There are currently no available emergency grant funds available for Fall 2022. If funds become available, we will post the application again on this site.
Since the onset of COVID-19, the federal government has provided funding to help college students.
In December 2020 the federal government passed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). The CRRSAA funds (HEERF II) extend the intent of the HEERF I, Coronavirus Aid, Recovery and Economic Security (CARES Act), which was distributed to students in May 2020. The CRRSAA funds, distributed in April 2021 prioritize those students experiencing the greatest financial hardships due to the impacts of COVID-19.
Over the past 11 months during the pandemic (between May 2020 and April 2021), DCTC distributed over $1,321,639 in HEERF I & II federal dollars (87% in direct student aid and 13% as need-based emergency grants) to students. We will continue to offer need-based grants, using an application process, through the Summer and Fall of 2021.
Across the nation, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II) or CRRSAA authorized $23 billion in support for education, in addition to the $14 billion provided last spring through the HEERF I or Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The primary goal is to assist those students experiencing the greatest financial need as a result of public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. The act contained provisions specifically intended to provide relief for higher education institutions and their students.
The federal guidance for HEERF I (CARES Act) required distribution of at least half of those funds directly to students and to use the remainder to invest in adapting to safer modified instructional delivery and operations. HEERF II (CRRSAA) follows the same intent, but requires prioritization to students experiencing exceptional financial need.
In addition to the direct student aid funds distributed to Pell-eligible students in the first week of April 2021, Emergency Financial Assistance Grants are available to students and may be used for any component of the cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the pandemic, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or childcare. Priority will be given to students with exceptional need.
There are currently no available emergency grant funds available for Fall 2022. If funds become available later, we will post the application again on this site.
CRRSAA expands the current guidelines which includes the expenses of a student's cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare, and added mental healthcare to the qualifying categories.
We are required to categorize the types of expenses being requested by students.
Students ineligible to receive funding under CRRSAA include:
The remaining CRRSAA amounts for DCTC will be disbursed as emergency grants through the existing emergency application process. There are currently no available emergency grant funds available for Fall 2022. If funds become available later, we will post the application again at this site.
CRRSAA allows, with the student’s signed permission, to use financial assistance grants to satisfy outstanding account charges that were posted to the student’s account beginning the Spring 2020 term, so long as the student was enrolled as of March 13, 2020, when the US President declared a national pandemic. There is no condition or requirement to use CRRSAA funds to pay off outstanding balances originating from the Spring 2020 term forward, therefore, students must sign a written consent form indicating they voluntarily want to use CRRSAA funds for this purpose.
Federal guidelines require us to prioritize students with exceptional need. Pell-eligible and those qualifying for Emergency Financial Assistance Grants may contact the Business Office for additional assistance.
Students with questions related to the Emergency Financial Assistance Grant should contact the Office of Social Navigation or advising@dctc.edu for additional assistance.
Students with questions on the BankMobile setup or obtaining assistance with account balances can contact the DCTC Business Office at business_office@dctc.edu.