CARES Act and HEERF Funding
Cuyamaca College has now exhausted all CARES Act and HEERF Funding. Below is all information pertaining to the usage
of these funds. To apply for the new Early Action Emergency Grant please click here.
The Emergency Assistance Fund is meant to assist students facing financial emergencies.
Students can receive up to $750 dollars for housing/utility assistance, emergency
auto repair, bus passes, and so much more. If you're unsure if you can receive funds
for your situation, please don't hesitate to ask.
Students of all residency statuses are eligible to apply for Emergency Assistance
Funds if they have been affected by COVID-19 in any away. Students may apply each
semester they are enrolled in at least one unit and must check the application box
that indicates their request is in some way related to COVID-19 (clicking the box
indicates the student may have experienced a reduction in work hours, loss of a job,
incurred costs associated with online learning or daily living, need to purchase technology
to success in online course work, need assistance with utility costs or room and board,
etc.)
Where to Start
To apply for financial assistance, please fill out the application for emergency funds and
register with BankMobile if you are not registered already. Registering is necessary to receive emergency
funds as well as financial aid. If your application is approved, funds will be distributed
shortly afterward. Contact Kaylin Rosal at cuyamaca.cares@gcccd.edu if you have any questions.
CARES Act
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Emergency Security (CARES) Act provides emergency
aid to college and university students through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Cuyamaca College received funding on May 13, 2020 and is currently processing and
providing aid to students. Students can apply for CARES Act aid by completing the Cuyamaca
Cares Emergency Assistance Application.
Emergency Grants
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Instructions
As a result of the Federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, there are additional funds coming to Cuyamaca College, which will allow
us to award additional emergency grants to students. However, there are some unique requirements that the federal government has for institutions
to award federal CARES Emergency Grant funds to students:
- While the U.S. Department of Education has determined that students must be eligible,
or be potentially eligible, for Title IV Financial Aid to be considered for CARES
Act Emergency Grants, a federal court put a legal injunction on this guidance as of June 17, 2020. This
means that Cuyamaca College will consider all potentially eligible students for CARES
Act Emergency Grants, including undocumented and international students.
- Students can only be awarded based on increased education-related costs -- not based
upon financial need, creating an additional step for students who have already completed
the Cuyamaca Emergency Assistance Fund application.
Form steps to complete:
Step 1: Enter your First name as it appears on your FAFSA.
Step 2: Enter your Last name as it appears on your FAFSA.
Step 3: Enter your Cuyamaca College Student ID number.
Step 4: Complete the self-certification and check the appropriate boxes that pertain
to your additional expenses due to COVID-19.
Step 5: Submit your application.
Emergency Assistance Fund Application Step-by-Step Instructions:
To access the Emergency Assistance Fund application please complete and submit the
online form. Application steps include:
- Complete the first section with your General Information
- Complete the Identify Your Needs section. You may select as many of the options that
pertain to you.
- Complete the Statement of Need section. Please answer the questions as detailed as
possible.
- Electronically sign your application.
- Submit your application.
You will be notified via email if you were approved, if additional information is
needed or if your application is denied. Due to the overwhelming amount of applicants,
we expect that wait times are longer than usual; we appreciate your patience.
All funds will be disbursed through BankMobile. For additional information on how
to sign-up for BankMobile disbursements (if you have not already done so), please
visit the GCCCD BankMobile website.
Federally Mandated CARES Act Information
- Cuyamaca College has signed the Certification and Agreement as required by the U.S. Department of Education and provides this assurance statement
that Cuyamaca College has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the
HEERF programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- Cuyamaca College will receive a total of $9,250,716 from the US Department of Education
pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to
Students under the HEERF programs.
- As of December 31, 2021, Cuyamaca College has disbursed $2,725,361 of Emergency Financial
Aid Grants to students under the HEERF programs.
- As of December 31, 2021, approximately 9,000 students at Cuyamaca College are projected
to be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 and to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under
HEERF programs.
- As of December 31, 2021, 5,452 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant
under HEERF programs.
- Methods used by Cuyamaca College to determine which students receive Emergency Financial
Aid Grants and how much they would receive under HEERF programs include:
- Cuyamaca College's existing emergency grant program offers aid to eligible students
in the amount of $750.00 per term. Additionally, to ensure that available HEERF funds
could be distributed as widely as possible to students, Cuyamaca College decided to
award based on our existing award amount. This award amount could be subject to change
at a later date.
- Based upon our existing Emergency Grant application process, students had to complete
and submit an on-line Cuyamaca Emergency Assistance Fund application.
- In addition to the Cuyamaca Emergency Assistance Fund application, students are required
to have a valid FAFSA on file with the Cuyamaca College Financial Aid Office, be eligible
for Title IV federal aid according to guidance provided by the U.S. Department of
Education and students must confirm that they had additional educational expenses
related to the COVID-19 crisis. More detailed information on B and C above can be
found on our Emergency Grants webpage.
- HEERF funding Emergency Grants awarding for students will be ongoing until funds are
fully expended or if additional guidance from the U.S. Department of Education becomes
more prohibitive.
- Cuyamaca College communicated with students concerning Emergency Financial Aid Grants, including instructions,
directions, or guidance on April 27, 2020.
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District CARES Act Quarterly Reports:
September 30th, 2020
December 31st, 2020
March 31st, 2021
June 30th, 2021 INITIAL
June 30th, 2021 FINAL
September 30, 2021
December 31, 2021
March 31, 2022
June 30, 2022 – Preliminary
September 30, 2022
December 31, 2022