KCKCC COVID-19 Student Relief Fund

Due to the impact of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak, Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) is working to meet the needs of our students. KCKCC has established a process for students seeking temporary, short-term, financial assistance. Emergency financial assistance funds have been received as part of the Federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021(CRRSAA)  called the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEEERF II).

The KCKCC COVID-19 Student Relief funds are targeted to assist students who have exceptional needs related to educational costs, food, housing, health care (including mental care), or childcare as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  KCKCC’s aim is to meet students’ basic needs to help them stay in school and complete the semester.

Awards are not considered loans and do not require repayment.  Funding is available to students who meet the eligibility criteria outlined below on a first-come, first-awarded basis until funds are depleted.

• Applicant must be currently enrolled in and attending at least 6 credit hours as a degree or certificate seeking student at KCKCC
• Experiencing unexpected financial hardship resulting from the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak
• Must have a valid 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at KCKCC.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.

Priority will be given to applicants who are eligible to receive Federal Pell Grant Funding and then students demonstrating financial need as determined by the 2020-2021 FAFSA. 

The process to apply for the KCKCC COVID-19 Student Relief Fund is simple. Apply at https://www.kckcc.edu/covid-student-relief-fund-app.html.

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 in Section A.
• Guidance provided by the institution to students concerning appropriate use of emergency financial aid grants are provided in Section B.

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 and for the Spring 2021 semester

All Fall 2020 Funds have been allocated.  Spring Application now open until March 1, 2021

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 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 will not likely 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
• Must have a valid 2020-2021 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 offense 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 Calue 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 based on your refund preference set up on Web Advisor. You may select direct deposit or a mailed check. Contact the KCKCC Business Office with questions about receiving the funding.

• 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. For Spring 2021, students may select an option on the application to use funds to pay a Spring 2021 balance and the funds will go directly toward the student’s account.
• 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.

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.