Spring 2021 CARES awards coming soon!

CARES Act and HEERF Emergency Grant Application

  • CARES Act and HEERF emergency grant funds are limited, and applications will be processed in the order in which they are received on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • To qualify for funding students must –
    • be enrolled at least half time (6 credits) in the semester for which they are requesting aid, and
    • complete FAFSA or Dream Act Application.
  • Students can only submit one application in a semester.
  • Award amounts may depend on a student’s enrollment status and financial need, and range from $300 to $550.
  • This funding does not count towards the students’ estimated financial assistance (EFA) for Federal Financial Aid, and therefore it will not reduce the amount of any other aid awarded.
  • Once the application has been reviewed, the student will receive communication via their college email address regarding the status of the application, the amount awarded, and the timeline for disbursement.

What is the CARES Act?

As you may be aware, the federal stimulus package – the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act – includes one-time support for higher education institutions to help address the immediate and urgent impacts on our students and colleges. The goal of these funds is to provide student assistance with expenses related to food, housing, technology, course-related materials, health care, and child care that have arisen or increased because of the pandemic.

Who will receive the grant?

These grants will range between $250 and $550, based on the student’s documented financial need and the number of units in which the student is enrolled for the Spring. Some of students may have already received an email about missing eligibility requirements, including filling out a FAFSA, if the student hasn’t already. Unfortunately, there is not enough money from the federal government for all of our students. Still, we have worked to put together a funding model that will hopefully provide support for most students and especially those who are most in need.

Will undocumented students receive the grant?

This includes our undocumented students who are not eligible for the federal CARES Act funding but will be supported at the same levels through additional funding sources.

Will dual-enrolled high school students receive the grant?

Unfortunately, dual-enrolled high school students are ineligible for funding.

How will it be disbursed?

These funds will be primarily disbursed through BankMobile accounts, to those who are eligible. To activate an account, if you have not already and believe you are eligible, please use the BankMobile flier to complete the process. The flier is located on the top, right side of this page. If you are on a mobile device, you will find the flier at the bottom of page.

Will this be a one-time grant?

We know that many students’ financial needs will extend beyond the current semester, so we are building an emergency grant application process that we will begin to implement during the Summer term. Please look for more information about this by mid-June.

Despite the challenges we face, we are committed to your success and well-being. We are on this journey together, and we are here to support you.

Stay safe and be well.