Frequently Asked Questions – Spring 2020/Summer 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 to apply?
- Students experiencing additional expenses or financial hardships related to disruptions
to campus operations related to the college’s pandemic responses.
- Students must have been enrolled in on-campus/face-to-face courses for Spring 2020
with end dates after March 13.
- Students exclusively in online enrollment are not eligible.
- Students enrolled in Summer 2020 for courses with start dates of June 1 that were
intended to be offered on-campus may also qualify.
- Students must have been enrolled in on-campus/face-to-face courses for Spring 2020
with end dates after March 13.
- 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 who have not completed a FAFSA for either 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 will need to complete one in order to demonstrate eligibility for the CARES Act Emergency Grants.
How much are the CARES ACT Emergency Grants?
Funds are limited. Students are encouraged to submit the application as soon as possible.
For EICC, CARES Act Emergency Grants will range from $500 - $1,050 per student. The
following factors may be used when reviewing applications for funding and determining
the grant amount.
- Submission date of the application
- Financial need based on the FAFSA
- Cost related to enrollment status
Can a student apply for more than one CARES Act Emergency Grant?
Students are only eligible to receive one CARES Act Emergency Grant.
When should I apply?
The final deadline is June 30, 2020. All completed applications will be regularly
reviewed in a timely manner and students will receive email communications on their
status.
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?
- After submission of the application, the college will review and process approvals
within 2 weeks. 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.edu or 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
It 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 Debora J. Sullivan, Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Equity Coordinator,
Eastern Iowa Community College District, 101 West Third Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801,
563-336-3487, djsullivan@eicc.edu or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights,
U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1475,
Chicago, Illinois 60661-7204, phone number 312-730-1560, fax 312-730-1576, OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.