlocking the doors to higher education and providing our institutions with the flexibility and tools needed to empower students to pursue their dreams,Ƶ Marshall University President Brad D. Smith said in a release. ƵTheir quick and thoughtful action will foster a future rich with knowledge, innovation, and opportunity for all of West Virginia.Ƶ
Following the approval of the funds, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission announced in a press release it will double the maximum award amount through the Higher Education Grant Program from $3,400 to $6,800 from eligible students during the 2024-25 academic year.
ƵThis is a game changer for our students in an otherwise challenging year,Ƶ said Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West VirginiaƵs chancellor of higher education, in the release.
According to the release, the deadline for applying for the Higher Education Grant Program has also been extended until July 1.
Since Justice made the state of emergency proclamation suspending the FAFSA requirement for state financial aid programs, a student who completed last yearƵs FAFSA and qualifies for Higher Education Grant Program will automatically receive an award of up to $6,800 for the upcoming academic year, the release said.
Any student who doesnƵt have a FAFSA on file but qualifies for programs like SNAP or TNAF may show their eligibility letter to their higher education institutionƵs financial aid office to receive the award. Students may also call 877-716-1212 for a replacement letter.
For more information and to apply for state aid programs, students and families may visit or call West VirginiaƵs financial aid hotline at 877-987-7664.
Katelyn Aluise is an education and courts reporter for The Herald-Dispatch.
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