Westchester Community College, State University of New York

CARES Act (HEERF I)

Facts

• The CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act provided a variety of funding opportunities to individuals, colleges, and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) of the CARES Act provided funding to colleges, with fund designated for students experiencing financial hardships due to disruption of campus operations occurring from the pandemic.
• SUNY Westchester Community College signed and returned to the Department of Education its CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act HEERF Certification and Agreement on April 14, 2020 and acknowledges that it intends to use no less than 50% of the total funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act (HEERF I) to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
• The college was awarded an allocation of $7,195,672 under 18004 (a)(1) and certified that it would use no less than 50% of the total amount received ($3,597,836) for emergency aid grants to students.
• The college has determined that an estimated total of 4,396 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 priority deadline for CARES Act (HEERF I) grant applications will be processed until funds are exhausted. CARES Act Funding is for continuing expenses based on the ongoing campus disruption due to COVID-19.
• Click here to see WCC’s Campus Plan for Use of HEERF Emergency Grants to Students.