(WACO, Texas) – The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, provides Texas State Technical College with funding to help full- and part-time students who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly $4.9 million in funding was received by TSTC for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations because of the coronavirus, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance.
TSTC has awarded $2.6 million CARES Act funds to 2,668 students statewide.
“We’re committed to cultivating a ‘culture of caring’ at TSTC,” said Adele Clinton, TSTC executive director for Retention Services. “We’ll do whatever it takes to help our students succeed.”
The funding is made available to cover education-related expenses impacted by the global pandemic. Access to the internet, course materials, health and child care, and housing for those who may have had to abruptly leave their dorms qualify for CARES Act funding.
“The most common request that we’ve received is for assistance with paying important bills and groceries,” said Clinton. “Many of our students have had their lives disrupted by this pandemic and have had real problems making ends meet.”
Additionally, TSTC also has its own emergency aid funds to assist students who may not qualify for the CARES Act funding.
“Students who do not meet the criteria for CARES Act funding may be eligible to receive other funds from the college,” said Marcos Crook, TSTC’s executive director of Enrollment Management.
TSTC’s mission to provide students with the most accurate and beneficial funding opportunities means the application process for funding is also very thorough, and awarded amounts are based on the needs of a student.
“Complete applications are sent to an Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) Coach who then contacts the student within 72 hours,” said Crook. “The ARC coach identifies what local resources the student may qualify for, identifies what the student’s actual need is, and approves the requested amount or makes adjustments. The Financial Aid Office then reviews the request and determines if the student is eligible for CARES Act funding, or if another source of funds is more appropriate for the request.”
Marissa Hansucker, who is currently studying at TSTC’s Waco campus to become an occupational health and safety technician, credits the available funding for helping her finish the semester. The 25-year-old utilized the assistance she received to help with utilities, which allowed her to continue studying remotely.
“The funding helped me keep my internet access,” she said. “More than likely we would not have been able to continue living where we are, and I would not have been able to continue school had I not received this help.”
Although the process to apply for CARES funding requires an overview of a student’s circumstances, overall it was a simple one for Hansucker.
“It was extremely easy to apply,” she said.
“TSTC’s emergency aid application is quick and easy to use,” reiterated Clinton. “A student can apply online or by contacting their enrollment coach. The application only takes about two minutes to fill out.”
Aside from the finances provided by the CARES Act, TSTC also utilizes additional resources to make sure that students are on track to complete their education.
“Our Advocacy and Resource Center team not only contacts each student who applies, but they provide them with referrals to local, state, and national resources to further help their situations,” said Clinton. “Our students are reached out to periodically to make sure they are doing all right. I think that shows who we are at TSTC; we take care of each other like family.”
TSTC’s culture of caring to provide students with the resources they need extend beyond CARES Act funding. Beth Wooten, CEO of the TSTC Foundation, said that while the foundation serves as the fundraising arm of the institution, the legacies built by students are what is most inspiring.
“A lot of our students have financial hardships,” she said. “We want to make sure that our students understand that we are here to help them. Our ultimate goal is for them to graduate and get a great paying job. We don’t want anything to get in the way of that.”
Vice Chancellor and Chief Student Services Officer Ricardo Herrera knows that students face hardships outside of their academic careers, circumstances that the TSTC Foundation will always aim to help overcome.
“There are many life challenges that a student will encounter while enrolled in college,” said Herrera. “TSTC has adopted a culture of caring initiative where we are expending resources to help students through non-school related life challenges. We have food pantries at many of our locations, Helping Hands scholarships for non-school related expenses, and counseling services for those difficult times where talking to a caring person could help. Many of these services are possible with the help of the TSTC Foundation.”
Ultimately, the drive to ensure student success is what fuels those who help make students’ dreams comes true.
“We work at the TSTC Foundation because we know that we can help change lives,” said Wooten. “We see it first-hand everyday in the students we are able to help. It is truly one of the most inspiring places to be because it is a true testament to the fact that we do change lives. That’s why we do what we do.”
Herrera reiterated that TSTC will always utilize every resource to ensure that the most important constituents, students, succeed.
“We may not be able to break down every single barrier, but it won’t be because we didn’t exhaust every option available to us.”
TSTC is committed to serving and supporting students financially, physically, mentally, and academically. Fall applications are now open. If you would like to join the TSTC family, visit tstc.edu.
To learn more about TSTC’s precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic, visit tstc.edu/coronavirus, and to learn more about the CARES Act and Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds, visit tstc.edu/student_life/caresact.