What G3 Really Means and How You Can Help

In December, Governor Northam visited NOVA to announce the Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back (G3) program. G3 provides last-dollar scholarships to low- and middle-income students who enroll in high demand workforce programs, closing the gap for those who might otherwise not be able to attend community college. In addition, G3 offers grant aid to low-income students who receive full Pell but still have unmet financial need. The dollars can be used to meet basic needs; addressing food and housing insecurity, assisting with child care, and providing access to transportation. Students receiving G3 funds are asked to give back to the Commonwealth through a few hours of service that show their own commitment to strengthening their communities.

G3 represents Virginia’s most significant investment in community colleges in decades, and it underscores the role that NOVA and all VCCS institutions play in closing the opportunity gap for our students. Our estimate is that about 12% of NOVA students would qualify financially for the program. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but because of the size of our college, that’s over 8,000 students, which is larger than most other Virginia community colleges!

As the budget process continues, I’m hoping that you will raise your voices in support of G3. It will open the doors for students currently outside of the pathways to prosperity that NOVA offers. G3 would be especially valuable for individuals who live in an area called “Islands of Disadvantage,” where pockets of significant poverty in communities where perceptions of affluence may obscure the daily challenges facing some residents. The area was named in a report commissioned by the Northern Virginia Health Foundation.

So, what can you do to help us inform General Assembly members of the importance of the Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back program? It’s easy; send an email to your state elected officials telling them that you support G3. If you don’t know who your delegate or senator is, you can use this website to enter your address and find out. Next, write a quick message of support, maybe including a story of a student you’ve encountered who would benefit from G3. For example, MEC Provost Reaves shared that a single parent in the dental studies program had to take out a supplemental loan to afford the required class kit. If she had access to the additional G3 grant, she would not be facing this student debt burden.

Thank you for everything you do to advocate for our students and support their success!

All the best,
Anne