Westchester Community College, State University of New York

CARES Act and CRRSAA

The COVID-19 public health crisis has caused disruption and hardship for many Westchester Community College students. In response to pressing financial need of students around the country due to the disruption of campus operations from coronavirus, Congress passed and signed into law the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security). on March 27, 2020 and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) on December 27, 2020. Both laws authorized the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF I under the CARES Act and HEERF II under CRRSAA) to meet the emergency financial aid needs of eligible students impacted by the COVID crisis and to help post-secondary institutions ensure the continuity of learning, promote health and safety on campus, and address institutional challenges posed by the disruption in normal operations due to COVID.

Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act provides financial aid to colleges for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students and Institutional Aid. An authorized representative of the College has signed and returned a Certification and Agreement to the US Department of Education for both grants.

WCC acknowledges that it has used, or intends to use, no less than 50% of the total funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. The college has received two awards that total $7,195,672 under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act law.

WCC has determined an estimated total of 4,396 students 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. Eligible students enrolled in Spring 2020 have been contacted by email. All students may apply and eligibility will be determined.

Emergency Financial Aid

One section of the law established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), to provide aid to colleges to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students for eligible expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 (see CARES Act Emergency Student Financial Aid Application below). WCC requested these funds on 4/14/2020 and received an award of $3,597,836 on 4/23/2020. The CARES Act Application for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students can be found here.

Institutional Aid

Another section of the law established the Institutional Portion, which provides financial assistance to colleges to meet needs due to the disruption of campus operations from coronavirus. This can be used to provide additional Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, reimburse the college for campus operations expenses due to the coronavirus disruption, help with remote operations and instruction, and other eligible needs. WCC requested funds on 4/23/2020 and received an award of $3,597,836 on 5/7/2020.

Minority Serving Institution-Hispanic Serving Institution Aid

Another section of the law established the Minority Serving-Hispanic Serving Institutional Portion under Title III and Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which also provides financial assistance to colleges to meet needs due to the disruption of campus operations from coronavirus. This can also be used to provide additional Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, reimburse the college for campus operations expenses due to the coronavirus disruption, help with remote operations and instruction, and other eligible needs. WCC requested funds on June 29, 2020 and received an award of $464,305 on 7/02/2020.