Gov. Jim Justice Takes Action to Help West Virginia Students with College Financial Aid Chaos

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has taken decisive action to help students in the state overcome the chaos caused by the federal government’s new college financial aid application process. The new system has been plagued by technical issues, causing delays and sidelining some students’ applications.

Governor Justice has declared a State of Emergency for West Virginia, allowing the state to bypass the problematic FAFSA process and provide much-needed funding to students. Under this emergency declaration, students who apply for and qualify for the PROMISE Scholarship by September 1 will receive up to $5,500 for the 2024-25 academic year.

Additionally, the state will use last year’s FAFSA data to award needs-based funding through the West Virginia Higher Education Grant, benefiting students who are already enrolled in college. Those who qualify for certain assistance programs will also be eligible for additional funding under the grant.

Despite these efforts, the federal government’s failure to address the issues with the FAFSA process has had a significant impact. FAFSA applications for freshmen are down nationwide, with a 40% decrease in West Virginia alone. U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito has been critical of the administration’s handling of the situation, calling for more aggressive action.

It is clear that more needs to be done to support students in West Virginia and across the country. Governor Justice’s actions highlight the importance of eliminating obstacles for those seeking to further their education and improve workforce training. It is now up to the federal government to step up and address the issues with the FAFSA process to ensure that students can access the financial aid they need to succeed.