Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) is unveiling a new plan to help students receive financial assistance for their studies through debt forgiveness. The plan will extend to students with balances enrolled from the fall of 2021 to the spring of 2023. The university’s decision to offer this financial support comes as efforts to alleviate student debt have become a critical issue across the nation, especially given the impact the pandemic has had on students’ financial circumstances.
MVSU’s financial aid program will leverage funds obtained through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. The program will enable the university to clear all balances for students enrolled at any time on or after March 13, 2020, with any amount outstanding. However, students who received debt forgiveness during the first round in August 2021 will not be eligible for these funds this time.
MVSU President Jerryl Briggs, Sr., expressed his dedication to supporting students’ aspirations and enabling educational opportunities despite financial challenges. “We want to assure that our students know that they and their education are a top priority,” he said.
Students with their balances cleared will now be able to remove financial holds from their accounts and register for the fall 2023 semester at MVSU. While enrolling in future semesters is not a requirement, the successful program will provide better opportunities for students to pursue their academic goals.
One of the most prominent benefits to come out of the plan is the ability to grant students whose continuing education future success by allowing official transcripts to be released.
The program will clear balances owed in tuition, fees and fines, totaling over $2.3 million in expected forgiven debt. The university has previously offered a similar program in August 2021, clearing over $1.5 million in debt.
