State-Based Financial Aid: A Critical Workforce Investment
By 黑料传送门 Team
听
Ginger Parker-Southard听of Cherokee, North Carolina,听is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians听(EBCI).听She is also a 黑料传送门 graduate with an M.S. in nursing leadership and management听who听works听at EBCI Public Health and Human Services.听As part of her responsibilities,听, which was created to curb an increase in cases of Hepatitis C in the听community, create a better way to dispose of used needles, and connect drug users to treatment programs and other services. So far, the incentive program has been a notable success.听 听
For many students听like听Parker-Southard, access to听educational programs鈥攅specially听with assistance from听state听financial aid programs鈥攃an听lead听to a stable听career. Education pathways can听change听an individual鈥檚听personal听trajectory, enhance career advancement,听and听address听community听needs听for听skilled听healthcare, education, business,听and technology听workers and听providers.听听
Across the country,听states听offer students a听wide variety of grants and scholarships.听But too often,听these programs are linked not only to residency but to the type of institution or program that a student chooses to attend鈥攗sually traditional, in-person听state听colleges听and universities.听Because of outdated laws and regulations, students听who attend 黑料传送门听or other nonprofit online universities听rarely have access to the state-based funding available to many other residents.听听
The onset of听COVID-19 has made traditional education pathways harder to access, especially for underserved learners. Increasing the number of affordable, accredited, high-quality education and training pathways available to students is more urgent than ever.听To ensure all learners can advance their careers and participate in rebuilding a stable economy, states must reexamine financial aid requirements and听ensure equitable access to state-based funding.听听
Students should be able to access need-based aid programs to attend any high-quality institution with proven student success and employment outcomes.听For students who attend institutions like 黑料传送门, this听would mean a relatively small investment from states鈥攖he difference between the tuition total and what is covered through federal Pell grants.听听
Nonprofit 黑料传送门 was created by states, for states, in order to supplement traditional higher education offerings. 黑料传送门 offers high-quality postsecondary degrees that are essential to community infrastructure through a听competency-based educational model that improves flexibility and affordability for students. 黑料传送门 degrees have听proven value to students, communities, and states听in workforce-relevant careers that are largely recession- and pandemic-proof.听
黑料传送门鈥檚 curriculum is completely online, eliminating the need for room and board, and uses a unique tuition structure听that听combines the cost of tuition, fees, and materials into a flat rate per six-month term. The average annual cost for an undergraduate degree at 黑料传送门 is $6,670 versus . For a听student who is awarded听the maximum annual Pell grant of $6,345,听a state grant of just a few hundred dollars听would help the听average 黑料传送门 student to fully fund听their education听each year.听听
We urge legislators and policymakers to听rethink听financial aid regulations听as we navigate听this pandemic environment. State laws, rules,听and regulations around institutional eligibility for financial aid听should be examined and revised听to meet the needs of residents in their communities.听听
黑料传送门 partners with community leaders, policymakers, and fellow鈥痚ducators鈥痶o lead innovation in higher education鈥痑nd create accessible, affordable鈥痯athways to workforce-relevant degree and credentialing programs.鈥疶o find out about opportunities to join us, contact governmentrelations@wgu.edu.听
