Student Success Funds Available Beginning Today

Originally submitted to the Daily Flyer by Jenn Bristow, Development Manager, NOVA Foundation, JBristow@nvcc.edu

NOVA and the NOVA Educational Foundation are pleased to announce the new Student Success Fund, available today! This important fund was established to assist students facing unexpected emergency expenses that would otherwise force them to stop out or drop out from their educational journey.

The NOVA Foundation has invested $250,000 in this inaugural year. Students in need can apply for support through this portal. All applications will go through blind review so students’ personal circumstances can remain anonymous. The portal will remain open to receive applications through the academic year as long as funds are available.

Students can apply for one of two categories of support:

Student Success Emergency Grants
Emergency grants are just-in-time funding for NOVA students who experience a sudden, unexpected and short-term emergency that threatens their ability to continue their education. Grant awards are up to $1,000. Payments are sent directly to the creditor on behalf of a student who has been approved for support. For example, payments may be made to a utility company, medical provider, auto repair business, apartment complex, etc.

Student Success Scholarships
Student Success Scholarships fund up to 15 credits of in-state tuition for an associate degree, career studies certificate, certificate or professional credential. Priority will be given to students within 6 credits of graduation who might otherwise not be able to complete their education.

Before applying for Student Success Funds, students must document what other avenues of support they have explored at NOVA. Student Success Fund grants and scholarships are intended to be the final resource for students after other means of financial assistance have been exhausted. Read the complete list of criteria and some frequently asked questions for details.

“NOVA is a bright beacon of opportunity for our students and for our community,” said Anne M. Kress, president of NOVA. “As we can see across our region, the need is not going away. We’ve heard from our students that the impact of inflation has been devastating. The impact of a dramatically higher cost of living has been devastating to so many of them. These are the funds that help them move forward.”

“We challenge our NOVA Community to share this opportunity with our Nighthawks in need and encourage them to apply,” said Kelly Persons, executive director of the NOVA Educational Foundation. “This OneNOVA initiative will require all of us to take on the role of advocate and communicator to ensure that all NOVA students know about this critical program and how it serves the College’s commitment to a culture of caring.”

The Student Success Fund is made possible through the generosity of a host of community partners and donors. This initiative demonstrates our collective commitment to OneNOVA. The Fund was designed by and will be implemented through a broad partnership of NOVA departments, including Student Affairs; Enterprise IT; the Office of Strategic Insights; the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; NOVA Communications and Marketing; and countless individual staff and faculty members.