In an effort to help students access and complete postsecondary education in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has directed $51.4 million in new funding initiatives across the state.
Cooper has allocated $44 million of the funds to help students access college and earn degrees starting this fall; $5 million to support mental health initiatives across state postsecondary institutions; and $2.4 million into equity-focused initiatives for K-12 and postsecondary students and families.
Experts say that kind of financial investment is a major investment in education and will go a long way in helping institutions rebound from the pandemic.
“Independent colleges and universities have worked so hard during this pandemic to keep students safe and on track for their educational progress,” said Dr. A. Hope Williams, president of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities. “We deeply appreciate the Governor’s support for mental health assistance and for $4 million which will be instrumental in helping students complete their degree.
The funding is North Carolina’s share of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, federal dollars that aim to help school districts, postsecondary institutions, or other education-related entities address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Students and educators across our state have faced challenges both inside and outside the classroom over the course of the pandemic,” said Cooper, a Democrat. “The GEER funds will provide much needed relief for the state’s community colleges and universities, help us continue to build and grow a successful and diverse workforce and provide students equitable access to postsecondary education.”
As part of this financial package, Cooper said that the state will also launch the Longleaf Commitment program, a $31.5 million investment to guarantee that graduating high school seniors from low- and middle-income families receive at least $2,800 in federal and state grants to cover tuition and most fees at any of the state’s 58 community colleges. The Commitment program will supplement the federal Pell grant and existing aid by providing an additional $700 to $2,800 grant per year for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years for students to earn an associate degree and/or credits to transfer to a four-year college or university in North Carolina.
