LYNN — North Shore Community College (NSCC) is using the federal funds it has received to help erase student debt.
The college elected to use $1.2 million in federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) to provide relief to students whose lives have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic — many of whom are facing significant financial challenges and struggles.
Eligible students include those who were enrolled in credit-degree or certificate programs from March 13, 2020 through the Spring of 2021 semester. To date, the funding has assisted 503 students, with an average balance due of $1,215, prior to applying the institutional debt forgiveness. Of the students who benefited from this assistance, 60 percent are students of color, 58 percent are female, and all are residents of Massachusetts and the North Shore.
While the federal government allocated matching amounts to be spent on students, the college also received an institutional award to support the challenges it faced throughout the pandemic. The $1.2 million set aside for this purpose comes from those funds received. NSCC has already awarded $2.7 million directly to students affected by the pandemic. These stimulus funds were allocated to help students cover indirect costs associated with the pivot to virtual learning but, with approval from a student, could also be used to pay off student account balances.
“The federal government is highly supportive of this and other colleges’ efforts and has made funding available to support COVID-related expenses and needs. These funds will assist students in completing their educational goals,” said interim President Dr. Nate Bryant.
Bryant notes that nationally, as well as on the North Shore, students with debt are less likely to enroll or stay in college. NSCC has allocated these funds to eligible students to remove the financial barrier of institutional debt, which keeps many of them from completing their education and achieving their goals in life.
“This investment ripples into an economic boost in our community and strengthens our regional workforce, which will be crucial as we all look to build a sustainable economic recovery.
“Due to the continued support from The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, NSCC will be able to support our students with financial assistance in the upcoming academic year,” Bryant added. “This will reduce the impact of the costs associated with enrolling at North Shore Community College. The pandemic has required the college to consider more flexible learning opportunities, and I believe students can benefit from those new opportunities and the support we can afford them because of this additional funding.”
