CRRSAA HEERF II

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (HEERF II) Information

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II provides emergency funding to assist students during the coronavirus pandemic.

Southeast Community College has followed the guidance from the Department of Education to determine which students are eligible to receive HEERF II grants and the amount that each student will receive. These grants will be distributed to students automatically. Students will not need to apply to receive these funds.

Who is eligible to receive HEERF II grants?

Eligible students must meet the following requirements:

• Must be enrolled (or have been enrolled) in undergraduate classes during the Spring 2021 semester
• Must be a US citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen
• Must have a valid and completed FAFSA on file with SCC by March 25, 2021 for the purposes of determining financial need

How were grant amounts determined?

Southeast Community College is required to distribute grant amounts based on a student’s demonstrated need. The Department of Education encourages the use of FAFSA data and, more specifically, the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to measure this financial need.

After a review of our student information, the following distribution schedule was developed:

By way of illustration, students with an EFC of 0-0999 would receive a HEERF II grant in the amount of $900. Students with an EFC between 3000-3999 would receive $600. Students with an EFC of 6000 or more would receive a HEERF grant in the amount of $200.

How will HEERF II grants be distributed to eligible students?

HEERF II emergency aid will be disbursed automatically to eligible students. Students do not need to apply to receive this funding. Students are strongly encouraged to sign up for Fast Refund at https://secure.ubt.com/sccrefund/ to receive their grants through direct deposit. The deadline to sign up for Fast Refund to receive the HEERF II grant by direct deposit is April 2, 2021.

Students who do not sign up for Fast Refund will receive a check sent via U.S Mail to their address on file at SCC. Students are encouraged to review their address on file as soon as possible to ensure the check is sent to the correct address. You can find your mailing address on the Hub at Webadvisor for Students/Academic Profile/My profile.

When should students expect to receive their HEERF II grant?

Student who sign up for Fast Refund should receive their deposit by April 15th, 2021. Students receiving a check should expect an additional week or longer for delivery.

Can a student apply their HEERF II grant to any outstanding balance they owe to SCC?

A student may choose to use their HEERF II grant to pay off anything due to the College. However, the College will not be deducting any amounts due before distributing these funds.

How can students use their HEERF II grant?

The HEERF II grant aid may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for any emergency costs that arise due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or childcare.

Do students need to repay this grant?

No, students do not have to pay back their grant and it is not considered taxable income.

Will this grant affect a student’s current or future financial aid?

No, this grant is a one-time emergency grant and it will not impact your current or future financial aid.

How is CRRSAA/HEERF II different than the CARES Act from 2020?

There are several notable differences between CARES Act/HEERF I and CRRSAA/HEERF II. Among them:

• Students under CRRSAA/HEERF II no longer need to meet all of the Title IV eligibility requirements that were in CARES Act/HEERF I.
• Distance Education and online students were excluded from CARES Act/HEERF I but are included in CRRSAA/HEERF II.
• CRRSAA/ HEERF II requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional financial need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding emergency aid. However, students do not need to be only Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants.
• CARES Act/HEERF I required students to attest that they had incurred expenses directly related to disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19. The CRRSAA/HEERF II grant can be used to meet any component of a student’s cost of education and any emergency costs that arise, as opposed to just those related to campus operations.

Where can students go if they have questions or want to learn more about CRRSAA/HEERF II?

Additional information about CRRSAA/HEERF II (PDF) can be found on the the Department of Education website.