Below is an excerpt of a mockup presentation of a proposal for a financial grant to be presented to the stakeholders of Northern Virginia Community College.
Dr. Hillbert and Stakeholders,
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the students at Northern Virginia Community College Annandale are facing new and unprecedented challenges when it comes to achieving their academic goals. NVCC enrollment is down 4% this fall (Long and Douglas-Gabriel) most of which is attributed to low-income students withdrawing from their programs of study because of unemployment and financial hardships. With the generous donation of $100,000 that NVCC Annandale has received, we feel that it is imperative to use the funds to directly support those students who cannot continue their education without financial assistance. Funding the education of these struggling students also puts money directly back into the school, as much of it will be used towards tuition and books. In the NVCC Community Development Grant (NCDG) program proposed below, we will cover the current economic crisis facing our campus, the impact that this grant will have, the distribution of funds, and the proposed application and selection process.
Impact of COVID-19 at NVCC Annandale
The Coronavirus pandemic has devastated the world, forcing colleges to shut down temporarily and augment their curriculum to an all-virtual platform. College students are facing more struggles than ever, and for many, continuing their education becomes a distant concern when caring for sick or dying family, struggling to pay bills, or keep food on the table. With unemployment at an all-time high, millions are unable to pay tuition and expenses. According to the Department of Labor report, the U.S. unemployment rate is 7.7%, the worst it has been since the great recession of 2010. (“Latest Unemployment”). Those numbers equate to 12.58 million unemployed Americans, and about 40% of community college enrolled students.
Students of every learning level are attempting to adjust to online schooling, but many don’t have a quiet, safe place to study with reliable Wi-Fi. NVCC offers an education to many who cannot find it elsewhere, including single parents, those working full-time jobs, low-income and immigrant families (many of which are the first in their family to attend college.) These are the people for whom a college education will have the greatest impact, and these are the people who are struggling to stay enrolled because of the pandemic.
In a recent study conducted by the Census Bureau, about sixteen million Americans have cancelled plans for college this semester (Long). Ten million cited financial struggles as their reason for withdrawal. Low-income families earning less than $75,000 a year are twice as likely to cancel college plans. As reported by the Washington Post, NVCC enrollment dropped 4% this fall, with a 16% decline among Hispanic students, and a 20% percent decline among African American students. Since NVCC’s student body in 2018 was comprised of 24% Hispanic and 15.6% African American (NOVA Fact Book, 1-4), this is a huge loss for the school, and for the communities it impacts. Lower enrollment figures are the latest indication of the economic destruction unleashed by COVID-19, that has weighed more heavily on lower-income Americans and minorities. These populations have suffered the highest levels of Coronavirus cases and unemployment. Even more discouraging, on average only 13% of college dropouts return — even fewer will finish.
According to the Washington Post, students who dropped out of college this fall said their number one concern was over virtual classes (Long). Many parents and students alike do not want to pay full tuition prices to take virtual classes at home. They feel there is a lack of support that typically comes from attending classes in person and interacting with teachers, students and counselors regularly. Many students do not have a quiet place to study or the necessary equipment like personal computers or internet access. Out-of-state and international students have sought out alternative education options, which doesn’t bode well for NVCC’s enrollment numbers in the future. With such overwhelming data presented, we ask you to take into consideration how to best use this $100,000, for the greatest possible impact on the Annandale campus, the students, and the community.
COVID-19 has had a particularly devastating effect on minorities and low-income families that comprise a large portion of the NVCC student body. In our proposed plan, there are very little overhead costs or staffing needs and no special equipment or complicated permits are required. We are simply proposing a distribution of grants that will keep students enrolled at NVCC Annandale Campus and put money directly back into the school. The students who apply for this grant may never have another opportunity for higher learning. An education from NVCC Annandale will greatly improve their hiring potential and provide limitless opportunities for them to support their families and respective communities. It is not only a chance to give to those who are truly in need, but to propel a movement to uplift the community as a whole.
Works Cited:
“Latest Employment Numbers | U.S. Department of Labor.” Dol.Gov, 2020, http://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/latest-numbers.
Long, Heather and Douglas-Gabriel, Danielle. “The Latest Crisis: Low-Income Students Are Dropping out of College This Fall in Alarming Numbers.” Washington Post, The Washington Post, 16 Sept. 2020, http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/09/16/college-enrollment-down.
“New Unemployment Claims Show Little Sign of Economic Rebound.” The New York Times, 2020, http://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/business/economy/unemployment-Claims.html.
NOVA Fact Book, 2015-2016 through 2019-2020. Northern Virginia Community College, 2020, https://www.nvcc.edu/oiess/oir/fact-book/index.html
Polikoff M, Silver D, and Korn Shira Korn. “What’s the Likely Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Ed?” Insidehighered.com, 2020, http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2020/08/04/analysis-data-national-survey-impact-pandemic-higher-ed-opinion.
Tiffany Griffith 