MHCC WORKS TO PROVIDE $500 INCENTIVE TO GET VACCINATED

Nearly a dozen Mt. Hood Community College students are set to receive a nice payout, in the school’s latest effort to confront the COVID pandemic.

In a schoolwide email sent Oct. 7, MHCC, in cooperation with the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), announced it had secured grant money to provide any unvaccinated Saints students and faculty/staff with a monetary incentive of $500 if they acted to get a COVID vaccination.

Initial confusion among some was quickly clarified with another schoolwide email from MHCC President Lisa Skari: She explained that only individuals who had not previously received any vaccine shots would be eligible for the payment. This was per terms of the grant, upon guidance from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NAFSAA) – its specific purpose to increase vaccination rates in the community and not reward those persons already vaccinated.

How many people have responded?

As of Oct. 29, the MHCC Human Resources office in charge of administrating the grant funds confirmed that 11 individuals – all students – have submitted the required documentation to show they have gotten/intend to get the vaccine shots.

Eligible individuals may seek the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, with a Dec. 31 deadline looming. “Booster” shots do not qualify.

Students and faculty/staff were emailed separate web links where they can upload their documentation.

Advocate Staff