CARES Grant Information

CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds

North Country Community College acknowledges an authorized representative of the institution has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the institution has used, or intends to use, 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.

North Country Community College has received $555,641 in total for HEERF funds for student Aid from the Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

North Country Community College has distributed $555,641.04 (Total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students) under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of December 31, 2020.

North Country Community College has determined an estimate of 573 students at the institution are 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.

The student application is now closed as all available funds have been awarded.

447 (Total number of students) have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of December 31, 2020.

Students who have received CARES Disbursements (cumulative)

30 day report ending 5/15/2020 – 0 students for $0 dollars

45 day report ending 6/29/2020 – 0 students for $0 dollars

45 day report ending 8/13/2020 – 352 students for $352,893.66

Quarterly report ending 9/30/2020 – 353 students for $353,636.49

Quarterly report ending 12/31/2020 – 251 students for $106,933.53

Total Awarded as of 12/31/2020 – 447 students for $555,641.04

This is the final quarterly report posting which covers all HEERF fund expenditures for Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

North Country Community College has prioritized awarding of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to its students in the following manner (methodology)

Distribution Methodology & Implementation Timeframe:

In an effort to accurately determine and most effectively and efficiently outreach to students who meet eligibility criteria for a CARES grants, a list that identified all students who met the following criteria was made:

  • Actively enrolled in at least one course for Spring 20 semester

  • Title IV eligible recipient for the Spring 20 semester at NCCC

  • 2019-20 FAFSA completed

  • Maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP)

All CARES grant recipients will be required to complete a fillable application using a link to finalize eligibility and certification. Applicants will certify they incurred expenses resulting from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A link to the form will be sent, via email, to all students identified on the list(s). This will be done in an effort to proactively contact eligible students in the timeliest fashion for expedited CARES grant allocation and distribution.

Review of applications will be on a rolling basis, with awards posted on a weekly basis.

Awards will be posted and paid through the student's account and will be unaffected by any outstanding charges. That is, 100% of all CARES grant awards will go directly to students. CARES grant monies will be distributed to students based upon their selected choice of refund method; direct deposit or paper check.

In keeping with The Department of Education and SUNY guidelines for prioritizing funding to Pell eligible/highest need students, 75% of the total CARES student allocation of grant funds will be provided to Pell eligible students and 25% of the total CARES student allocation of grant funds will be provided to non-Pell Title IV eligible. Funds will be awarded in this manner until the student allocation is exhausted.

Under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, students anticipated awards are estimated ranging from $100 to $1,072

Directions, guidance, including required certification:

The application will include the following information to students:

North Country Community College is committed to supporting the success of our students. In these unusual and unprecedented times, we recognize that students may face unexpected challenges in reaching their educational goals and require short-term financial support to achieve success.

The NCCC CARES Act Grant is provided by the U.S. Government to support students that have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This funding is available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

This grant intends to provide emergency funding to help students meet urgent, basic needs such as food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare and childcare. This funding is a grant and REPAYMENT IS NOT REQUIRED.

To receive funding, the student will be required to complete an application and return from their student email directly to the Financial Aid Office email.

Initial Eligibility for a NCCC CARES Act grant:

  • Actively enrolled in at least one course for Spring 20 semester

  • Title IV eligible recipient for the Spring 20 semester at NCCC

  • 2019-20 FAFSA completed

  • Maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP)

Students will be required to check any/all areas of expenses impacted from the disruption of campus operations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and list amount requested. (Financial Aid will reserve the right to request additional information and documentation).

Students will be required to acknowledge and certify that all information they provide is accurate and truthful. They need to certify that they have or will incur allowable expenses of food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, childcare, and/or transportation as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus which equal or exceed the amount of the CARES Act grant award.