Thanks to ongoing support from our donors, the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation offers short-term financial support to students through the following programs.
Virginia Western Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund
The Virginia Western Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund is designed to address exceptional and urgent financial hardships impacting Virginia Western students. Examples of types of emergencies or hardships to be considered: house fire, medical issues, homelessness, food insecurity and lack of transportation or technology.
Students apply by completing a simple online application. Requests may be made for up to $500 in assistance. Payment will be made directly to the company/business owed, or a student may be awarded a food/gas gift card.
Students may only receive assistance once in an academic year and twice within a five-year period. The application opens the first day of the fall and spring semesters. Emergency funds are not available during the summer semester and spring and winter breaks.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Reside in Virginia Western’s six-locality service region (Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke counties; cities of Salem and Roanoke) or adjacent counties (Alleghany, Bedford, Floyd, Henry and Montgomery).
- Be enrolled in the current semester in six (6) credits or more in a for-credit program of study at Virginia Western. For-credit students also must have previously completed at least six (6) credits at Virginia Western (including dual enrollment).
- Be in good standing with Virginia Western and have no debt to the college.
Students are also eligible to apply if currently enrolled in a non-credit Virginia Western Workforce Solutions program. Contact workforce@virginiawestern.edu for more information on eligibility.
Apply Now
Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund Application will be available in spring semesters 2025.
IMPORTANT: Receipt of monetary assistance through the Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund will cause recalculation of a student’s financial aid eligibility, which may result in a reduction of previously-awarded financial aid.
Other Resources
Single Stop
Students should consider applying to the Virginia Western Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund after other traditional methods of funding have been exhausted. This fund is not meant to replace existing financial aid, and the award does not need to be repaid.
Students are strongly encouraged to complete the Single Stop online screening tool, which can help them estimate what other supplemental resources they might be eligible to receive, such as government benefits (SNAP, WIC, etc.) and health insurance options.
Check your eligibility for Single Stop assistance.
Textbook Assistance
The Educational Foundation Textbook Scholarship, in support of students’ needs for textbooks and required course materials, is available through the Foundation’s scholarship application process in fall and spring semesters. For more information, visit the Scholarships site.
Students with an unanticipated need for assistance to pay for textbooks and course materials required by their classes may apply for funding through the Virginia Western Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund application (apply above).
Veterans Assistance Fund
The Educational Foundation Veterans Assistance Fund is designed to address emergency financial needs impacting military and veteran students at Virginia Western Community College. Examples of types of emergencies or hardships to be considered: house fire, medical issues, homelessness, food insecurity and lack of transportation or technology.
Veterans must be honorably serving or have honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces including the U.S. Coast Guard and its components. Priority will be given to those demonstrating financial need.
Apply for Veterans Assistance funding through the Virginia Western Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund application (apply above). Reach out to the Military Student Center for more information at military@virginiawestern.edu.
Support Virginia Western
If you are interested in donating to the Virginia Western Rapids Response Student Emergency Fund, contact the Educational Foundation at 540-857-7312 or click here to donate online.