West Virginia colleges can group grants for paid internships

The Chancellor may award Learn and Earn grants as block grants covering multiple internships and employer partnerships. Community and technical colleges and Potomac State College may apply with one or more employer partners. Internships must provide paid work in students’ fields of study and target occupations with documented high demand. Grant money pays half of each intern’s base wages, and employers must provide an equal cash match for wages. Colleges must follow program rules, document partnerships, internships, wage payments, and employer matches, and report outcomes as required. No start or end date for block grants is stated.

The Future Workforce Grant Program may award grants for qualifying short-term job training. Applicants must have lived in West Virginia for at least 12 months and be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in training for an occupation with documented current or expected job openings in the state. Applicants must show financial need, apply for other student aid, meet the citizenship or permanent-resident rule, and not be incarcerated or in default on a higher education loan. Awards depend on available funds. The program’s rules determine award amounts. Grants are available throughout the calendar year, subject to available funds; the training must last 12 months or less.

Approved colleges may award higher education grants to undergraduate students enrolled part time or full time. The student must attend an approved institution of higher education. Grants may be renewed for up to eight full-time-equivalent semesters or until the student earns a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first. A grant cannot exceed tuition and required fees charged to West Virginia undergraduates, and payment goes directly to the institution. The eight-semester limit applies over the student’s lifetime.