HEERF funding ended 12/31/2023
Learn more about the following fund types:
- HEERF I Funds (funding completed)
- HEERF II Funds (funding completed)
- HEERF III Funds (funding completed)
HEERF I funds
Metropolitan Community College (MCC) is pleased to announce our partnership with the U.S. Department of Education in the delivery of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
MCC completed the Certification and Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education and agrees to provide no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The federal program provides grants to students for expenses directly related to the disruption of their education due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The expenses a student can request assistance for may include technology, books/supplies, food, housing and living expenses, health-care, childcare costs as well as other expenses related to the impact from COVID-19.
MCC was awarded $4,354,525 in funding by the Department of Education pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial aid Grants to Students. MCC estimated that approximately 6,800 students enrolled in the spring 2020 semester who may be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Cares Act.
As of March 31, 2021, MCC has distributed all funding to 2,594 students and this is the final reporting for CARES Act.
MCC chose to distribute the CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students through an online request process. The grant award amount varies based on each applicants request and available funding. The maximum award amount is $2,000. At this time, MCC is not accepting requests for Cares Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Learn more and apply.
Students who applied must meet the eligibility criteria*:
- Must be enrolled in the Spring 2020 in on-campus courses as of March 13, 2020
- Must be Title IV financial aid eligible
*NOTE: Based on the Department of Education announcement on May 21, 2020, from June 3-16, 2020 MCC modified the eligibility for students and allowed 214 additional applicants to receive funds. Eligible students must have been enrolled at MCC for the Spring 2020 semester in on-campus courses on or after March 13th. Students who withdrew for the Spring 2020 semester due to COVID-19 and who were currently enrolled in the summer 2020 semester were also considered. International, undocumented, DACA and solely online students remained ineligible.
Students received notification via email of the grant opportunity and information regarding the grant was shared with MCC employees. MCC also provided information via social media and our website.
Funding will be awarded on a first come, first served basis and refunded directly to students. If you currently have a balance due on your student account, the emergency grant will not be applied toward your balance.
- View the 6/30/23 quarter CARES Act/HEERF II & HEERF III Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
- View the 3/31/23 quarter CARES Act/HEERF II & HEERF III Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
- View the 12/31/22 quarter CARES Act/HEERF II & HEERF III Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
- View the 9/30/22 quarter CARES Act/HEERF II & HEERF III Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
- View the 6/30/22 quarter CARES Act/HEERF II & HEERF III Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
- View the 3/31/22 quarter CARES Act/HEERF II & HEERF III Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
- View the 12/31/21 quarter Cares Act/HEERF II & HEERF III Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
- View the 9/30/21 quarter Cares Act/HEERF II & HEERF III Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
- View the 6/30/21 quarter CARES Act/HEERF II & HEERF III Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
- View the 3/31/21 quarter CARES Act/HEERF II Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
- View the 12/30/20 quarter CARES Act Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
- View the 9/30/20 quarter CARES Act Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting (PDF)
HEERF II funds
Metropolitan Community College (MCC) is pleased to announce our continued partnership with the U.S. Department of Education in the delivery of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), created under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). Emergency Financial Aid Grants are available to assist students who have had emergency expenses arise due to the Coronavirus while attending MCC. Assistance is available to help cover any component of the cost of attendance including tuition, fees, other institutional charges, food, housing, transportation, course materials, technology, health care (including mental health) and child care.
MCC was awarded $8,709,050 in funding available through the student and institutional portions of CRRSAA for Emergency Financial aid Grants to students. MCC estimates that approximately 5,500 students may be eligible to receive automatic Emergency Financial Aid Grants and application requests will be granted on a first come first served basis as funding is available.
As of June 30, 2021, MCC has distributed all funding to awarded $8,709,050 to 6,502 students and this is the final reporting for CRRSAA.
Student eligibility
- Enrolled MCC student during the Spring 2021 and/or Summer 2021 semester in credit courses.
- Be a U.S. Citizen, permanent resident or other eligible non-citizen.
*NOTE: Based on the Department of Education announcement on May 14, 2021, MCC modified the eligibility for students and allowed international students, refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented students to qualify for HEERF student grants.
Phase 1: automatic grants
The HEERF II guidelines required schools to prioritize students who demonstrated the greatest need. Therefore, students who have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to MCC with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $12,000 or less will be awarded an automatic award for the Spring 2021 semester as follows:
Students with an Expected Family Contribution of $12,000 or below (according to their 2020-2021 FAFSA)
| EFC | Award Amount |
|---|---|
| EFC = $0 - $5,711 | $1,200 |
| EFC = $5,712 - $12,000 | $1,000 |
Automatic grants of $850 will be awarded for the Summer 2021 semester to all students who demonstrated the greatest need as defined above.
Phase 2: application request
MCC understands there are a wide range of students and their families who have been impacted by the coronavirus and have incurred unexpected expenses. Therefore, we have set aside a portion of these funds to help students who did not fall into the need-based category described above.
Additional HEERF II Emergency Grants in the amount of $1,000 are available to students through an application-based funding request process. Students must meet the basic eligibility criteria. Grants are available on a first come, first served basis as funding is available.
HEERF III funds
Metropolitan Community College (MCC) will continue our partnership with the U.S. Department of Education in the delivery of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) for the 2021-2022 academic year, created under The America Rescue Plan (ARP). Emergency Financial Aid Grants are available to assist students who have had emergency expenses arise due to the Coronavirus while attending MCC. Assistance is available to help cover any component of the cost of attendance including tuition, fees, other institutional charges, food, housing, transportation, course materials, technology, health care (including mental health) and child care.
MCC was awarded $16,808,209 in funding available through the student and institutional portions of ARP for Emergency Financial aid Grants to students. MCC estimates that approximately 6,000 students may be eligible to receive automatic Emergency Financial Aid Grants and application requests will be granted on a first come first served basis as funding is available.
As of April 8, 2022, MCC has distributed all funding to 7,964 students and this is the final reporting for ARP.
Student eligibility
- Enrolled MCC student during the Fall 2021 and/or Spring 2022 semester.
- Funds are available to students attending MCC in credit, continuing education, and dual enrolled courses.
Phase 1: automatic grants
Like HEERF II, the HEERF III guidelines required schools to prioritize students who demonstrated the greatest need. Therefore, students who have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to MCC with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $12,000 or less will be awarded an automatic award as follows:
Students with an Expected Family Contribution of $12,000 or below (according to their 2021-2022 FAFSA)
| EFC | Award Amount |
| EFC = $0 - $5,711 | $1,500 |
| EFC = $5,712 - $12,000 | $1,200 |
Phase 2: Application Request
MCC understands there are a wide range of students and their families who have been impacted by the coronavirus and have incurred unexpected expenses. Therefore, we have set aside a portion of these funds to help students who did not fall into the need-based category described above but who have had emergency costs arise due to coronavirus, such as: tuition, food, housing, health care, childcare.
- $1,000 grants will be available for regular students not in the above exceptional need student populations as well as continuing education students, international, DACA, undocumented and other non-citizens.
- $500 grants will be available for dual enrolled high school students who are taking MCC courses (students who are solely dual credit are non-eligible).
Students are to request funding through an application-based process. Students must meet the basic eligibility criteria. Grants are available on a first come, first served basis as funding is available. As of December 10th, MCC is no longer accepting application based request for funding.
Students received notification via email of the grant award and opportunity. Information regarding the grant was shared with MCC employees. MCC also provided information via our website and in the financial aid newsletter.
Funding will be awarded to the priority populations noted above in Phase 1 with additional emergency financial aid grants awarded by application request on a first come, first served basis. Students are asked to complete a consent to pay institutional charges prior to receiving their refund. Students who fail to complete the consent will have funds refunded directly to them and will be held responsible for paying any outstanding balances on their student account.