CARES Act Reporting

What is the CARES Act?

The CARES Act is federal legislation that was passed by the United States Congress in March 2020. It provides financial support to individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic.

The college has received federal funding to be given to eligible students. Funds can be used for COVID-19-related expenses including technology, food, housing, health care, or child care. This money is not a loan and does not have to be repaid.

Who is eligible?

All SSCC students who attended the Spring 2021 semester or prior, who were impacted by COVID-19 and are eligible to receive federal financial aid (even if you did not actually receive an aid award). If you have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you mostly likely are eligible. If you are not sure if you qualify, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 800-628-7722, Ext. 2515 or financialaid@sscc.edu.

Funding Report

On May 3, 2020 Southern State Community College was granted funding under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to provide emergency grants to students impacted by COVID-19. To receive the grant, enrolled students must complete the CARES Act Emergency Grant Application, and have demonstrated eligibility for federal financial aid.

Southern State Community College signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and assures the College will use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

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Southern State Community College received a total of $659,789 from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
As of February 3rd 2021, the College exhausted all funds received for students through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund totaling $659,789.
Southern State Community College estimates that 967 students enrolled in Spring semester 2020 at the College are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 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 College is using an application process to allow students to request funds for their expenses with a maximum allowable grant amount of $1000. The application is processed by the Office of Financial Aid and checks are processed and mailed by the College's business office.
All eligible students were notified by email on May 4th and text message on May 5th 2020 of the availability of the CARES grants. Messages included what the grant could be used for, who is eligible to apply, and how to apply including a link to the application.

HEERF II/CRRSA Update, July 31, 2021

Southern State Community College received additional funding of $659,789 (notification: January 2021) from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act).
The College reopened the CRRSAA emergency grant funding application May 4, 2021 for Summer 2021 semester to allow students to request funds for their expenses with a maximum allowable grant amount of $1,000. The application is processed by the Financial Aid Office and checks were processed and mailed by the College's Business Office.
Students were able to access the institutional CRRSAA application on the College's website. The emergency grant funds were prioritized for students with exceptional financial need or emergency expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These expenses could include: tuition assistance, food and housing assistance, childcare, healthcare emergencies, technology needs and loss of employment or reduction in income. Students certified their need and eligibility through the application.
Southern State's institutional CRRSAA application included a specific tuition assistance authorization by the student applicant. Funds requested in excess of tuition assistance were refunded directly to the student. The maximum amount of this award was $1,000.
The College closed the Summer CRRSAA funding application on August 3, 2021 with an announcement that the application will re-open September 7, 2021 for those students enrolled for the Fall 2021 semester. The application will include all categories of eligible students (credit, non-credit and dual enrollment).
On July 22, 2021, Southern State notified 304 students by US mail and email that CRRSA funding was available to assist with past due balances from Spring 2020 semester through Summer 2021. These students will also receive $200 emergency grants.
As of July 31, 2021, $543,693 has been disbursed for emergency grants, tuition assistance and past due student account assistance to 569 students.

HEERF Student Funding Report for the quarter July 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021

Students enrolled for Summer 2021 semester (May 4, 2021 through August 3, 2021) were able to apply for emergency grant funding through an institutional application with a maximum award of $1,000. During the months of July and August, $11,000 was awarded with payments made directly to students.
Southern State's institutional Summer CRRSAA application included a specific tuition assistance authorization by the student applicant. Funds requested in excess of tuition assistance were refunded directly to the student. For the quarter ending September 30, 2021, $141,263 was disbursed from HEERF II funding.
Southern State Community College received additional funding of $2,561,758 (notification: May 2021) from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act).
On July 22, 2021, Southern State notified 304 students by US mail and email that CRRSA funding was available to assist with past due balances from Spring 2020 semester through Summer 2021. These students also received $200 emergency grants totaling $60,800 (HEERF II: $41,400; HEERF III: $19,400).
Southern State opened the Fall 2021 HEERF III/ARP Emergency Grant application on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. This application is for emergency funding available to address the financial needs faced with unexpected expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Any individual who is or was enrolled (registered for classes) at Southern State Community College on or after March 13, 2020 is eligible to apply for HEERF III/ARP emergency student grants. This includes nondegree, noncredit, and continuing education students, students enrolled through the College Credit Plus program, and students who have graduated or withdrawn.
During the period September 7 through September 30, $712,099 was disbursed to 506 students in emergency grant funding paid directly to the student. During that same period, $80,225 was disbursed to 53 students with tuition balances as well as other emergency expenses.

HEERF Student Funding Report for the quarter October 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021

Southern State continued to receive, review and award students HEERF III Emergency Grant funding based on the application that was opened to students September 7, 2021. The application was available on the SSCC website as part of the COVID-19 Information page. Paper applications were available by request. Any individual who is or was enrolled (registered for classes) at Southern State Community College on or after March 13, 2020 was eligible to apply for HEERF III/ARP emergency student grants. This includes non-degree, non-credit, and continuing education students, students enrolled through the College Credit Plus program, and students who have graduated or withdrawn.
Southern State's institutional HEERF III application included a specific tuition assistance authorization by the student applicant. Funds requested in excess of tuition assistance were refunded directly to the student.
On October 4, 2021, Southern State began processing $500 block grants to students eligible for Federal Pell grant disbursements as of the census date for the Fall 2021 semester. The total amount processed to 440 students was $220,000; funds were sent to students by US mail.
The HEERF III Emergency Grant Application closed on December 3, 2021. During the period October 1 through December 31, $578,995 was disbursed to 371 students in emergency grant funding paid directly to the student. During that same period, $30,440 was disbursed to 22 students with tuition balances as well as other emergency expenses.
As of December 31, 2021, $1,657,195 has been distributed to 1,155 students from the HEERF III/ARP funding for student aid.

HEERF Student Funding Report for the quarter January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022

Southern State continued to receive, review and award students HEERF III Emergency Grant funding based on the Spring semester application that was opened to students January 25, 2022. The application was available on the SSCC website as part of the COVID-19 Information page. Paper applications were available by request. Any individual who is enrolled at SSCC for the Spring 2022 semester is eligible to apply. Eligible students includes non-degree, non-credit, and continuing education students, students enrolled through the College Credit Plus program, and students who have graduated or withdrawn. Based on remaining HEERF III funding and the number of applications received during the 4th quarter of 2021, the maximum grant award was $1000 with priority given to students who have not already applied and received HEERF III student emergency grant funds.
Southern State's institutional HEERF III application included a specific tuition assistance authorization by the student applicant. Funds requested in excess of tuition assistance were refunded directly to the student.
On March 23, 2022, Southern State began processing $500 block grants to students eligible for Federal Pell grant disbursements as of the census date for the Spring 2022 semester. The total amount processed to 393 students was $196,500; funds were sent to students by US mail.
The HEERF III Spring 2022 Student Emergency Grant Application will close May 6, 2022. During the period January 1 through March 31, $425,200 was disbursed To 617 students in emergency grant funding paid directly to the student. During that same period, $40,000 was disbursed to 57 students with tuition balances as well as other emergency expenses.
As of March 31, 2022, $2,316,294 has been distributed to 1,413 students from the HEERF III/ARP funding for student aid.