Grants:
Need-based awards which do not require repayment, such as the Federal Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, College Scholarship Assistance Program, Virginia Student Financial Assistance Program (Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program and Commonwealth of Virginia Grant) and Part-Time Assistance Program.
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Federal Pell Grant:
Pell Grants are federally funded grants which provide financial assistance to students. A student must establish financial need, be a U.S. citizen, and be accepted in an eligible curriculum.
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Academic Competitiveness Grant Program (ACG):
Beginning in 2006-07, qualifying students who have completed a rigorous secondary school program and are eligible for federal Pell grants may be eligible to receive additional funds from the Academic Competitiveness Grand program. Eligible recipients may receive up to $750 for the first year of study and up to $1,300 for the second academic year of study.
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Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG):
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are available to a limited number of students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. A student must be officially accepted into a curriculum. Students completing the FAFSA and qualifying for the Pell grant will be considered for SEOG while funds are available.
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College Scholarship Assistance Program (CSAP):
This program provides grants to a limited number of students who are residents of Virginia, who demonstrate sufficient financial need, who have not earned a previous degree and are enrolled on at least a half-time basis.
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Commonwealth of Virginia Grant (COMA):
The COMA grant is available for students who are enrolled in at least half-time, demonstrate financial need, are domiciliary residents of Virginia, and meet all other eligibility criteria.
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Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP):
The VGAP grant is available to Virginia residents who graduated from a Virginia high school with a 2.5 GPA or higher. Students must be first-time freshmen enrolled at RCC full time. Awards may be renewed for a second year for students who have maintained full-time enrollment and a minimum 2.0 GPA or higher at RCC, and continue to demonstrate financial need.
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Higher Education Teacher Assistance Program (HETAP):
This program is designed to aid students enrolled in a K-12 teacher preparation program with preference given to those enrolled in a teacher shortage area. Virginia resident students are selected via faculty nomination and must be enrolled full-time and demonstrate financial need.
Part-Time Tuition Assistant (PTAP:
PTAP grants are available for students who enroll for 1 to 6 credits only, are residents of Virgina, and demonstrate fiancial need. The maximum award is the cost of tuition and fees.
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Scholarships:
Awards based on academic excellence and/or need generated from the generous contributions of individuals, agencies, organizations, churches and corporations. (Eligibility requirements and applications for the scholarship program appear in a separate booklet published by the college annually. Copies are available in February/early March throughout the college campuses.) The application deadline for most scholarships is in March.
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Work-Study:
Awards based on need, for which the student must work. Money is earned hourly and paid on a biweekly basis through the Federal Work-Study Program.
Please see the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website for additional information:http://www.schev.edu.
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Eligible Veterans:
Eligible veterans, service persons and their dependents or survivors enrolled in approved courses may receive educational benefits from the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The Financial Aid and Veterans' Affairs Office assists such persons through the following services:
Students who wish to take advantage of educational benefits to which they may be entitled should plan well in advance to ensure that the necessary VA approvals can be obtained prior to registration. Only those students who participate in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program Chapter 31) will be allowed to charge registration with receipt of VA FORM 28-1905 submitted to the Financial Aid and Veterans' Affairs Office, Business Office and Bookstore at RCC. Additional information may be obtained through the Financial Aid and Veterans' Affairs Office or the student's veterans' benefits counselor.
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G.I. Bill Benefits:
A veteran of at least 181 days' continuous active duty who was released from active duty within the past ten years or who was released from active duty for a service - connected disability may be entitled to Veterans' Administration Educational Assistance. (The period of active military service must have terminated under conditions other than dishonorable.) The veteran must have enlisted before January 1, 1977. Veterans entering after that date come under a different program.
Please see the Department of Veterans Affairs website for additional information: www.gibill.va.gov.
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Veterans' Information:
Application forms for VA benefits are available in the Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Office. To apply for benefits, veterans who are using their benefits for the first time must complete an application for educational benefits (VA FORM 22-1990) and provide a court-certified original or court-certified copy of their discharge papers (DD-214). Also, the following (if applicable): marriage license, divorce decree, and birth certificates for dependent children. Veterans who are new to RCC but who have used their educational benefits at a previous school must complete a request for change of program or place of training (VA FORM 22-1995). Applications for VA benefits should be received at least 60 days prior to the beginning of the semester. NOTE: In order for the college to certify enrollment, a veteran must be officially accepted into a curriculum and must provide a receipted copy of the registration form to the Financial Aid and Veterans' Affairs Officer each term of enrollment. The student is responsible for advising the college and Veterans' Administration of any change in enrollment status or curriculum. This is an important responsibility and one which has direct bearing on the level of payment. To contact VA Regional Office: (800) 827-1000 or (888) 442-4551.
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Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program:
The Military Survivors and Dependents Program (MSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service memebrs killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who became at least 90 percent disabled as a result of military service inan armed conflict. Military service includes service in the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, the Virgina National Guard, or theVirginia National Guard Reserves. Armed conflict includes military operations against terrorism or as the result of a terrorist act, a peace-keeping mission, or any armed conflict after December 6, 1941. This program may pay for tuition and fees at any state-supported college or universiyt. This program waives tutition and fees in Virginia. Benefits are available forup to four years. Students may verify eligibility and request applications by contacting the RCC Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Office. If possible, applications should be submitted at least four months before the expected date of admission.
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Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services:
Certain disabled persons may qualify for services and/or financial aid from the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services. Consult the Financial Aid staff or a counselor for referral assistance.
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