MANSFIELD, Ohio – To help its students with unforeseen expenses while in school, North Central State College has been awarded $39,700 as part of Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation’s new Dash Emergency Grant program.
NCSC is one of 31 colleges in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio to receive part of the $1.5 million in funding.
According to a news release from Great Lakes, the Dash program will help colleges offer emergency grants to students who already receive Federal Pell Grants.
Furthermore, each college will provide an escalating cash match for student emergency grants – both to meet students’ immediate needs and move toward program sustainability.
NCSC is committing $12,000 to the North Central State College Foundation as a match, expanding the total pool of available funds, according to NCSC Grant Development and Administration Director Sam Renfroe.
“I think it’s a great program for us to be able to offer for our students,” he said. “For us, it’s important that once students begin their studies, they will be able to continue those studies.
“Once students are forced to stop those studies, unfortunately, many never return. So it’s important for students, once they enroll, to begin taking classes and to be able to keep moving toward their ultimate goal – whether that be a degree or certificate or moving on to a bachelor’s degree with another institution.”
He added that each school in the program had to submit an individual application and that he worked with several people within the college to bring the program to NCSC.
Over the duration of the grant period, upwards of 4,000 students stand to benefit from the Dash program, according to the release.
“Great Lakes is pleased to provide more resources to colleges that are dedicated to supporting students in times of greatest need,” said Richard D. George, President and Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes. “Emergency grants are a bridge to college completion and the financial security a community college credential can provide.”
To start the process, students need only apply for small grants directly from their college after being faced with an unexpected bill, such as a car repair or medical payment. Expenses are then paid within 48 hours of the approved application.
Renfroe said the funds will be available starting in the upcoming spring semester, running through the following academic year.
“Once the great gets underway this coming term, we’ll be making efforts to make sure students are aware of the opportunity through on-campus marketing and marketing to our students,” he said.
The Dash program is based on the success of an emergency grant program Great Lakes started at 16 technical colleges in Wisconsin from 2012 to ’15. More than 2,600 students received grants averaging $500 each.
Of the students who received the grants during the three-year period, 73 percent either graduated or remained enrolled, compared to 67 percent of Pell Grant recipients before the program began, according to the release.
For more information on Great Lakes and the different programs it offers, visit community.mygreatlakes.org.
