Cuyamaca Cares
Emergency Assistance Fund
Disclaimer: Cuyamaca College has exhausted the funding provided by the CARES Act. All fall semester
applicants have been placed on a waitlist until more funding becomes available.
To those who have already applied for the fall semester: You will not be disqualified and you will not lose your place in line; you will be
disbursed your emergency funds as soon as more funding becomes available.
To those who would like to apply: You are still welcome to do so using the link below, however please note that your
application will be placed on a waitlist until more funding becomes available.
The Emergency Assistance Fund is meant to assist students facing financial emergencies.
Students can receive up to $500 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:
- The U.S. Department of Education has determined that students must be eligible, or
potentially eligible, for Title IV Financial Aid to be considered for CARES Act Emergency
Grants. This means that students must have filed, and be eligible to file, a Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- 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. If you have already submitted
an Emergency Assistance Fund Application, please complete the additional survey information
required for federal CARES Act Emergency Grants here.
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 by the U.S. Department of Education and provides this assurance statement that no
less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES
Act will be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- As of May 13, 2020, Cuyamaca College has received $1,459,361 from the U.S. Department
of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid
Grants to Students.
- As of January 5, 2021, Cuyamaca College has disbursed $1,453,500 in Emergency Financial
Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- As of May 26, 2020, approximately 4,000 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
Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- As of June 9, 2020, 545 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under
Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- Methods used by Cuyamaca College to determine which students receive Emergency Financial
Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES
Act include:
- Cuyamaca College's existing emergency grant program offers aid to eligible students
in the amount of $500.00 per term. Additionally, to ensure that available CARES Act
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.
- CARES Act 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
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