New financial aid resources at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City are currently available to those who have suffered financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to help them earn their college degree, receive workforce training or prepare them for a new job or career.
The resources are available for all LaGuardia students regardless of immigration status, including permanent residents, international students, refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers and similar undocumented students.
“Making college affordable and accessible is more important than ever as we begin to emerge from this pandemic,” LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams said. “New financial resources at LaGuardia expand opportunities for those impacted by COVID to get on track through higher education.”
Opportunities include scholarships for new and returning students; programs that wipe away outstanding tuition balances for students impacted by COVID; new federal stimulus funds; and more. Some are specifically available to LaGuardia students, while others are available through the City University of New York (CUNY), the city’s public university system that includes LaGuardia Community College.
Through the LaGuardia Merit Scholarship, 1,000 qualifying associate degree-seeking students will each receive a $500 scholarship that can be used to pay tuition, fees, books, technology or personal expenses.
Through CUNY Comeback, anyone enrolled at LaGuardia between March 13, 2020, and Aug. 11, 2021 (the “pandemic semesters”) is eligible to have outstanding tuition balances accrued during this period forgiven. Students who were enrolled but stopped taking classes during this timeframe or who have since graduated may also benefit. A student who did not accrue an outstanding balance may receive a $200 grant, in addition to any federal Student Emergency Grant allocation that they will be entitled to in fall 2021.
As a result of policy suspensions, LaGuardia students with outstanding balances will be allowed to register for fall 2021 classes and receive their official transcripts, a document that is critical for applying for jobs and pursuing higher education. Qualifying students in LaGuardia’s Continuing Education programs, including ESL, high school equivalency preparation, workforce training and professional certificate programs, can apply for a scholarship covering up to 80 percent of the tuition cost.
“The time for Queens residents to come to LaGuardia Community College is now,” Adams said.
Classes at LaGuardia are scheduled to start Sept. 9, and are available in person, virtually and hybrid (a combination of online and in person).
For more information, visit the LaGuardia Community College website at laguardia.edu.
