Types of Financial Aid

American Society for Quality Control Fund of the Community Foundation of WNC
This scholarship opportunity is available to students who aspire to continue their education in advanced studies in a field which relates to quality control. To be eligible to apply, the student must be a high school graduate or possess an equivalency certificate and be a resident of a county within Western North Carolina. Applications are available in the MTCC Financial Aid Office.

Route 70 Cruisers Scholarship
This scholarship opportunity was established in 2012 by the Route 70 Cruisers, a local car club from Old Fort, NC. These scholarship funds are designated for students pursuing an education in the automotive industry. One scholarship is awarded anually to a student in the Automotive Systems Technology program and another to a student in the Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology program. Recipients must have a strong desire to pursue a career in the automotive industry and have financial need.

State Employee’s Credit Union Foundation Scholarship

The SECU Foundation established this two-year scholarship program to assist NC Community College System students achieve academic success. Students must be a resident of North Carolina, demonstrate financial need per results of current FAFSA, be enrolled full-time and maintain a grade point average of at least 2.5 in order to be eligible to apply. Two scholarships are awarded annually. Applications are available in the MTCC Financial Aid Office.

State Employee’s Credit Union Workforce Development Scholarships
Six $500.00 Workforce Development Scholarships are awarded annually for students enrolled in short-term workforce training that meets specific requirements. Applications can be obtained from the Continuing Education Department.

Wells Fargo Technical Scholarship
The Department of Community Colleges makes the Wells Fargo Technical Scholarship available to second-year students in a two-year technical program who demonstrate financial need and show academic promise. One scholarship is awarded yearly. Applications are available in the MTCC Financial Aid Office.

William Harold Smith Scholarship
The William Harold Smith Charitable Trust provides scholarship assistance to graduates of McDowell High School attending a postsecondary institution. Awards are based on need and may be renewed as long as the recipient maintains satisfactory academic progress. Applications are available in the Financial Aid Office or at McDowell High School. Applications must be submitted each semester for which aid is requested.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits
McDowell Technical Community College is approved by the North Carolina State Approving Agency for the enrollment of persons eligible for education assistance benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Entitled veterans, participants in the Montgomery G.I. Bill contributory program, active duty military personnel in voluntary education programs, active members of the National Guard who are drilling, and eligible spouses and offspring who may be certified to the U.S. DVA Regional Office as enrolled and in pursuit of an approved program of education. This institution has been approved for one semester only of provisional admission. Due to late registration, some students may fail to have all admissions documentation (transcripts or test scores) and may be admitted as provisional students for one semester pending receipt of the required documentation. However, students who fail to submit all transcripts during the second semester will not be re-certified.

Dual Programs
McDowell Technical Community College is approved for Veterans’ Affairs students to pursue dual programs simultaneously. Students desiring a second program must meet with the Veterans’ Certifying Official and their advisor to complete a Dual Program Approval Form and follow the guidelines listed in the college catalog. Students must meet certain criteria to be certified for Veterans’ Affairs benefits while seeking completion of dual programs. Dual programs must be related to a single career field.

DVA Standards of Progress, Attendance and Conduct
Public Law 93-508 requires that each educational institution approved for veterans to receive educational benefits (GI Bill) must establish written policies that clearly state what is expected of the veteran in the areas of academic progress, class attendance and conduct. Many of these expectations are required of all students, veterans and non-veterans, and are covered in this Catalog ad Student Handbook.
Further requirements include that any recipient of veteran’s benefits: (1) who withdraws from all subjects undertaken will have his or her educational benefits terminated from the last date of attendance; (2) who drops any of his or her courses may have benefits reduced; and (3) must maintain a level of satisfactory academic progress. Students are considered to be making unsatisfactory progress if they have not achieved a level of progress consistent with their time in the program. Veterans who are making unsatisfactory progress will be terminated by the Veterans Certifying Official. When performance meets the level of satisfactory progress, the recipient may be recertified. Recipients of DVA benefits need to consult the Veteran’s Certifying Official before enrolling in telecourses, Cooperative Education classes, Internet classes, or making course substitutions.

Veterans Pay Schedule
For accuracy, a veteran should contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Atlanta, GA, at 1-888-442-4551 for an assessment of benefits that they may receive. Benefits will vary according to many criteria. A period of six to ten weeks should be allowed for receipt of the Veterans Administration subsistence check.

For more information about programs available at this institution, contact the campus Veterans Certifying Official in the MTCC Financial Aid Office.