KCKCC COVID-19 Student Relief Fund

Notice: All Fall 2020 Funds have been allocated. 

Due to the impact of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak, Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) is working relentlessly to meet the unique needs of our students. KCKCC has established a process for students seeking temporary, short-term, financial assistance. The COVID-19 Student Relief Fund is made possible through the generous donations of KCKCC faculty, staff, alumni and donors.

Student Relief Award Criteria

The KCKCC COVID-19 Student Relief Fund will help with the rapid delivery of emergency aid to students who need it most. KCKCC’s aim is to meet students’ basic needs to help them stay in school and complete the semester. The COVID-19 Student Relief funds are for limited emergency financial support to currently enrolled degree or certificate seeking students who are unable to meet essential expenses due to a temporary or unexpected hardship.

Fall 2020 applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, subject to approval and availability of funds. Decisions regarding disbursement of funds are made on a case-by-case basis. Awards are not considered loans and do not require repayment. Some funds may be considered income and are therefore subject to federal taxes. Funding is available to students who meet the eligibility criteria outlined below.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicant must be currently enrolled as a degree or certificate seeking student at KCKCC
• Experiencing unexpected financial hardship resulting from the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak

The process to apply for the KCKCC COVID-19 Student Relief Fund is simple. Financial Aid counselors will review applications and provide feedback. 

Kansas City Kansas Community College, OPEID 00192500, received education stabilization funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Public Law No: 116-136. The CARES Act made funding available to colleges and universities [PDF] to assist eligible students who have been impacted by an on-campus COVID-19 financial disruption.

KCKCC signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. The institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. and will submit an initial 30-day Fund Report, and report every 45 days thereafter. 

This Fund Report applies to the student portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund that is designated exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students. The institution is making the below information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) Electronic Announcement of May 6, 2020.

• The total amount of funds that the institution received from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $1,482,546.
• The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is $1,482,546.
• The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is 932.

• The estimated total number of students at the institution 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 under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, as of the date of this Fund Report is 1,221. However, this number may change weekly.
• The methods used by the institution to determine which students receive emergency financial aid grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act are provided at Section A.
• Guidance provided by the institution to students concerning appropriate use of emergency financial aid grants are provided at Section B.

Section A

COVID-19 Student Relief Fund

Have you experienced a hardship due to COVID-19 disruptions that resulted in reduced income or extra expenses? Maybe we can help you. We will be accepting applications for the KCKCC COVID-19 Student Relief Fund for the Fall 2020 semester on August 1, 2020.

All Fall 2020 Funds have been allocated. 

The Federal CARES Act, Section 18004 [PDF], Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, allows schools to consider students for federal emergency financial aid grants for: expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student's cost of attendance, such as food, housing course materials, technology, health care and child care). KCKCC used the allocation of CARES Act funds to establish the KCKCC Student Relief Fund, to assist eligible students with the unexpected expenses.

• Federal funding for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund is limited and will be awarded to eligible students meeting the eligibility criteria.
• The Federal Emergency Relief Fund likely not meet your full financial need.

The KCKCC COVID-19 Student Relief Fund will help with the rapid delivery of emergency aid to students who need it most. KCKCC’s aim is to meet students’ basic needs to help them stay in school and complete the semester. The COVID-19 Student Relief funds are for limited emergency financial support to currently enrolled degree or certificate seeking students who are unable to meet essential expenses due to a temporary or unexpected hardship.

Student Eligibility for Federal Emergency Relief Fund

• Experiencing unexpected financial hardship resulting from the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak.
• Applicant must be currently enrolled as a degree or certificate seeking student at KCKCC.
• Must be enrolled in at least six credit hours at KCKCC during the fall 2020.
• Must have a valid 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at KCKCC.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Males must be registered with Selective Service, if required.
• Must not be in default, owe a refund or repayment to a federal financial aid program.
• Must be meeting KCKCC Financial Aid's satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy.
• Have not been convicted for the sale or possession of an illegal drug offence that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid.

The maximum amount awarded may be up to $2,000 and is only awarded once per semester. The process to apply for the KCKCC COVID-19 Student Relief Fund is simple.  Financial Aid counselors will review applications and provide feedback. 

CARES Act Federal Funds value and receipt of funds

The value of the KCKCC Covid-19 Student Relief Fund may vary up to $2,000 based upon your unique circumstances. Funds will be paid to you through direct deposit (if signed up with KCKCC) or a mailed check.

• If you owe an outstanding balance to KCKCC, CARES Act Federal funds will not be applied to any balance to KCKCC and will be paid directly to you.
• If you owe a balance, you may make payments through the Current Student tab in Web Advisor. Choose View Account and Make Payments under Financial Information.
• Additional information and application deadlines will be released at a future date.

Section B

Guidance Concerning Use of CARES Act Funds

The following guidance is provided in writing to all students receiving grants through CARES Act funds.

• Please note that CARES Act grants are intended for “emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).” By accepting a CARES Act grant, you are attesting that funds will be used in this manner.
• Kansas City Kansas community College has made good faith efforts to identify students eligible to receive CARES Act grants. By accepting emergency grant funds, you are attesting that you have successfully completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or are a military veteran receiving military aid to attend KCKCC who is eligible to file a FAFSA.