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HEERF Funding for Students

HEERF CRRSAA Funding for Students

The federal government has recognized the magnitude of disruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis and has provided funding to help some students offset the financial impact of COVID-19 through CRRSAA.

Eligibility Requirements & Instructions

HEERF ll grant for Spring 2021 via the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) This includes funding from the US Department of Education to eligible educational institutions like SWCC– to help ease the negative effects that the disruption of campus operations may have on students and the college.

Grants between $250-$420 will be awarded directly to eligible Pell Grant and need-based students who meet the Virginia Community College System’s CRRSAA Act funding guidelines.  According to the US Department of Education, students may use the grant for food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, mental health, and childcare.

If you are an eligible student, you will be notified in the financial aid message center – and the grant will be posted to your account within the next month, via your selected refund option. If you have not selected any option, you will receive a check.  The US Department of Education will determine if there are potential tax implications for receiving these funds.

Criteria to Receive CRRSAA Funding

  • Student has an ISIR for Aid Year 2021 with Title IV Eligibility equal to Y
  • EFC is valid
  • Citizenship confirmed by SSA or DHS or overridden by staff in Database Matches
  • Dependency status not rejected
  • SAP status of Y, A, P, or W
  • Aid Processing Status of Packaging Completed
  • Review Status of Complete
  • Aid Application Status not equal to Canceled
  • Complete ISIR checklist for Aid Year 2021
  • Recent High School Completion checklist not set to be initiated
  • FA Load of H, T, or F with a Term Source of T (enrolled for term; excludes full-time projections)
  • EFC is less than the value specified in the query prompts

The Department of Education requires that students be eligible for federal financial aid through Title IV of the Higher Education Act.  Other eligibility criteria include:

  • US Citizenship
  • Student met Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) before 1/13/20
  • Student completed all requested documents due to financial aid before 3/13/20
  • Student is enrolled for a minimum of 6 hours that were not originally all online for Spring 2020 semester
  • Student met the specified Expected Family Contribution (EFC) ceiling for the VCCS Cares Funding model.

NOTE: The funds were awarded and sent to students based on the eligibility criteria listed above, so there is no need to apply. If you didn’t receive CRRSAA funds and believe you should have, please complete the CRRSAA request form and return to Financial Aid.


HEERF CARES Act Funding for Students

The federal government has recognized the magnitude of disruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis and has provided funding to help some students offset the financial impact of COVID-19 through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Eligibility Requirements & Instructions

The Department of Education requires that students be eligible for federal financial aid through Title IV of the Higher Education Act.  Other eligibility criteria include:

  • US Citizenship
  • Student met Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) before 1/13/20
  • Student completed all requested documents due to financial aid before 3/13/20
  • Student is enrolled for a minimum of 6 hours that were not originally all online for Spring 2020 semester
  • Student met the specified Expected Family Contribution (EFC) ceiling for the VCCS Cares Funding model.

Students do not need to do anything to receive these funds. Eligibility will be determined from our existing financial aid database and be awarded based on the established criteria.

Once a student is identified as being eligible for an award, the following guidelines apply:

  • The HEERF Grant (CARES Funding) is awarded due to COVID-19 for disrupting campus operations.
  • The HEERF Grant is awarded to eligible Pell Grant and need-based students who meet the CARES funding guidelines.
  • The HEERF Grant can be used for food, tuition, housing, course materials, technology, health care, childcare, and other unexpected expenses.
  • The HEERF Grant will be delivered within the next month, via your selected refund option. If you have not selected any option, you will receive a check to the address the College has on file.
  • The Department of Education will determine if there are potential tax implications for receiving these funds.

The College’s business office will begin dispersing funds to eligible students once we receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education.  We expect that all eligible students will receive funds by May 31. They will be applied via direct deposit or check based on each student’s previously selected refund option.  Instructions for reviewing one’s chosen disbursement method can be found in the student refund portal.  For more information check the website here: https://sw.edu/electronic-disbursements/

These funds are intended to be used to assist with the financial challenges in receiving higher education brought upon by the pandemic.  Recipients are encouraged to use their funds in a manner that will support continuing their education in an online environment.  Students may purchase laptops, obtain internet access, purchase books or other course materials, or pay tuition.  These funds may also include costs related to food, housing, health care, childcare, or any other expense the student deems necessary.

NOTE: The funds were awarded and sent to students based on the eligibility criteria listed above, so there is no need to apply. If you didn’t receive CARES Act funds and believe you should have, please complete the CARES request form and return to Financial Aid.

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All Locations: 2-Hour Delay on Monday, January 22, 2024.