"It had been almost five months since Virginia Commonwealth University sophomore Brittany Ofori lost her part-time job at a substance abuse center when she received an unexpected offer of help," The Washington Post reports. 

"A campus organization for first-generation college students like Ofori, 20, emailed her in February about coronavirus pandemic relief grants from the public university in Richmond. At the time, Ofori was using her savings to pay bills. Living at home alleviated one expense, but not all of them. And none of her job interviews were leading to work.

'When I got the email, I was like, ‘This money could go towards so many things: food, bills or taking a summer class,’ said Ofori, a psychology major who applied for and received $2,000. 'The last year has been hard, and it’s still going.'

 

Colleges and universities are flush with money to help students like Ofori. Congress has earmarked $35 billion in emergency aid since last spring for students facing housing, employment and food insecurities."

 

...“'Schools are trying to be mindful of some of the longer-term effects of the pandemic,' said Megan Coval, vice president of policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. 'I can see schools wanting to hold some funds back for students who come to them later with covid-related issues. This [crisis] is causing extended pain.'"

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.