An expansion in eligibility requirements means more Peninsula College students now qualify for Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) funds, college officials announced this week.

Under the new standards, PC officials said, students no longer needs to be pursuing a professional or technical degree to be eligible for BFET funding.

“This is an amazing new opportunity for our students and a huge step towards helping with food insecurity across campus,” said Brian Kneidl, PC’s associate dean of Workforce Programs.

Previously, non-professional or technical transfer students would not have been eligible for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits unless they were working at least 20 hours a week. Under the recent change, those students only need to meet with someone from BFET, and if they are eligible and willing to receive food assistance, the college helps them apply for SNAP through Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS).

The BFET program may also be able to help students with tuition and book fees, as well as childcare subsidies through DSHS.

“This is tremendous news and the Workforce Programs Team is excited to begin expanding some of our services beyond our professional/technical students,” Kneidl said.

For more information, visit pencol.edu/BFET. A Zoom lobby is available for students with questions, Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m.-noon, at zoom.us/j/325930425%C2%A0.