Tri-C unveils assistance program

Cuyahoga Community College has announced a Full Tuition Assistance program to offset academic and workforce training costs for Cuyahoga County residents facing financial hardship due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The program will cover tuition for new or returning Tri-C students with financial needs that intensified during the pandemic response, according to a news release.

The funding can be used toward academic credit courses or workforce training programs. Students can begin the program this summer or fall, with funding available for three consecutive sessions, the release stated.

Assistance can cover up to one year of academic courses or the full length of a workforce training program.

“These are uncertain times, but people don’t have to put their futures on hold,” Tri-C President Alex Johnson said in the release. “Thanks to the generous support of Tri-C Foundation donors, this program will allow people to earn a degree or credential in a high-demand field that pays a family-sustaining wage without incurring any tuition costs.”

The program serves to increase access to Tri-C for a variety of groups affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, including:

• Unemployed individuals who lost employment and/or income due to COVID-19 and are seeking a short-term credential, advanced training or a degree to increase their employability.

• Graduating high school students who planned to attend a four-year college or university this fall but have to reconsider due to financial hardship.

• Current college students who are or were enrolled at a four-year college and can’t afford to return, but want to continue their education.

Application steps include completing a Full Tuition Assistance Eligibility form and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Tri-C’s Full Tuition Assistance program serves as a “last dollar” scholarship designed to cover outof-pocket student costs after eligibility for Pell Grants and other financial aid is determined, the release stated.