Funding Available to Students Facing Financial Emergencies

WINTERVILLE—For the second straight summer, Pitt Community College has received state funding to help students facing unforeseen financial emergencies continue enrollment and complete their programs of study.

According to PCC Director of Grants Management Julie R. Crippen, the college received a $65,000-grant through North Carolina’s Finish Line Grant Program, an initiative state legislators established in 2018 to help students ‘cross the finish line and graduate.’

On its website, the N.C. Department of Commerce states that Finish Line funds can pay for course materials, housing, medical needs, dependent care, qualified tuition, and other financial emergencies students face through no fault of their own. Thus far, PCC has awarded $58,733 to 79 students through the program.

“Amounts vary up to $1,000 each semester, as long as students qualify by having completed 50 percent or more of their degree, diploma or certificate, are regularly attending classes, and are in good standing at the college,” Crippen said. “Students will receive notice of grant funding through Ross Innovative Employment Solutions Corp. and NCWorks and will become eligible for job assistance coaching skills from those organizations at the same time.”

Crippen said funding is available to curriculum and continuing education students. She pointed out that students should understand they will not actually receive any funding they’re awarded; it will be sent directly to vendors addressing their financial hardships.

Finish Line Grant applications are available in PCC’s Financial Aid Office, which is located in the Craig F. Goess Student Center. Crippen says students must also obtain supporting documents from Financial Aid that they must complete prior to contacting the NCWorks Career Center, where they will ultimately sign for their grant funds. NC Works, she says, also sends a representative to campus Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to assist students.

For more information, students are encouraged to contact Crippen at jcrippen@email.pittcc.edu or (252) 493-7335.

07/16/2019