All of the funding for this program for the 2011-12 academic year has been awarded. Please check back after July 1, 2012, for updated information.

The Governor's Education Grant for Working Adults is funded by the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) and administered by the Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO). The grant is designed to assist under-employed working adult students seeking to acquire new or enhanced skills that will permit them to increase their earning potential in present or future employment. To qualify, you must be:

1. 18 or older.
2. a high school graduate or GED recipient.
3. a resident of Delaware and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

Grant amount:
The maximum grant for one academic year (July 1 through June 30) is $2,000. Schools accepting the Governor's Education Grant for Working Adults are currently limited to not-for-profit Delaware-based institutions of higher education and adult education training programs at vocational-technical high schools who have agreed contractually to adhere to the following payment schedule:

Participating schools:
Adult Education Centers:

• New Castle County Vo-Tech School District Adult Education Division
• Polytech Adult Education
• Sussex Tech Adult Division

Colleges:

• Delaware College of Art & Design
• Delaware Technical and Community College (all campuses)
• Delaware State University
• Goldey-Beacom College
• University of Delaware, Professional and Continuing Studies (noncredit certificates only)
• Wilmington University

Enrollment requirements:

• You must attend a participating school.
• Eligible enrollment is defined as (a) enrollment in non-credit adult education classes or (b) part-time enrollment in college classes with a courseload of 11 credits or less.
• If you take courses using grant funds, you must agree to allow the school to release grade and progress information to the Delaware Higher Education Office. Academic progress is monitored and may impact future eligibility.

Employment requirements:

• You must be employed by a company in Delaware. Employees of government agencies are not eligible.
• Any part-time or temporary employment at a Delaware company qualifies.
• If employed full-time, you must work for a small business in Delaware with 100 or fewer employees.

Income requirements:
Your individual annual income must not exceed 300% of the annual Federal Poverty Level, or $32,670 for 2011–12. For households of more than one individual, the following individual income limits apply:

Restrictions:

1. Full-time college students are not eligible for a grant for enrollment in interim winter sessions or summer sessions.
2. Grants for part-time students enrolling in summer sessions are dependent upon funding.
3. Students who receive any other scholarships or grants for their educational expenses are not eligible. (Employee-paid tuition benefits may be used with grants without penalty.)
4. Graduate-level coursework does not qualify.

Deadline:
Applications may be submitted through the close of the term or conclusion of the training program for which they are intended. Grants are nonrenewable. You must submit a new application each term.

Payment:
You will be notified in writing if you qualify for a grant. If you provide an email address, you can expect to receive your notification via email, unless you request a copy via postal mail. Your school will receive a copy of your notification letter and will apply credit for the grant to your charges. The school will determine the exact amount of your financial responsibility for your courses. Grant funds will be paid directly to the school in all cases.

NOTE: Dislocated, laid off, and underemployed workers may be eligible for a Delaware Workforce Investment Board Individual Training Account Grant of up to $4,000.