On April 13, 2020, Muskegon Community College (MCC) signed and returned to the Department of Education the Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In doing so, MCC agreed that no less than 50 percent of the funds, or $1,123,675, received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act would be provided as emergency financial aid grants directly to students.
In accordance with Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. The Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEERF) funds were distributed through two different processes:
1. Direct Emergency Grant Distribution to Winter 2020 and Fall 2020 Students
A. Fall 2020
i. Grants were automatically awarded to students who met the following requirements:
· Be enrolled in at least three (3) credit hours on August 31, 2020.
· Completed a FAFSA and eligible for Pell Grant.
· Meet Title IV eligibility criteria.
ii. Grants were distributed based on enrollment status:
· Full-time (12 hours or more) – $500
· Half-time (6 – 11.5 hours) – $250
· Less than half-time (3 – 5.5 hours) – $125
B. Winter 2020
i. Grants were automatically awarded to students who met the following requirements:
· Be enrolled in at least three (3) credit hours on March 13, 2020.
· Be enrolled in at least one (1) face-to-face course on March 13, 2020.
· Must not have been enrolled in high school on March 13, 2020.
· Completed a FAFSA and meet Title IV eligibility criteria
ii. Grants were distributed based on enrollment status:
· Full-time (12 hours or more) – $600
· Half-time (6 – 11.5 hours) – $300
· Less than half-time (3 – 5.5 hours) – $150
2. Student Emergency Grant Application
a. Reserved for those students self-identifying as having need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
b. Students request funds through a simple application process, and the emergency aid request is reviewed by a committee. The committee will determine eligibility (Title IV eligible) and award amounts. Application by a student does not guarantee an award.
c. Funds may be requested for the following terms: Winter 2020 and Summer 2020.
d. The maximum award per semester is $1,000 per student.
Additional information about the CARES Act at MCC can be found in the reports below.
CARES Act Reporting
The following reporting is in compliance with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act HEERF funds, and provides transparency related to the funding and disbursements. Beginning with the June 30, 2021 Institutional Reporting, all HEERF grants were combined under one report and can be found at https://www.muskegoncc.edu/coronavirus/arp-at-mcc/.
Student Portion
- May 20, 2020
- June 20, 2020
- July 20, 2020
- August 20, 2020
- September 30, 2020
- December 31, 2020 (final)
Institutional Portion
CARES Act FAQs
The college has created CARES Act Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to provide instructions, directions, or guidance concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Read more
