The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) has allocated to AACC $2,157,673 in emergency student aid for students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants. Student may use the grant toward any component of their cost of attendance or emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as: tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental), and childcare.
Priority will be given to students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students. However, students do not need to be only Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants. For the Spring 2021 term, the college will automate the disbursement based on the following criteria:
Students who do not receive an initial grant and have qualifying emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus are encouraged to submit an individual appeal for their qualifying expenses.
As directed by the US Department of Education, this funding is to help cover student cost of attendance or emergency cost that arise due to coronavirus. These expenses may include food, housing, books and supplies, technology, health care, childcare, or emergency costs due to coronavirus. Students who received the CRRSAA funds but did not incur the above expenses should not cash the check sent to them. Students who have not incurred expenses should decline the award and contact financial aid at HEERF@aacc.edu to advise them that the check will not be cashed and those funds are available to support eligible students in greater need.
As directed by the US Department of Education, this funding is to help cover student cost of attendance or emergency cost that arise due to coronavirus. These expenses may include food, housing, books and supplies, technology, health care, childcare, or emergency costs due to coronavirus. Students who received the CRRSAA funds but did not incur the above expenses should not cash the check sent to them. Students who have not incurred expenses should decline the award and contact financial aid at HEERF@aacc.edu to advise them that the check will not be cashed and those funds are available to support eligible students in greater need.
Federal aid regulations allow the AACC financial aid office to make adjustments for certain financial situations that cannot be taken into account on the FAFSA. We consider each situation on a case-by-case basis, and the regulations limit which situations we consider and how adjustments are made. Common special circumstances include, but are not limited to, unemployment, decreased annual income, and divorce or separation. For Special Circumstances consideration contact the financial aid office at finaid@aacc.edu.
No, CRRSAA funding is available for the Spring 2021 term.
While we cannot give you a specific time frame on when you will receive your funds, awards will be processed weekly beginning March 11, 2021.
A check for the amount of the award(s) will be mailed directly to the student’s address of record.
Yes. AACC is not authorized to automatically apply CRRSAA funds toward any outstanding balances that may still be owed by a student. However, once the funds are received as a refund, students may choose to use the funds to pay off their outstanding account balance.
No. CRRSAA funds will be disbursed directly to the student and may not be automatically applied toward outstanding balances by AACC. To use these funds to pay off an outstanding balance with AACC, a student must make a payment through their MyAACC account.
Yes, students enrolled in a qualified credit certificate program are eligible.
No, CRRSAA funds will not reduce your financial aid package.
No, international and undocumented students are not eligible for CRRSAA funding.
No, DACA students are not eligible for CRRSAA funding.
AACC cannot provide specific tax advice. Contact your tax advisor. General information available on the IRS website states that emergency financial aid grants are not includible in your gross income.
Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF). The U.S. Department of Education allocated funding to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is allocated to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA).