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Frequently Asked Questions - Fall 2020 Awards

CARES Act Emergency Grants

What are CARES Act Emergency Grants?

The recently enacted federal CARES Act provided money to colleges and universities for emergency student grants. The purpose of the money is to award emergency financial aid grants to students for specific expenses that are a direct result of the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.

Who is eligible for the Fall 2020 CARES Act Grants?

Students experiencing additional expenses or financial hardships related to disruptions to campus operations related to the college’s pandemic responses.
Students exclusively in online or Live Online enrollment are not eligible.
Students must have been enrolled in on-campus courses that experienced a disruption due to the college’s COVID-19 response.
Per Federal guidance, concurrent high school students, guest students or non-degree seeking students are not eligible.
Students must be able to receive Federal Financial Aid. Students must have a FAFSA on file and meet financial aid eligibility requirements.
For the Fall 2020 Grant Awards, EICC awarded the following two groups of students:
- Group 1: EICC on-campus students experiencing expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 will receive a Federal CARES Act Emergency Grant. Students must have been attending classes on-campus, have a FAFSA on file and meet financial aid standards. Students will be awarded grants based on their enrollment status. Guest students, non-degree seeking students, exclusively online or LIVE online students and high school concurrent students are not eligible. Students must meet federal financial aid standards for Fall 2020.
- Group 2: EICC Allied Health and Nursing program students with on-going incompletes from Spring 2020 course work and additional COVID-19 disruptions will receive a CARES Act Grant. Students must have a FAFSA on file and meet financial aid standards to be eligible. Guest students, non-degree seeking students, exclusively online or LIVE online students and high school concurrent students are not eligible. Students must meet federal financial aid standards for Fall 2020.
- Students are eligible to receive either Group 1 or Group 2 CARES Act Grant Awards, but not both. Students eligible for a Fall 2020 CARES ACT Grant will receive notification and disbursement beginning December 9. The college will disburse funds using BankMobile Refund.

How much are the CARES ACT Emergency Grants?

For the Fall 2020 Awards, Group 1 eligible full time enrolled students received $350. Group 1 eligible part time students received $150.

For the Fall 2020 Awards, Group 2 eligible health program students received $400.

Does the money have to be paid back?

No, the CARES Act Emergency Grant is a grant. Students do not have to pay back the grant.

If I am approved, how long will it take to receive the CARES Act Emergency Grant? How will I receive the money?

Once a student receives an approval notification, the grant will be disbursed based on the student’s refund preferences set up with BankMobile. Find more information regarding setting up your BankMobile Refund Preferences here.
For students with an electronic/direct deposit refund preference set up with Bank Mobile, approved grants will be disbursed within 2-3 days of the notification.
For students with no preference or a paper check preference set up with BankMobile, approved grants will be disbursed and mailed within 7-30 days.
Students who are not approved for a CARES Act Emergency Grant will also receive notification regarding their application status.

If I am approved, for what expenses can I use my CARES Act Emergency Grant money?

CARES Act Emergency Grant funds are intended to be used to cover costs such as food, housing, utilities, transportation, technology, childcare or unexpected medical costs that you incurred as a result of the pandemic disruption to college operations. Students will receive the grant and can determine how to best use the received funds.

Will accepting the CARES Act Emergency Grant impact any future financial aid?

No, the CARES Act Emergency Grant does not have be counted as income on the FAFSA application. The grant will not reduce other financial aid you may qualify for.

For other questions, please contact:

Justin Sampson jdsampson@eicc.edu at CCC
Michael Beane mbeane@eicc.eduor Jane Haugland jhaugland@eicc.edu at SCC
Robin Mitchell rmitchell@eicc.edu at MCC

Questions? Call toll-free 1-888-336-3907, email eiccinfo@eicc.edu or contact the college nearest you and ask to speak to an advisor.

Clinton Community College, 563-244-7000
Muscatine Community College, 563-288-6000
Scott Community College, 563-441-4000

t is the policy of Eastern Iowa Community College District not to discriminate in its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, and actual or potential family, parental or marital status, as required by the Iowa Code §§216.6 and 216.9, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d and 2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.).

If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy, please contact EICC’s Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Equity Coordinator, Eastern Iowa Community College District, 101 West Third Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801, 563-336-5222, equity@eicc.edu or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-7204, Telephone: (312) 730-1560 Facsimile: (312) 730- 1576, TDD (800) 877-8339 Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.