CARES Act/HEERF I

CARES Act Information

Southeast Community College is distributing federal funds to students through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. These funds are awarded to eligible students who experienced certain financial hardships due to the COVID-19 disruption. Grants were made available to students who completed a CARES Act application and who:

  • Remained enrolled at SCC for the 2020 Spring Semester past March 13, 2020.
  • Have a completed 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at SCC.
  • Are eligible to receive federal financial aid (also known as Title IV funds).
  • Have incurred eligible expenses related to COVID-19.

Eligible expenses are defined by the Department of Education as those related directly to the disruption of campus operations. Those expenses are:

  • Housing (rent, utilities)
  • Food (groceries, other meal expenses)
  • Technology (computer, phone, internet access, other remote access needs)
  • Healthcare (medical, counseling, other healthcare related expenses)
  • Childcare (babysitting, daycare, other dependent care costs)
  • Course material (books, access codes, supplies, lab equipment)
  • Other expenses (tutoring, unexpected living/academic situations or expenses)

The CARES ACT application is not currently available. Applications were accepted through Monday, August 10, 2020.

Important notes:
  • Submitting an application does NOT guarantee that a student will receive a CARES Act grant.
  • CARES Act grants are limited and will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis until there are no more funds available.

Title IV funds include anything that is administered through the Federal Student Aid program. Examples of Title IV aid include federal Pell and SEOG grants, subsidized and unsubsidized student loans, federal work-study and parent PLUS loans.

Students must first apply and be accepted to an eligible Program of Study at Southeast Community College. They must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If selected for financial aid verification, students must complete the review process and submit appropriate documentation.

There are several criteria that are used to determine if a student is eligible for Title IV funds. More information about these financial aid eligibility requirements can be found on the Financial Aid Policies page.

According to the guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Education, the following students are not eligible to receive CARES Act grants:

  • Students who are not declared in an eligible Program of Study at SCC.
  • International students and/or those students who cannot provide documentation of U.S. citizenship.
  • Students enrolled exclusively in online courses for the 2020 Spring or 2020 Summer Semester.
  • Students enrolled in only non-credit courses.
  • Students who are currently on financial aid suspension.

No. The Department of Education has stated that students receiving CARES Act grants must be eligible to receive Title IV aid. Students on financial aid suspension do not meet this eligibility requirement.

No. Students enrolled in SENCAP/DC/TCA classes are still enrolled in high school and have not met the Title IV requirement to be a high school graduate for the 2020 Spring Semester.

Yes. Students may qualify for CARES Act grants if they were enrolled in at least one on-campus course prior to the disruption in campus operations, assuming they meet the other eligibility requirements. Students must also demonstrate that they stayed enrolled in these courses after March 13, 2020, which was the date that SCC made adjustments to its campus learning environment.

No. The Department of Education has stated that students taking online classes exclusively are not eligible for CARES Act grants. The Department’s position is that students who were taking all of their courses online would not have incurred eligible expenses due to a disruption in campus operations since online students are not attending on-campus.

Yes. CARES Act grants are not counted as a Title IV award, which means that students are eligible to receive these funds even if they are fully funded through their Title IV aid package (grants, loans, work-study, etc.).

No. The Department of Education has clearly stated that all CARES Act grants must be delivered directly to students. The College is unable to apply any of these funds toward a student’s outstanding balance. Students will not have the option to request that SCC apply their CARES Act grant toward their balance due before disbursing any remainder.

Students will be notified via email of the approval or denial status. The College will attempt to process these requests as quickly as possible and appreciates your patience during this process.

Students should contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@southeast.edu or call at 402-437-2610 if they have questions about their Title IV eligibility.

Additional information about the CARES Act (PDF) can be found on the Department of Education website.