CARES Act Student Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act legislation provides financial support to individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  MCC received from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) approximately $4.6 million to provide grants to students with additional expenses due to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, including food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, childcare, and/or transportation.

Eligibility & Grant Awards

Eligible MCC students enrolled for the Spring 2020 Semester will receive an email, sent to their MCC student email account, with detailed instructions for grant certification or application.

Students are deemed eligible based on the tiered structure below, whereby Tier 1, 2, and 3 meet SUNY Priority 1 (PELL eligible, high need, low estimated family contribution); and Tier 4 meets SUNY Priority 2 (other Title IV eligible students). 

Tier 1   PELL recipients who are independent with dependents as reported on the 2019-20 FAFSA – award is $1,200. Next step: Check your MCC and personal email for a message from the MCC Financial Aid Office with instructions to submit a Certification Statement

Tier 2  Pell recipients who are dependent students on the 2019-20 FAFSA – award is $600. Next step: Check your MCC and personal email for a message from the MCC Financial Aid Office with instructions to submit a Certification Statement. 

Tier 3   Pell recipients who are independent students on the 2019-20 FAFSA but do not report dependents – award is $600. Next step: Check your MCC and personal email for a message from the MCC Financial Aid Office with instructions to submit a Certification Statement.

Tier 4   All remaining Title IV eligible students will be considered for an award based on a completed application and determined need. Awards could also be from one of the prior tiers if a documented expense was much higher than the initial award, and funds are still available.  This maximum caps at $1,200. Next step: Check your MCC and personal email for a message from the MCC Financial Aid Office with instructions to submit an Application.

*The CARES Act is only for Title IV eligible students.  This includes students who are in an eligible degree program; have completed the FAFSA (or will be able to complete the FAFSA) and successfully met the database matches; are in Good Academic Standing for the spring 2020 semester; and have a high school diploma or equivalency.  As such, this does not allow HEERF funds to be distributed to international, DACA students, or students not in good academic standing.

** A paper option for certification will be provided if students CANNOT access their student account information to complete the online form.

FUNDS DISTRIBUTION

Once a Certification Statement and/or Application is received, an electronic refund, e-refund will be sent directly to the student’s MCC account through Nelnet. (This is the same process used to distribute financial aid refunds). Nelnet will contact students who do not have this process created to provide instructions. Applications and fund transfers will process weekly.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the process or your eligibility, email Tuition & Aid or call (585) 292-2050.

Additional Information

  • HEERF is a federal emergency relief grant that does not need to be repaid. In addition, this grant will not reduce or replace a student’s financial aid award.
  • Monroe Community College (MCC) has signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification, Agreement, and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
  • Approximately 13,671 MCC students are eligible for this grant.

ANNUAL BUDGET AND EXPENDITURE REPORTING

HEERF Reporting Period: 2021 Calendar Year