Frequently Asked Questions
Use this page to find answers to the most common questions people are asking about the West Virginia Invests Grant. If you don't find the answer you're looking for, contact your institution's financial aid office or one of our financial aid experts!
- Is there a deadline? The application does not have a deadline for 2019-20 but awards will be made on a first come first serve basis and there are steps that must be completed before the term begins (i.e. drug screen, promissory note, verification, etc.)
- What do I have to do to apply? You must file the 2019-20 FAFSA and the WV Invests Grant application at www.wvinvests.org.
- What terms does the application cover? The WV Invests application currently covers the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters. The application for Summer 2020-Spring 2021 will become available October 1, 2019.
- Do I have to apply each year? Yes, you must apply and file the FAFSA each year to qualify for the WV Invests Grant.
Visit our drug screening page for details on the drug screening process.
- Who must be tested? Any student who applies and wishes to be considered for funding through the WV Invests Grant Program must submit a drug screening within 60 days prior to each semester for which they are applying for grant funding.
- How often must I be tested? You must be tested prior to the beginning of every semester in which you apply for WV Invests Grant funding.
- Are the results confidential? The results are confidential. The approved medical provider will send you a copy of your testing results within one week of receipt of your specimen and will also send the results to CTCS Financial Aid Office. Only a positive or negative will be shared. No further information is provided from the drug screening company.
- Where do I go to complete my drug screening? Facilities, locations, and times are available here or on the Participate In Program site. Once you receive an award letter from the WV Invests Grant Program, visit Participate In Program to create an account, pay for your drug screen, find a location and schedule an appointment.
- Do I need an appointment? Appointments are not required. Walk-ins are available during business hours.
- What should I bring to the drug screening facility? You must bring a government issued photo ID and a Drug Screening Authorization Form. The Drug-Authorization form will appear on your "Participate in Program" account once you have paid for your drug screen. Failure to provide an accurate WV Invests Grand ID number when creating your "Participate in Program" account may result in invalidation of the drug screening.
- Where can I find my WV Invests Grant ID? The WV Invests Grant ID is provided on the confirmation page of your WV Invests online application. It will also be included in the award letter you will receive from the CTCS Financial Aid Office.
- Should I go ahead and take the drug screening right after I apply? No. Wait until you receive an award letter for the WV Invests Grant before submitting a drug screening. Once you receive your award letter you will need to create an account at Participate In Program where you will pay for your drug screen and find a location and schedule your drug screen.
- What happens if I am taking legally-prescribed medications? If you are taking legally-prescribed medications, you must provide documentation of the prescription when you submit your specimen at the screening facility. Additionally, you should be prepared to discuss any medications with the Medical Review Officer if questions arise.
- How do I get the results of my screening? The drug screen results will be sent to your Participate in Program account within a couple days. You can access your Participate in Program account at Participate In Program.
- What are the possible drug screening results?
- Negative – you tested negative for controlled substances and will be processed for the WV Invests Program as passed.
- Positive – you tested positive for controlled substances and will not be eligible for WV Invests Grant Program funding for the semester in which you applied.
- If the results are positive, can the student still take classes and receive other forms of financial aid? The drug screening results are only used to determine your eligibility for WV Invests Grant funding. The results will not impact your eligibility to receive other forms of financial aid (Pell Grants, student loans, etc.), nor with they affect your ability to enroll in classes at your institution. .
- Can I appeal the drug screening results?
Yes, you may appeal the results of the drug screening by taking a retest.
The student is responsible for paying for the retest cost. The retest compares a new drug screen to the previous drug screen that was positive.
If the retest is negative, the student would be eligible for that semester. If the retest is positive, the student may appeal to the WV Invests Grant program.
Appeals must be filed in writing within 15 days of receiving notification of the positive drug screening from the retest. The appeal must be sent to the Director of State Financial Aid Programs and must include documentation to support the claim that the analysis was faulty.
You will be notified in writing when a final decision is made regarding your appeal. - What if I refuse to submit the drug screening? You have the right to refuse to submit to a drug screening. You will not be eligible for Invests Grant funding if you refuse, however.
- Who pays for the drug screening? The student is responsible for paying for the drug screening each semester. Speak with someone in your institution's financial aid office if you will have difficulty paying for the screening. In some cases, funding may be available to offset the cost of the screening.
- If my academic program also requires regular drug screenings, do I have to take another one for WV Invests? It is up to the academic program administrator or agency partner to decide whether the WV Invests Grant Program required drug screening is adequate or if another drug screening is required. Check with your institution's financial aid office if you questions.
- What does WV Invests cover? WV Invests covers tuition and mandatory fees. WV Invests does not cover program fees, course fees, lab fees, books, supplies, etc.
- What does last dollar mean? We take the tuition and mandatory fees and subtract federal and state scholarships and grants as well as any tuition waivers first. If there is a remaining balance to cover tuition and mandatory fees, then WV Invests will cover the balance.
- What scholarships and grants are subtracted before WV Invests is calculated? Pell, SEOG, PROMISE, WV Higher Education Grant, HEAPS Part-time Grant, HEAPS Workforce, and institutional tuition waivers are subtracted first.
- What about other types of financial aid? Any other type of financial aid could be added on top of WV Invests – private or institutional scholarships and grants, vocational rehabilitation, WIA, work-study, student loans, Underwood-Smith, Engineering, Science & Technology, WV Center for Nursing.
- Do I have to use my Pell or PROMISE before using WV Invests? Yes, if you are eligible for Pell, PROMISE, WV Higher Education Grant, etc. then you must utilize those funds first before WV Invests would cover any tuition and fees. If you decide to defer receiving Pell, PROMISE, or WV Higher Education Grant, the amount you would have been eligible for will be deducted first before the amount of WV Invests Grant is calculated.
- What community service do I need to do? Those who receive funds in a term, must complete 2 hours of community service as approved and verified by the institution.
- What if I don’t complete or forget to verify the community service? The award for that term may be canceled and you will not be eligible for any further disbursements from the WV Invests Grant.
- What is the deadline for completing the community service? The 2 hours of community service must be completed during the term and before the term ends. Community service performed before the term cannot be used.
- Do I have to be a WV resident to receive WV Invests funds while I am a student at a WV institution? WV Invests funding is only available to WV residents. Even though a resident of another state is enrolled at a WV institution, that a non-WV resident is not eligible for WV Invests funding. To be eligible for funding, the student must be a US citizen and have resided in West Virginia for a minimum of one year immediately preceding the application for WV Invests grant funding. A student who moves to WV for educational purposes only, is not considered a resident.
- If I move out of state after I finish my program, do I have to pay the WV Invests back? Once a student is no longer enrolled half-time, they enter a 6-month grace period. At that point a student must be residing in West Virginia or else begin making monthly payments. A recipient must reside continually for 2 years to fulfill the requirements for the WV Invests Grant.
- Is it 2 years for each year I receive the WV Invests Grant? No, a recipient only needs to live in West Virginia for 2 years no matter how many terms or how much money the student received.
- Does living in West Virginia before I received the award count toward the 2 year residency requirement? No, only residency after a student is below half-time enrollment counts toward the 2 year residency requirement. A student cannot begin the 2 year residency requirement if they are still enrolled in college.
- What if a recipient cannot find a job in West Virginia? The WV Invests program requires all recipients to reside in West Virginia for 2 years after dropping below half-time enrollment. If a recipient moves out of state, then they would be required to pay back the WV Invests Grant plus any interest and fees.
- What happens after I graduate, cease to be enrolled, or drop below part-time enrollment? To prevent the West Virginia Invests Grant from converting to a loan, recipients must be a resident of West Virginia for at least 2 years after dropping below part-time college enrollment, ceasing to be enrolled, or graduating. That post-enrollment residency requirement starts immediately but you will first enter a 6-month grace period, during which time the West Virginia Invests Grant Program will attempt to verify your West Virginia residency with other state databases. If your residency cannot be verified with those agencies, you will be required to provide a West Virginia Invests Grant Residency Verification Form and acceptable current documentation of your residency.
- What if I transfer to another institution and no longer receive WV Invests Grant? Your post-enrollment residency requirement begins after you drop below part-time enrollment. Institutions are required to regularly report enrollment to the National Student Clearinghouse and we will confirm your continued enrollment with that entity. Because of various reporting timelines by institutions, verification of your continued enrollment may not occur in a timely manner. If that occurs, to prevent your grace period from starting or your award going into repayment, you may need to complete a West Virginia Invests Grant Enrollment Verification Form with your current school of enrollment.