CARES Act Grants

Higher Education Emergency Relief Grants through Federal CARES ACT


Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is partnering with the U.S. Department of Education to distribute Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to students in financial need due to unexpected expenses related to the Spring 2020,Summer 2020, or Fall 2020 disruption of campus operations by the coronavirus.

Fall 2021


Eastern Iowa Community Colleges will be awarding CARES/ARP/HEERF III grants in two disbursements for Fall 2021. 

Round 1 disbursements will occur the week of September 27. 

ARP – HEERF/CARES Emergency Grant – Federal Requirements

  • EICC must prioritize students with exceptional need. EICC’s disbursement formula provides levels that prioritizes students with Pell eligibility.
  • Students do not have to be Title IV eligible to receive funds.

EICC Requirements:

  • Fall Students.
    • Students must be enrolled in Fall Semester 2021.
    • Exclusions: current High School Students, Guest Students and Non-Degree Seeking Students.
    • Students data will be pulled on September 20 for award 1 and October 22 for award 2. Enrollment level will be determined based on the current credit hours excluding any withdrawn hours.

EICC Formula- Fall 2021

Students will be awarded twice in the Fall Semester- each award will follow the following formula.

Demonstrated Financial Need (based on EFC 9 Month)

+  Enrollment Level (cost of attendance)
____________________________

Total Award

Documented Demonstrated Need (based on financial aid status):

Level

EFC Range

Financial Aid Eligibility

Grant Award

Level 1 – Highest Need

0 – 5846

Pell Eligible

$175

Level 2 – Some Need

5847-19999

Subsidized Aid (Loans)

$100

Level 3 – Minimal Need

20,000 +

Unsubsidized Aid (UnSub Loans) or No FAFSA

$50

 

Student Enrollment Status – Cost of attendance (tuition, books, childcare, technology)

Level

SP20 Enrolled Hours

Grant Award

Level 1 – Full Time

12+

$100

Level 2 - ¾ Time

9-11

$75

Level 3 - Part Time

6-9

$50

Level 4 – Less than ½ Time

Under 6

$25

Award amounts will range from $275 to $75

Awarding:

  • EICC Student Record Data will be utilized to determine eligibility.

 

Student Disbursements will occur in two rounds

First Round:

  • Awards Posted – Week of September 27

 

Second Round: (would include any additional students/changes to levels and removal of complete drops)

  • Notifications to Balance Due Students – Week of October 25
  • Awards Posted – Week of November 1

Balance Due Students:

  • EICC will notify students with a balance due on their student account and provide an opportunity for them to apply their ARP/HEERF award to their student balance. Their eligible amount will be established prior to the notification.  A student election regarding applying to the balance will not influence the award amount. 
  • All student awards will be posted on the same date.

 

EICC Disbursements:

  • EICC will use BankMobile for disbursements of the Cares Awards.

 

Summer 2021- Award Cycle Closed

Cares Disbursement – July 2021

Campus Status/COVID Impact:

All three of EICC’s colleges had COVID impact. The colleges created limited on-campus classes with a schedule heavy on live online and online classes.  At times, our services operated under limited hours or via remote appointments only.  Our students had additional costs due to online course fees, needs for technology.  Many also reported lost wages and other negative impacts on their income.

In accordance with the HEERF II, III/Cares guidance, EICC prioritized students with need;

  1. Pell Eligible students received higher award amounts based on their demonstrated financial need.

Student Criteria:

  • Enrolled Summer 2021.  
  • Hours Based on Enrollment Status as of June 28. 
  • Excluded High School, Guest Students and Non-Degree Seeking Students as they are not financial aid eligible at EICC.

Spring Awards Formula –EICC Formula- Summer 2021

Students will be awarded once in the Summer Semester- each award will follow the following formula.

Demonstrated Financial Need (based on EFC 9 Month)

+  Enrollment Level (cost of attendance)
____________________________

Total Award

Documented Demonstrated Need (based on financial aid status):

Level

EFC Range

Financial Aid Eligibility

Grant Award

Level 1 – Highest Need

0 – 5711

Pell Eligible

$150

Level 2 – Some Need

5711-19999

Subsidized Aid (Loans)

$100

Level 3 – Minimal Need

20,000 +

Unsubsidized Aid (UnSub Loans) or No FAFSA

$75

 Student Enrollment Status – Cost of attendance (tuition, books, childcare, technology)

Level

SP20 Enrolled Hours

Grant Award

Level 1 

8 + Hours

$75

Level 2 

7 or less hours

$25

Awarding: 

  • EICC Student Record Data will be utilized to determine eligibility.

Student Disbursements will occur in one round

  • Awards Posted – July
  • Notifications to Balance Due Students – Week of June 28
  • Awards Posted – Week of July 7

Balance Due Students:

  • EICC will notify students with a balance due on their student account and provide an opportunity for them to apply their ARP/HEERF award to their student balance. Their eligible amount will be established prior to the notification.  A student election regarding applying to the balance will not influence the award amount. 
  • All student awards will be posted on the same date.

 

Spring 2021- Award Cycle Closed


Cares Disbursement – March and April 2021

Campus Status/COVID Impact:

All three of EICC’s colleges had COVID impact. The colleges created limited on-campus classes with a schedule heavy on live online and online classes.  At times, our services operated under limited hours or via remote appointments only.  Our students had additional costs due to online course fees, needs for technology.  Many also reported lost wages and other negative impacts on their income.

In accordance with the HEERF/Cares guidance, EICC prioritized students with need in two ways;

  1. Students with Pell Eligibility (EFC 5711 or lower) were awarded first to ensure they received the most funds possible.
  2. Pell Eligible students received higher award amounts based on their demonstrated financial need.

Student Criteria:

  • Enrolled Spring 2021.  
  • Hours Based on Enrollment Status as of April 1. 
  • Excluded High School, Guest Students and Non-Degree Seeking Students as they are not financial aid eligible at EICC.

 

Spring 1st Awards Formula – Pell Eligible Students

 

Enrollment Status

Need - FA/Pell/EFC below 5711

Per Student Award

Full Time 12 + Hours

300

350

650

3/4 Time 9 to Less than 12

200

350

550

1/2 Time 6 to less than 9

100

350

450

Less than 1/2 less than 6 hours

50

350

400

2nd Awards Formula – Non-Pell Students

 

Enrollment Status

Need FA/Loan or Other Aid/EFC between 5712-19522

Per Student Award

Full Time 12 + Hours

300

150

450

3/4 Time 9 to Less than 12

200

150

350

1/2 Time 6 to less than 9

100

150

250

Less than 1/2 less than 6 hours

50

150

200

 

 

Enrollment Status

Need EFC above 19522 or no FAFSA

Per Student Award

Full Time 12 + Hours

300

0

300

3/4 Time 9 to Less than 12

200

0

200

1/2 Time 6 to less than 9

100

0

100

Less than 1/2 less than 6 hours

50

0

50

Fall 2020 CARES ACT Grants


For the Fall of 2020, EICC will be awarding two groups of students CARES ACT Grants.

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.

  • Students with an electronic/direct deposit refund preference set up with BankMobile will receive their grant money within 2-3 business days after the notification of approval. 

  • Students with a paper check option will receive their refund in 7- 30 days.

 

CARES Act Emergency Grant funds can be used for assistance in paying any or all of the following eligible expenses.

  • Food
  • Housing/Utilities
  • Computer/Technology
  • Unexpected healthcare expenses
  • Childcare
  • Transportation


Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the Fall 2020 CARES Act Emergency Grant. 

Spring/Summer 2020 CARES ACT Grants – application process is now closed.


EICC students experiencing expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 are encouraged to apply for the Federal CARES Act Emergency Grant. Priority consideration is given to Spring 2020 students and Summer 2020 students enrolled in on-campus courses that were impacted by the college’s COVID-19 response (Spring courses with end dates after March 13 or Summer courses with a start date no later than June 1 that were originally slated as on-campus courses). Guest students, non-degree seeking students, exclusively online students and high school concurrent students are not eligible. Students enrolled exclusively in online courses for Spring or Summer are not eligible. 

Students applying for the CARES Act Emergency Grant must be experiencing an increased financial need or hardship due to the disruption of college operations related to COVID-19 pandemic. CARES Act Emergency Grant funds can be used for assistance in paying any or all of the following eligible expenses.

  • Food
  • Housing/Utilities
  • Computer/Technology
  • Unexpected healthcare expenses
  • Childcare
  • Transportation

 

Steps to Apply:

  • Complete the CARES Act Emergency Grant Student Application; final deadline is June 30. The CARES Emergency Grant Application is now closed for Spring 2020 and Summer 2020. 

  • All applications will be reviewed for eligibility. The review could take up to 2 weeks.

  • Once an application is approved, the student will receive a notification of the grant amount and the disbursement date.

  • Students with an electronic/direct deposit refund preference set up with BankMobile will receive their grant money within 2-3 business days after the notification of approval. 

  • Students with a paper check option will receive their refund in 7- 30 days.

Please note: Students that are not approved for CARES Act Emergency Grants will also be notified within 2 weeks of the application date. 

Funds are limited. Students are encouraged to submit the application as soon as possible. The following factors may be used when reviewing applications for funding:

  • Submission date of the application
  • Financial need based on the FAFSA
  • Cost related to enrollment status

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the CARES Act Emergency Grant. 

Students with Additional Needs


Students with additional financial needs not covered by the CARES Act Emergency Grant should consult the following resources:

 

EICC Reports on CARES

Student Emergency Grants

Institutional Portion Report