GEER Funding | Montgomery College, Maryland

Welcome! We know that life under COVID has been extremely challenging, especially if you’ve lost your job, lost work hours, or haven’t been able to find a new job. Montgomery College is here to help. If you qualify, we have a new program to help you pay for classes to learn new skills, earn a license or credential, and find a job.

GEER scholarship applications are temporarily closed.

Bear with us as we allow time to process the existing applications. Check Back in May for further updates.

GEER Background Information

The Governor of the State of Maryland has established a fund to help Maryland residents who have been impacted by COVID enroll in workforce training classes that lead to a labor market recognized credential, so that students can return quickly to work. Montgomery College will distribute this funding to eligible students until September 30, 2021 or until money runs out, whichever is first.

Services

Students may qualify for support in one or more of three areas: course tuition/fees; technology needs; other fees. Depending on participant needs and available resources, students may use this funding for

Course tuition and fees up to $3,500 per participant
Technology needs related to remote instruction up to $1,000 per participant for courses over 18 hours or more.
Other fees (for example, books, certification/licensing, testing fees) up to $500 per participant

Students may also receive additional support with career planning and education decisions, referrals for social services, and job search services.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

Be a Maryland resident
Be legally eligible to work in the US
Have their employment status affected by COVID – this includes a job loss, reduction in hours, unstable employment, or challenges finding new employment
Owe no more than $5,000 to Montgomery College
Be enrolled in or ready to enroll in a GEER approved course
Meet income eligibility guidelines

Deadlines

Applications will be accepted on a first come-first serve basis while funding is available until June 30, 2021. All funding must be used by September 30. 2021.

Before you Apply

Watch the GEER Orientation PowerPoint (PDF, )
Read the GEER Program Guide (PDF, )
Start getting your required documents ready. List of Acceptable Documents. (PDF, )
Choose your career area and course(s).
1. Review the GEER listing of Approved Courses Guide. (PDF, )
2. Choose your career area. If you need help choosing a career area, contact the Educational Opportunity Center at 240-578-2076 (during normal business hours) or email beverly.coleman@montgomerycollege.edu
3. If you have questions about a particular career area, contact the WDCE Program area (PDF, ) .
Income Eligibility Guidelines (PDF, )

Application Steps:

Complete the GEER Eligibility Screening Form.
1. We will review your form.
2. If you do not qualify, we will notify you
Eligible students will get an email shortly with the link to the full application and further instructions.
1. You must complete the full GEER application, and upload all required documents (PDF, ) as instructed by the deadline indicated in your instructions to be eligible for funding.
After you submit your application and submit the required documents, please be patient as your application is being reviewed. The volume of applications is very high. You will be contacted by email for follow up actions and decisions.

GEER Eligibility Screener Form

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is this program for?

This funding is for anyone whose job or job search has been impacted by COVID. This means you lost a job, had your hours reduced, or have had difficulty finding a new job.

2. What are the eligibility requirements?

This funding is for anyone whose job or job search has been impacted by COVID. This means you lost a job, had your hours reduced, or have had difficulty finding a new job.

Applicants must:

Be a Maryland resident.
Be legally eligible to work in the U.S.
Have their employment status affected by COVID - this includes a job loss, reduction in hours, unstable employment, or challenges finding new employment.
Owe no more than $5,000 to Montgomery College.
Be enrolled in or ready to enroll in a GEER approved course (PDF, ) .
Meet income eligibility guidelines (PDF, ) .

3. What documents will I need for my application?

If you meet the preliminary eligibility requirements, you will be instructed to send us a copy of one document for each of these categories.

Maryland residence
Income
Employment status
Employment authorization

Click here for the complete list of acceptable documentation for GEER. (PDF, ) There are many documents we can accept. If you don't have something, please tell us what you have.

4. How can I use the money?

The money can be used to pay for job training classes, and technology needs, and books or credential fees if you’re enrolled in a class that will lead to a job. Read more about it in the GEER Program Guide (PDF,

) .

5. What classes and courses can I take?

You can take Montgomery College Workforce Development & Continuing Education courses that lead to a license or credential that will help you get a job quickly. This funding is NOT for classes to help you earn a college degree. Here is a complete list of GEER approved courses (PDF,

) . Make sure that we have the program you’re looking for.

6. I’m not sure what kind of jobs and careers are out there. Where can I go?

If you need more information about different jobs, a good place to start is Career Coach. It will give you information on jobs, job outlook, careers, programs, area openings, and salaries.

7. Are classes remote or face to face?

For right now, most classes are held remotely. Some courses meet face to face if there is a lab or clinical time required for credentials or licensing. If you have technology needs, please speak to the College staff member when they contact you. We understand the situation is changing quickly and Montgomery College is working hard to keep everyone as safe as possible. For more information, see Montgomery College COVID Information.

8. When do classes meet?

Check out the Workforce Development Schedule of Classes to see when the next courses will be offered. If you need a high school diploma to get a job, you may be interested in the GED Test Preparation Program. If you speak another language and need to learn more English to earn a credential, check out the Work Plus! Job Training for English Language Learners.

9. What about technology?

After you complete the full application, you will be contacted by a College staff member who will review your application and determine your technology needs. If you qualify, you will be given a voucher to use at the College bookstore for approved items.

10. What about books and credentialing fees?

You may qualify to receive help paying for books for your class or for fees to take your credential tests.

11. Are there deadlines for this program?

Yes! You must apply early before the money runs out. Then you must enroll quickly. The last date to apply is June 30, 2021 or until the money is gone. Classes fill up quickly, so you should enroll right after you receive the money. If you don’t, we need to offer the money to the next person in line.

12. Can the funds be used to pay prior debt?

No. This money cannot be used to pay for classes you've already completed. If you owe Montgomery College more than $5,000, you are not eligible to receive support from the GEER Program.

13. Can I get more than one kind of WDCE scholarship at the same time?

No. You may use only one kind of WDCE scholarship at a time.

14. Do I have to be enrolled in a class to get help with technology?

Yes. In order to qualify for technology support, you must be enrolled in a Montgomery College course that lasts for 18 or more hours, selected from the GEER approved list of courses (PDF,

) .

15. If I've already paid for a class, can I still get help?

Yes. You may be able to get help with books, technology. If you've already enrolled for a spring 2021 class that has been approved, you may still be qualified for tuition support.

16. Can I use this to pay for more than one course?

You must first complete and pass a class successfully before receiving help for a second course.

17. What other rules are there?

Please review GEER Program Guide (PDF,

) for a complete list of program rules and student responsibilities.

18. What if I don't see the course I need on the list or in the catalog?

Your selection must be made from the Approved Courses list.

19. When will I hear if I have qualified for the program?

Once you submit your screening eligibility form you need to allow us 2-3 weeks to review your form and respond to you. Students will be notified by email.

20. Who can I contact if I have a question?

Contact geer@montgomerycollege.edu

This $1,361,801 grant, awarded to Montgomery College from the U.S. Department of Education and the Maryland Higher Education Commission, is 100% funded from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Education Stabilization Fund Program - Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund. CFDA 84.425C.

Questions about GEER Program

geer@montgomerycollege.edu
WDCE Customer Service

240-567-5188

Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund