The application process for the 2009-2010 Southside Tobacco Loan Forgiveness Program has ended, all available funds have been awarded. The Southwest Burley Tobacco Scholarship application is now available online.

For additional information, please visit the Southwest Burley and Southside Loan Program website or contact the VA Tobacco Scholarships Office at tobacco@swcenter.edu or via telephone to (276) 619-4378.

The 2009-2010 Southside Tobacco Loan Forgiveness Program application process is closed for this academic year.  It is anticipated that the 2010-2011 application process will open on February 1, 2010.  You are invited to apply at that time and submit the required support documentation in a timely manner.  Please monitor the websites at www.tic.virginia.edu or by typing tobacco.swcenter.edu into Internet Explorer 8.0 or better after January 15, 2010 to determine when the process will open.  Applications will be awarded on a first come, first served basis after all eligibility requirements have been met and ALL support documents received.

An applicant portal has been established to assist you in determining your current status.  Type tobacco.swcenter.edu into Internet Explorer 7.0 or better.  Click the Create A New Account link under the Applicant Portal heading.  Once you have created your account, click the Login link and enter your new username and password.  Clicking on the Documents Received link will allow you to view the dates your support documentation and SAF were received.  To complete the online application and receive an eligibility letter, the PromNote, Agreement, Transcript, and IRF had to be submitted.  Once the eligibility letter was received by the applicant and the online workshop completed, the SAF and the FA09 schedule were due.  If the date under SAF is later than 9/14/09 or empty, you are no longer eligible for an award for the 2009-2010 academic year (Fall 09, Spring 10, and Summer 10 semesters).

The staff of the VA Tobacco Scholarship and Loan Programs office regrets any inconvenience that may have been encountered.  As stated in the applicant criteria, the Agreement to Terms, and all written documentation from this office, awards are dependent upon the availability of funding.

If you feel you have received this message in error, please mail a written letter of appeal to Southside Tobacco Loan Forgiveness Program, P. O. Box 1987, Abingdon, VA  24212-1987.  Phone calls and e-mails need to be directed to the Paul Farrar at (276) 572-5484 or pfarrar@swcenter.edu.  Every attempt will be made to respond to phone calls within 48 hours.

The Southside Virginia Tobacco Scholarship/Loan program is designed to provide a stimulus for economic revitalization within the tobacco region by encouraging native Southside Virginians to return to work in a Southside locality.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Eligible localities: Amelia, Appomattox, Bedford, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Franklin, Greensville, Halifax, Henry, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Sussex, Bedford City, Danville, Emporia and Martinsville.

Please review the criteria (pdf) for the Southside Virginia Tobacco Scholarship/Loan Program.

The Southwest Burley Tobacco Scholarship program is available to Burley tobacco growers, quota holders, workers and family members residing in one of the Southwest counties.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Eligible localities: Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe.

Please review the criteria (pdf) for the Southwest Virginia Burley Tobacco Scholarship Program.

Applicants who have submitted all support documentation will have their applications evaluated and an eligibility letter mailed within 20 working days after completion.  The date the last support document is stamped RECEIVED will determine when an eligibility letter will be mailed.

Eligibility letters will include information regarding the online workshop requirement for undergraduate award recipients and provide the website address for the Student Authorization Form (SAF) to graduate award recipients.  Undergraduate award recipients will be given instructions on how to access the Student Authorization Form (SAF) in the checklist for their online workshop.  THE SAF MUST BE RETURNED TO THE VA TOBACCO SCHOLARSHIP/LOAN PROGRAMS OFFICE IN A TIMELY MANNER.  It is the responsibility of the award recipient to insure that this document is returned.  To guarantee receipt of this documentation, the award recipient should request a signature of the person who received the document.

When the SAF is received in this office, the college or university will be notified of the award and an official award letter will be mailed to the award recipient. 

Eligibility letters will include information regarding the online workshop requirement for undergraduate award recipients and provide the website address for the Student Authorization Form (SAF) to graduate award recipients.  Undergraduate award recipients will be given instructions on how to access the Student Authorization Form (SAF) in the checklist for their online workshop.  THE SAF MUST BE RETURNED TO THE VA TOBACCO SCHOLARSHIP/LOAN PROGRAMS OFFICE IN A TIMELY MANNER.  It is the responsibility of the award recipient to insure that this document is returned.  To guarantee receipt of this documentation, the award recipient should request a signature of the person who received the document.

When the SAF is received in this office, the college or university will be notified of the award and an official award letter will be mailed to the award recipient. 

All participating colleges and universities will receive a listing of applicants whose application is completed prior to the start of the Fall 09 semester.  Student Authorization Forms will be submitted to the colleges on a weekly basis untill all funds are awarded.

Most colleges and universities do not invoice until after the last drop/add dates for the institution.  The award recipient should check with his/her Financial Aid Office to determine if this award will be posted as “pending” or if he/she is responsible for paying the tuition and fees and then waiting for reimbursement.  The VA Tobacco Scholarship/Loan Programs office accepts no responsibility for late fees that are applied to an award recipient’s account. 

Once an invoice is received in the VA Tobacco Scholarship/Loan Programs office, payment will be requested from UVA, our fiscal agent.  Once payment is requested, the general time lapse is 7-10 days before payment reaches the college or university.

For additional information, please contact:

Pat Ball
Southwest Burley Tobacco Scholarships Assistant
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
P. O. Box 1987
One Partnership Circle
Abingdon, VA 24212-1987
Phone: (276) 619-4378
Fax: (276) 619-4309
tobacco@swcenter.edu

Paul “Arnie” Farrar II
Southside Tobacco Loan Forgiveness Program Coordinator
Southern Virginia Higher Education Center
820 Bruce Street
South Boston, VA  24592
Phone: (434) 572-5484
pfarrar@swcenter.edu

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