Overview
Thank you for your interest in pursuing a high-demand industry credential at Blue Ridge Community College. The Workforce and Continuing Education (WCE) Division at BRCC responds to both demand and need for workforce training in the community, and employers rely on the division’s expertise to help meet their increasingly complex workforce needs for high-demand jobs.
However, the cost of training for high-demand occupations can often create a financial barrier for those who wish to pursue training. The FASTFORWARD Program (FF) is a new funding opportunity available to qualifying applicants through the Workforce Division. This grant underwrites the cost of select pre-approved high-demand training programs for our area, making the opportunity to pursue training more accessible and affordable.
FASTFORWARD Program (FF)
The FASTFORWARD Program (FF) is a program funded by the Virginia General Assembly to encourage the attainment of high-demand workforce credentials by reducing the cost of tuition for approved credential preparation programs by two-thirds. Eligible students are required to pay one-third of the cost of tuition with the explicit expectation they will seek and obtain the correlating credential identified for their program of choice.
Should an applicant qualify for FF, additional funding may be available through the Financial Aid for Noncredit Training leading to Industry Credentials (FANTIC) Program or Get Skilled, Get a Job, Get Ahead (G3) program for qualifying students who demonstrate a financial need. G3 and FANTIC cover 100% cost at the time of registration. Details about this program are described on page seven below.
FASTFORWARD Program Expectations
Eligible individuals who participate in the FASTFORWARD Program (FF) will be expected to regularly attend and actively participate in class. Furthermore, all individuals will be expected to successfully attain the designated credential or licensure at the end of their training, whether the cost of credential assessment is included in the total cost of tuition or requires an additional fee for testing at a third-party site.
FASTFORWARD Application Procedure
To apply for the FASTFORWARD (FF) Program, students should follow the steps below:
- Complete the Domicile Determination Form (PDF) and submit to the enrollment team at the Houff Student Center to determine if you are a Virginia resident.
- If the student is determined to meet domicile requirements, he/she is eligible to enroll in a FF class of their choosing. The student will be required to sign the promissory note stating their obligations upon accepting this funding. After registering for a class, the student’s application and signed promissory note will be placed in the appropriate file for future reference.
- If the student is determined to not meet the domicile requirements, he/she may appeal the decision to the college’s domicile expert in the Admissions and Records department for additional review. They will be provided a checklist of documents that can be submitted as part of this appeal. If approved, the domicile expert will forward back to WCE staff the documentation used to verify domicile status and will be placed in the appropriate file for future reference.
- Applications will be reviewed to determine eligibility for FF funding. If an applicant is deemed eligible to participate in the program, he/she will be notified by the registration staff by email or phone call. All applicants who are approved for either FF will be required to sign a Release Form/Promissary Note (PDF) that outlines program expectations, including but not limited to, acknowledgement of the cost to the recipient and the student’s obligations and responsibilities for obtaining these funds.
BRCC Workforce Credentials Grant Awarding Procedures
1.0 Awarding Procedure
1.1 Eligibility
Blue Ridge Community College awards tuition discounts to Virginia residents for non-credit training for programs listed in Appendix B on a first-come, first served basis. A limited amount of funding is available.
FastForward Student Eligibility and Expectations
FastForward students must:
- be domiciled in Virginia;
- plan to enter the workforce soon after completing the FastForward program;
- no longer be in high school or be a high school senior meeting all requirements to graduate on time as determined by the student’s school division;
- have documented permission of a parent or guardian if under the age of 18;
- pay one third the cost of the program;
- meet all other regulatory requirements related to course and credential completion.
Students meeting these requirements are automatically eligible to receive FF tuition discount for FF programs. This is determined after the student completes the domicile form (PDF) and submits it to the enrollment team in the Houff Student Center.
1.2 Course/Program Withdrawals and Refunds
One day classes: Students must email info@brcc.edu (or call 540/453-0264) 3 business days prior to the start of class in order to receive a refund.
All other classes: Students must email info@brcc.edu (or call 540/453-0264) before the published drop date in order to receive a refund for any class or to be withdrawn without financial penalty from a FastForward funded course. Drop dates for current classes can be found on the Workforce Solutions page under “WCE Class Refunds”.
Refunds requested after listed refund policy dates are not automatic and must be requested via the Tuition Refund request form found on the Tuition Refund Appeals page and submitted to the Vice President of Finance and Administration who will review the request.
Funds will be returned to the student in the same form used to pay the tuition. Refunds, regardless of type, may take anywhere from seven to ten business days to complete.
- Students enrolled in a class where materials or textbooks are included in tuition and handed out in class are required to return those items prior to being refunded or withdrawn.
- Requests made after the stated refund period are not automatic and must be requested via the Tuition Refund request form (Appendix A) and submitted to the Vice President of Finance and Administration who will review the request.
- Students who wish to withdraw after the withdraw/refund date and do not submit a Tuition Refund request form will be charged one-third of the FastForward class cost at the end of the FastForward course and will not receive a refund for any tuition paid. Failure to pay the one-third will prevent the student from being eligible to re-enroll in a FastForward course.
- Students who wish to withdraw after the withdraw/refund date and submit a Tuition Refund request form and are approved will not be charged one-third of the FastForward cost and will receive a full refund for any tuition paid. Students are required to return any textbooks to the Houff Student Center before being officially withdrawn.
- Students who wish to withdraw after the withdraw/refund date and submit a Tuition Refund request form and are not approved will be charged one-third of the FastForward cost and will not be refunded any tuition paid at enrollment. Failure to pay the one-third will prevent the student from being eligible to re-enroll in a FastForward course.
- If a waiting list exists for the class the student is withdrawing from, the student will be removed from the class and their spot will be filled with the next student on the waiting list.
The Vice President of Finance and Administration has been delegated authority to consider requests and approve appeals for refunds. The decision of the Vice President of Finance and Administration is final and not subject to further appeal.
1.2.1 Refund Procedures
All requests for refund after the stated refund period must be made using the attached Tuition Refund Appeal form (Appendix A) along with supporting documentation. For FF courses, requests must be made before the published drop date in order to receive a refund for any class or to be withdrawn without financial penalty from a FastForward funded course. Drop dates for current classes can be found on the Workforce Solutions page. If a refund is approved for any course, funds will be returned to the student in the form for which the tuition was paid. For instance, if a credit card was used, a credit will be made to the student’s credit card; a written check or cash payments will be refunded with a check from the college and any refund regardless of type may take anywhere from seven to ten business days to complete.
1.2.2 Refund Reasons
Refunds may be granted for the reasons listed below, and will do so, as long as the appropriate written supporting documentation is provided:
Major medical emergency – An extended illness or major medical emergency occurring during the semester in which you are registered which requires hospitalization, is life-threatening, or is contagious and is a danger to the remainder of the college community.
- Documentation will be by a physician’s statement on the doctor’s official letterhead (copies of the student’s medical records will not be accepted). This must be an unscheduled medical emergency diagnosed after the last day to drop for tuition refund.
- The physician’s letter must include the date the student was first seen for the medical condition, as well as the beginning and ending date the student was incapacitated or hospitalized and must state that the student was physically unable to attend classes during this period of time (which caused the student to miss 20 percent or more of the scheduled instruction).
- A letter that does not specifically state, “the student was physically unable to attend classes” will not be grounds to approve an appeal.
- Pre-existing conditions are not justifiable.
Extreme financial hardship – involving the sudden, unforeseen loss of an extreme nature. An example of such an extreme hardship would be that caused by the loss of the student’s owned home through fire or flood.
Death of a student’s immediate family member – with certification. A student’s immediate family is defined as father, mother, spouse, sibling, or the student’s child.
Administrative errors by BRCC personnel — The appeal for refund in these instances must be initiated through, and with the concurrence of, the BRCC employee providing you the advice and counsel.
Military students – involving a military student whose service in the uniformed services requires their sudden withdrawal or prolonged absence from their enrollment. For purposes of this section, military Service in the uniformed services is defined as service (whether voluntary or involuntary) on active duty in the Armed Forces, including such service by a member of the National Guard or Reserve, when mobilized or deployed for a period of more than 30 days under call or order to active duty of more than 30 days.
- Dependents of military members may also be given consideration under this policy. Dependents are defined as any civilian qualifying as a military dependent under 37 USC 401 currently or as otherwise amended.
- At the option of the military student, such refunds may be retained by the college and be applicable to tuition and fees charged in the semester or term in which the student returns to study.
These restrictions are established by Policy 4.3.2.3 of the Virginia Community College System.
Refunds will not be approved for the following reasons:
- Personal errors in judgment or irresponsibility involving transportation, availability of finances, academic ability, time management.
- Misinterpretation of college policies and procedures as published in the BRCC Catalog, BRCC Student Hand book, BRCC Schedule of Classes or the BRCC webpage.
- Lack of knowledge of college policies and procedures as published in the BRCC Catalog, BRCC Student Hand book, the BRCC Schedule of Classes or the BRCC webpage.
- Dissatisfaction with course content. Issues concerning academic instruction must be addressed with the appropriate academic dean.
- Dissatisfaction with academic progress in course.
- Non-attendance or minimal attendance of class.
- Inadequate investigation of course requirements prior to registration and attendance.
- Non-qualification, late application, or loss of eligibility for financial aid or scholarships.
- Non-receipt of mail due to obsolete address on file with the Enrollment Services Office.
- Notification of domicile status after the refund period.
- Changes of, or personal conflicts with, the instructor of record.
- Student errors resulting in the delay of administrative processes relative to registration or the delivery of financial aid funds.
- Voluntary/involuntary acceptance of employment or other activity impacting ability to attend class (i.e., lack of child care; work schedule/hours/location changed; vacation).
- Incarceration in a civilian or military facility.
1.3 Repeating a program or a portion thereof or taking a second FF course:
1.3.1
Students who have unsuccessfully attempted a course or program may not repeat the same course/credential or program with FF funding. Provided he/she pays the second third of the cost of tuition from the first attempt, the student may use FF funding for a different credential program or pay full price and repeat the same credential program. A portion of a program may be completed at the instructor’s discretion.
1.3.2
Students who successfully completed a course and who wish to take another FF course, or who wish to concurrently enroll in two FF courses, must submit the appeal form in Appendix C describing why they wish to do so.
1.4 Notification of students regarding course/program beginning and ending
When a student registers for a class, he/she will be able to view the details of their course/program by logging into the student registration system online. This includes when the course begins, when it ends and their final grade.
1.5 Expectations regarding time to complete and time to credential
Students taking FF courses/programs are expected to complete the course by earning an “S” grade within thirty (30) days of the course end date. Upon successful completion of a course where the cost of the credential is embedded in the tuition of the course, the student will have a maximum of 120 days to take the credential test. Students must work closely with the instructor and/or career coach to schedule when they can take this test. The college will not pay for this test following the 120th day beyond the end of the course. Students who fail to complete a funded program of study or to pass the associated credential are not eligible for additional awards.
1.6 Payment Policy
A student is expected to pay for the first one third (1/3) of the cost of tuition upon registering for a FF course. No student will be enrolled unless this is paid for prior to the start of the course. Students who fail to complete successfully by earning an “S” grade within thirty (30) days of the course end date agree to pay an additional 1/3 of the total course cost to Blue Ridge Community College. If they earn an “S” grade within thirty (30) days of the program end date, they will not have any further financial obligations to the College for this course.
If the student must pay this additional one-third cost of the course tuition to the College, they will understand and agree to the following terms:
- The student will agree that he/she must pay all of the money he/she owes to the College, although there may be reasons under the law that would reduce the amount that he/she owes to the College. The student also agrees not to claim that he/she does not owe money to the College, which means that homestead and all other exemptions, presentations, demand, protest, and notice of dishonor will be waived by the undersigned.
- If the College does not receive payment within the time frame noted in the College policy, the student will understand and agree that the Commonwealth will take all actions, including deb set-off, to collect the money he/she owes to the College.
- The student will also agree to pay all associated collection costs and/or attorney’s fees if necessary to collect the money he/she owes to the College.
Students Using a Third Party Payment for Their Course
In the event where the college has an agreement with the student’s employer or third party provider covering specific participation in the FASTFORWARD (FF) course, the student is not responsible for the additional one-third payment of the total course cost should the student not successfully complete the course by earning an “S” grade within thirty days of the course end date. The student will acknowledge and understand that he/she may owe the employer or third party provider the additional one-third payment of the total course cost under a separate agreement if the student does not successfully complete the course.
1.7 Satisfactory Proof of Completion of a Workforce Credential
Students who complete a credential test within 120 days following the end of the course will be expected to report back to the instructor or to the career coach whether or not they passed for recording purposes. Failing to do so may prevent the student from being eligible to enroll in future FF courses or programs.
1.8 Grade Appeal Process for Students
Students receiving an unsatisfactory grade in a course who feel that the grade is somehow unfair or has a complaint about a FF course or program experience may follow the appeals process ensuring their complaint or grade issue is heard and reviewed. A change in the grade may or may not occur if the appeal is grade related. The complaint issue may also need to be addressed depending upon the nature of the issue. The steps to follow include:
- The student should initially address their grade or issue first in writing with their instructor to see if a resolution can be made. This should be done within 30 days of the end date of the class for which the student received the grade or had an issue that warranted a complaint.
- If a satisfactory resolution cannot be made, the student may further appeal to the Dean of Workforce and Continuing Education in writing. This should be done within 10 days of the response to the student by the instructor in step one. The Dean will render his/her decision within 10 days of receipt of the appeal.
- The student may then appeal this decision to the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services if they feel that the Dean’s decision is not satisfactory. This appeal must occur within 10 days of the Dean’s decision. The Vice President’s decision will be made within 10 days of submission of the appeal and his/her decision will be final.
Income Based Financial Aid Procedures Including G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Get Ahead) and FANTIC (Financial Aid for Non-Credit Training)
The FASTFORWARD Program is available to those students that are Virginia residents. Students must complete the Domicile Form (PDF) and submit it to Outreach and Enrollment staff in the Houff Student Center. In addition to this funding, the student may also be eligible for need-based funding that can help 100% of the remaining 1/3 of the cost of tuition. The applicant must complete a Financial Aid Application (PDF) to determine final eligibility for the aid known as Get Skilled, Get a Job, Get Ahead (G3) and Financial Aid for Non-Credit Training (FANTIC).
The G3 and FANTIC programs provide funding for students demonstrating financial need who are enrolled in an approved noncredit workforce training program leading to the attainment of an industry recognized credential or licensure (2015 Act of Appropriation, Chapter 665, Section 4-5.01 (b) Student Financial Assistance for Higher Education). The funds allocated for this program in FY 2022 will be used exclusively for need-based financial aid for noncredit workforce training and related testing leading to in-demand industry credentials approved for the FASTFORWARD Program (FF).
Funding for G3 and FANTIC is limited and subject to availability.
1.0 Awarding Procedure
1.1 Eligibility
Blue Ridge Community College awards financial aid to non-credit students on a first-come first served basis. A limited amount of funding is available.
1.2 Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible for VCCS financial aid for noncredit training, a student must:
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen as defined under Addendum A of the SCHEV domicile guidelines
- If the student is not a U.S. citizen, the institution shall require proof of current legal status.
Be domiciled in the Commonwealth pursuant to the Code of Virginia, § 23.1-502, as determined by the eligible institution. Domicile is to be determined when enrolling a student in a FAST FORWARD Program before determining eligibility for G3 or FANTIC. See above.
Have completed high school requirements; or No longer be enrolled in high school and be 18 or older; Proof of age may include a valid state-issued identification card, birth certificate, or passport.
Be in compliance with federal selective service registration requirements, unless the requirement to register has terminated or become inapplicable to the student, and the student shows by preponderance of the evidence that failure to register was not a knowing and willful failure to register; Compliance can be verified at https://www.sss.gov/Home/Verification.
Not be currently enrolled in an associate or bachelor’s degree program, unless the noncredit program provides training related to the degree program and is necessary to meet a job requirement or advance student’s employment success;
Be accepted and enrolled in an eligible training program at Blue Ridge Community College. For a list of eligible programs, see Appendix B.
Be ineligible for other forms of tuition and/or training assistance – i.e. employer assistance, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment Training (SNAPET), Virginia Initiative for Employment Not Welfare (VIEW), Virginia’s work program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, federal or state financial aid, etc. – for the noncredit course to which the industry based credential (IBC) funds are applied. Students in receipt of other tuition assistance are not eligible for IBC funds for the same individual course.
Have completed and submitted a BRCC WCE Financial Aid Application (PDF). This includes submission of the following:
Providing proof that the student or the dependent student’s parent (see definition of “dependent student” as used in§§23.1-500-503.) has a household adjusted gross income that is 400% or below of the national federal poverty level for G3 and FANTIC funding (See Appendix D ). This income threshold is in effect through June 30, 2025 (end of FY24-25) and may be revisited at that time. Proof of income can be provided using at least one of the following:
- Most recent copy of Tax Transcript for IRS;
- As obtained from http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript, or,
- If the tax transcript is unavailable, satisfactory proof of prior year income, can include copies of wage stubs or W2 forms, bank statements;
NOTE: If the student’s financial situation has changed within the last year a letter of appeal (see Appendix E) may be submitted to the Director of Financial Aid to consider the student’s current financial status. The institution will determine the required documentation for proof of current income, which may include recent pay stubs, evidence of a job change, bank statements, etc. The college will make the decision for G3 or FANTIC eligibility based on the submitted appeal narrative and related documentation. The college must maintain a record of the appeal including supporting documentation and written justification for the decision to provide funding or to deny the appeal.
- A valid state issued id (e.g. Virginia Drivers’ license).
- Social Security card or any other document that verifies applicant’s social security number.
- Any other documentation requested for review. WCE staff ensures this documentation is placed in the appropriate file for reference.
1.3 Requirements of Student Recipients
G3 and FANTIC students are not required to pay 10% of 1/3 of the tuition cost, while funding is available, 7/1/24-6/30/25.
Students who receive G3 or FANTIC funds are required to report back to Outreach and Enrollment staff or their instructor with information regarding the results of their credential test. Students who fail to complete a funded program of study or to pass the associated credential are not eligible for additional awards.
1.4 Award Amount Determination
Students will be awarded funding based upon need. Students who are below 400% of poverty level for G3 & FANTIC approved classes will receive 100% of the remaining 1/3 of the tuition cost. Students may not be awarded funding to cover the tuition costs of more than one eligible program (unless stackable) in any 12 month time frame. See the Financial Aid Award Chart (Appendix D) for income levels at which an individual is eligible for aid.
1.5 Funding Purposes
Awards that are made to students may only be utilized for an identified eligible program (see Appendix B) and testing for credentials and/or certifications related to that particular program. Students who fail to pass the credential testing on the first attempt are required to pay for additional testing. Awards may not be used to pay for indirect costs such as personal expenses, transportation or childcare. However, the cost of books and/or other course materials will be included in the cost of the course. Note: Appendix B may change periodically to include additional programs depending on approval by VCCS for Complete 2021, the new VCCS Strategic Goal.
1.6 Failure to Complete
Students who fail to complete a funded program of study (they either withdraw from the class and receive a “W” grade or do not successfully complete and receive a “U” grade) are not eligible for additional G3 or FANTIC awards. However, for mitigating or unusual circumstances, a student may complete the Appeal application (see Appendix C) and submit it to the Director of Financial Aid for review. Students with a successful appeal may be eligible for additional aid. Students who fail to pass the associated credential are not eligible for additional awards.
2.0 Distribution Procedure
2.1 Student Notification
When it has been determined that a student is eligible for Financial Aid, the staff in the Office of Financial Aid will notify the student of approval for funding and the amount of award by phone and email or regular mail. No funding will be disbursed directly to the student.
2.3 Course/Program Withdrawals and Refunds
One day classes: Students must email info@brcc.edu (or call 540/453-0264) 3 business days prior to the start of class in order to receive a refund.
All other classes: Students must email info@brcc.edu (or call 540/453-0264) before the published drop date in order to receive a refund for any class or to be withdrawn without financial penalty from a FastForward funded course. Drop dates for current classes can be found on the Workforce Solutions page.
Requests made after the stated refund date are not automatic and must be requested via the Tuition Refund Request form (Appendix A) and submitted to the Vice President of Finance and Administration who will review the request. If students have been awarded a textbook or other supplies, these must be returned in order for a withdrawal or refund to be given.
Tuition Equity Provision
Beginning with Aid Year 2022-2023, students who complete two years of high school in Virginia, finish high school in Virginia (no earlier than 2008), file two years of state income tax forms, and do not have a F, J, M, or H3 visa, have access to state financial aid.
Appendix A: Tuition Refund Appeal Form
Appendix B: Financial Aid Now Available for these Certification Programs*:
- Certified Nurse Aide
- Certified Professional Coder
- Clinical Medical Assistant
- Commercial Driver’s License (Class A or Class B)
- Patient Service Representative
- Patient Care Technician
- EKG Technician
- Medication Aide
- Phlebotomy Technician
- CompTIA A+ Certification Review, CompTIA Network+ Certification Review & CompTIA Security+ Prep, Certificate and Job Training, AWS Amazon Web Services
- Welding & Machining
- Preparing for the FAA Part 107 Certification and the Basics of Drone Technology
- Logistics (Certified Logistics Associate and Certified Logistics Technician)
- Manufacturing Specialist
*Programs are subject to change and may be added or deleted at any time throughout the year
Appendix C: Letter of Appeal
Students who fail to complete a funded program of study or to pass the associated credential are not eligible for additional awards. However, for mitigating or unusual circumstances, a student may file an appeal and submit it to the Dean of Workforce and Continuing Education for review. Please use the space below and describe your situation and why you believe you should be reconsidered eligible to receive more funding for another program. Applicants who have been denied aid may also submit an appeal explaining why they believe they should be eligible for aid.
Appendix D: G3 and FANTIC Income limits July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
| Person in Family/Household | Poverty Guideline | FANTIC and G3 400 Percent of Poverty (Poverty Guideline x 4) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,060.00 | $60,240.00 |
| 2 | $20,440.00 | $81,760.00 |
| 3 | $25,820.00 | $103,280.00 |
| 4 | $31,200.00 | $124,800.00 |
| 5 | $36,580.00 | $146,320.00 |
| 6 | $41,960.00 | $167,840.00 |
| 7 | $47,340.00 | $189,360.00 |
| 8 | $52,720.00 | $210,880.00 |