Beginning March 15, 2021, SCTCC will begin disbursing Student Aid funds to eligible students via both automatic and application grants. These funds are from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) and are governed by federal guidelines.
First disbursement to be made the week following spring break (March 15-19, 2021)
- $600 disbursement to each enrolled Pell eligible student – approximately 1,215 students
- No action required
- Total estimated first disbursement - $729,000 of $1,527,599
Second disbursement to be made in April (anticipated dates of April 12-16, 2021)
- $360 disbursement to each enrolled student with EFC (Expected Family Contribution) under $15,000 (demonstrated financial need, includes Pell eligible)
- No action required
- Approximately 2,200 students (inclusive of Pell) – total estimated second disbursement - $792,000
Emergency Grant Awards
- These grants will require an application that includes documentation of need.
- Students with an EFC under $15,000 and who has experienced financial difficulty or hardship related to COVID-19 may apply for a Financial Assistance grant.
- Watch for more information on the application for Emergency Grants.
Students who are eligible will see their grant award after March 19, 2021, under the Bills and Payments tab in eServices when they log in.
Please allow SCTCC until March 26, 2021, to disburse and mail all the grant awards.
Eligibility Requirements
Students who meet the following federal eligibility requirements may receive one or more types of CRRSAA funding:
- Must be a new or returning student actively enrolled for Spring 2021 in any online, hybrid, or face-to-face credit, non-credit or continuing education courses.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (including a U.S. national or permanent resident) and have a valid Social Security number;
- Have a high school diploma or GED certificate;
- Must NOT BE one of the following:
- Enrolled in Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
- Enrolled via Concurrent Enrollment/College in the Schools
- A senior citizen
- Receiving third-party payment for tuition through an employer
- An undocumented/DACA student
- Currently incarcerated
Two Types of Student Aid
Pandemic Relief Grants – no action required
Pandemic Relief Grants will be distributed automatically to eligible students based on financial need information from the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A student must be Pell eligible or have an EFC (estimated family contribution) of $5001-$15,000 to qualify for the Pandemic Relief Grants.
Who will receive this award?
All Pell-eligible students enrolled at SCTCC who also meet the CRRSAA eligibility requirements will receive a Pandemic Relief (Pell Eligible) Grant disbursement from this pool of funds.
How is Pell Grant eligibility determined?
Pell Grant eligibility is determined through a student’s FAFSA. If a student received a Pell Grant for the Spring Semester 2021, they are Pell-eligible.
How much will be awarded to each student and when will it be disbursed?
Each student will receive an automatic award of $600 to be issued via check or direct deposit between March 15 and March 19, 2021. A total of $729,000 was allocated to this category of fudning.
How will students know if they are receiving a Pandemic Relief (Pell Eligible) Grant?
Students should log into e-Services and check their Financial Aid Awards screen on or after March 15. Students with direct deposit should see the funds in their bank account by March 19.
How will Pandemic Relief (Pell Eligible) Grants be disbursed?
Checks will be mailed to the student’s permanent address on file if direct deposit has not been set up.
Who will receive this award?
Students who meet the CRRSAA eligibility requirements, who are not Pell-eligible, and whose Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is in the range of 5,001 to 15,000 will receive a Pandemic Relief (EFC Below 15,000) Grant disbursement from this pool of funds.
How are EFC and Pell eligibility determined?
Pell eligibility and a student’s EFC are both determined through a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A student can view his EFC score by logging into their FAFSA for the academic year 2020-21.
How much will be awarded to each student?
The award amount for eligible students is $435.
A total of $792,000 was allocated to this category of funding.
How will students know if they are receiving a Pandemic Relief (Pell Eligible) Grant?
Students should log into e-Services and check their Financial Aid Awards screen on or after March 11; they can also check their email for a notification from the Financial Aid office.
How and when will Pandemic Relief Grants (EFC Below $15,000) be disbursed?
Each eligible student will receive an automatic award to be issued via check or direct deposit, anticipated between April 12-16, 2021. Checks will be mailed to the student’s permanent address on file if direct deposit has not been set up.
Financial Assistance Grants – application required
The second type, Financial Assistance grants, are available by application only. The application will be made available to eligible students in the near future. Watch for more information.
A total of $206,599 was allocated to this category of funding. Students with an EFC under $15,000 and who has experienced financial difficulty or hardship related to COVID-19 may apply for a Financial Assistance grant.
Grant funds may be used toward any component of the student’s cost of attendance (including tuition, fees, books, housing, food, etc.), for health care including mental health, or for unexpected or emergency costs that have arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
How do students apply for this grant?
Students must apply for this funding through a very simple application process. The application will require a login with a student’s starID and password. Students will be notified of their award status by email. Watch for more info on the application.
Are fully online students eligible to apply?
Yes. This is a change from the CARES Act criteria.
If a student received a CARES Act emergency grant, can the student apply for this CRRSAA grant?
Yes, within eligibility guidelines.
If a student received a CRRSAA automatic Pandemic Relief grant, can the student also apply for this Financial Assistance grant?
Yes.
How much will be awarded to each student?
Each CRRSAA Financial Assistance Grant may be awarded up to $1,000. This is the maximum award amount per student for the Financial Assistance Grant portion of CRRSAA funding. This is a one-time award and an application and documentation are required.
How will awards be disbursed?
Checks will be mailed to the student’s permanent address on file if direct deposit has not been set up. Students are encouraged to sign up for direct deposit in e-Services, under the Financial Aid tab.
Frequently Asked Questions about CRRSAA Student Funding
Yes. Students who received CARES Act funding may also be eligible to receive CRRSAA funding. See eligibliity requirements above. CRRSAA expanded the eligibility for student funding to include fully online students and those taking non-credit courses (which were not included in CARES Act eligibility).
Yes. Students who received automatic funding from the CRRSAA Pandemic Relief Grant (Pell or EFC) can apply for additional funds through the CRRSAA Financial Assistance Grant application but they must be able to explain and document why they need the additional funds.
The CRRSAA Financial Assistance Grant is separate from the automatic CRRSAA Pandemic Relief Grants. CRRSAA Pandemic Relief Grant amounts received by a student do NOT count towards the Financial Assistance Grant award maximum of $1,000.
Yes. Online students are included in this funding as long as they meet the eligibility requirements noted above.
SCTCC followed the eligibility criteria established by CRRSAA and Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and consulted with students, faculty, and staff in developing a process and distribution plan for the student funds. The distribution plan developed considered Pell Grant eligibility and EFC calculations.
No. Emergency financial aid grants under CRRSAA for cost of attendance, unexpected expenses, unmet financial need, or expenses related to COVID-19 are qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code. This grant is not included in your gross income.
Note: Because the emergency financial aid grant is not included in your gross income, you cannot claim any deduction or credit for expenses paid with the grant including the tuition and fees deduction, the American Opportunity Credit, or the Lifetime Learning Credit. See section 139(h) of the Internal Revenue Code.
For more information, please email Financial Services at financialaid@sctcc.edu or call 320-308-5961.