Valeria Henderson | THE RIDER
UTRGV is offering $500 for tuition and mandatory fees to students enrolled in courses during the Summer 2021 sessions. Students must register for classes by May 3.
Griselda Castilla, associate vice president for Strategic Enrollment, said under the Summer Liftoff program, all students who enroll in at least six hours during summer sessions are eligible.
“So, this includes, of course, our current students, both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as our new students that are just coming in either from high school or transferring in from other institutions,” Castilla said.
Transient students, who come home during the summer and are attending another institution, also are eligible for the program.
“Even those students can also enroll with us for at least six hours, and they will be able to benefit for the $500 Liftoff program,” Castilla said. “So, really, it is open to anyone. The only requirement that we are looking for is that they are enrolled in at least six hours by May 3.”
She described the Summer Liftoff program as a gap award.
“This is an award that goes into to help students that are not receiving sufficient gift aids to cover their tuition and fees,” she said, “So, if a student, for example, does not qualify for any financial aid at all, then they will be able to get the full $500. And then, they will just pay the difference for their coursework.”
Financial aid kicks in first for those students who receive it.
“Their financial aid goes in first, and it’s gift aid,” Castilla said. “So, any work-study or student loans are not counted. We are only looking at gift aids, such as Pell Grant, scholarship or any other grant they may be receiving during the summer.”
If the student still has a balance after their gift aid has been applied, then the Summer Liftoff pays up to $500, she said.
Among the students enrolling in the summer is biology sophomore Lloyd Rigney.
“Academically, it helps take a little bit of strain off of, kind of, worrying about, ‘How am I going to cover the payments of the extra summer tuition?’” Rigney said. “So, it just takes off a little of the worry about having to pay for everything.”
He said he will enroll in more classes to take advantage of the Summer Liftoff program.
“I needed to get some [classes] out of the way,” Rigney said. “But the extra money definitely did incentivize me a little bit more to take more credits, because it’s an opportunity to get some money off that I might not get that opportunity later.”
Communication Professor Greg Selber encourages students to take advantage of the program.
“The message is do not be denied and find a way,” Selber said. “And do not let the 1things that happen to you that are negative and to all of us stand in the way of the things that you want. … We are here to help you as much as we can. Bottom line is do not be denied.”
