Jacksonville, FL – July 17, 2020 – Edward Waters College (EWC) President, Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr., announced today that despite the economic downturn being suffered locally, nationally, and internationally due to COVID-19, the College will be easing the financial burden of returning EWC students and their parents during the 2020-2021 academic year. Specifically, the College committed to paying the financial balances of eligible returning students Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semester charges which include tuition and fees, room and board, and activity fees.

The new EWC hashtag themed student support initiative titled, “#WeGotYou,” is aimed at increasing student retention and promoting student persistence at the State of Florida’s first independent institution of higher education and first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) as students lack of financial wherewithal has traditionally acted as the most significant impediment in their progression towards completing their programs of study at the College. Relatedly, in 2019 97% of EWC’s students received some form of financial aid with 88% of the College’s student body being federal pell-grant recipients which are federally slated to assist low-resource and low-income students.    

“Many of our students, their parents or guardians, their grandparents, or significant others are struggling financially due to a loss of income pursuant to a reduction or loss in employment.” said President Faison.

“As such, we at EWC wanted to provide a way for students to afford to return to our campus and continue their program of study without having to grapple with what for many of them is an untenable and excruciating financial burden right now,” President Faison stated.

EWC’s new student financial support and retention focused initiative is made possible due in large part to the College’s recent announcements regarding its elimination of an over a decade’s long net cash operating deficit leading to a recent fiscal year-end seven-figure financial surplus combined with a forthcoming expected $3.5 million increase in state support to the College. Accordingly, both recent developments point to the growing financial strength of Florida’s oldest private College which through this latest measure evidences its intentions to significantly enhance financial support to its students in an effort to undergird their academic and overall personal and professional success.          

“I do not know of any other institution in America right now that is telling their students during these challenging financial times, ‘If you want to come back to school, don’t let finances be a deterrent. We got you!!’” President Faison said.  

Classes for the upcoming academic year at Edward Waters College begin on August 17, 2020 and the College will be offering both exclusively on-line and face-to-face/hybrid instruction to its students for the 2020-2021 school year.  Registration for classes remains on-going through the month of August and prospective students and/or parents can visit www.ewc.edu to apply or contact Mr. Kendrick Dunklin, Executive Director of Admissions in the EWC Office of Admissions at (904) 470-8202 or by email at k.dunklin@ewc.edu

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About Edward Waters College

Edward Waters College (EWC), accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and member of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), is a private, historically black, urban college, which offers a liberal arts education with a strong emphasis on the Christian principles of high moral and spiritual values. EWC was established in 1866 and is an African Methodist Episcopal Church-related institution of learning. It is the first private institution of higher education in the State of Florida.