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 (HEERFIII).

The KCKCC COVID-19 Student Relief funds are targeted to assist students who have. 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 until funds are depleted.

• Student must be currently enrolled in in at least six credit hours for Fall semester as a degree or certificate seeking student at KCKCC
• Experiencing financial hardship resulting from the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak

Priority will be given to students who are eligible to receive Federal Pell Grant funding as determined by the 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The KCKCC Student Financial Aid Office will automatically award funding to these students. Pending the availability of funding, all other students will be considered, based on the submission of an application available here.

The maximum amount awarded will be based on the student’s credit hour load, up to $2,000 for full-time attendance and will only be awarded once per semester.

Funds will be paid to based on the student’s refund method set up by the student on Web Advisor. Students 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 the balance and will be paid directly to you. Students may select an option to use funds to pay a balance that occurred anytime after March 13, 2021 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 Student Account and Make Payments under Financial Information.

As required, KCKCC is reporting the use of funds distributed to students from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).

1. KCKCC signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for allocation of funds.
   
   KCKCC received a Grant Award Notification that funds had been awarded. KCKCC will utilize no less than 50% of funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students ($1,482,546).
   
   KCKCC received a Grant Award Notification that funds had been awarded. KCKCC will utilize no less than $1,482,546 of the funds received under Section 314(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. 
   
   KCKCC received a Grant Award Notification that funds had been awarded. KCKCC will utilize no less than $ $6,032,116 of the funds received under Section 2003(a)(1) American Rescue Plan (ARP) to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. 

2. $8,997,208: Represents the total amount of funds that KCKCC has received from the Department pursuant to KCKCC’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

3. $5,358,250:Represents the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students through HEERF funding.
   
   $1,482,546 (HEERF I, CARES Act)
   
   $1,482,546 (HEERF II, CRRSAA)
   
   $2,394,250 as of 10/08/2021 (HEERF III, ARP)
   
   
4. 3,168 (unduplicated): Represents the estimated total number of students at KCKCC receiving funding under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
   
5. Describe the method(s) used by KCKCC to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
   
   With the transition to online courses in the Spring 2020 semester, because of the county stay-at-home order, KCKCC created an application for students to apply for assistance under the CARES Act. Enrollment in 6 or more credit hours was required.
   
   For the Summer 2020 semester, an application to apply for assistance was also available, requiring 3 or more credit hours of enrollment.
   
   For the Fall 2020 semester, an application to apply for assistance was available, requiring 6 or more credit hours of enrollment.
   
   For the Spring 2021 semester, an application to apply for assistance also available, requiring 6 or more credit hours of enrollment.
   
   For the Summer 2021 semester, an application to apply for assistance also available, requiring 3 or more credit hours of enrollment.
   
   For the Fall 2021 semester, all students with a Pell-eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) were automatically awarded, then an application to apply for assistance was available, beginning September 15, 2021 requiring 6 or more credit hours of enrollment for non-Pell-eligible students.
   
   Applications were reviewed to ensure costs documented are related to the campus closure as stipulated. Students were required to be degree or certificate seeking and have current enrollment. Per the Department of Education guidance, students must not have been enrolled in all-online programs prior to March 13. KCKCC does not have any programs which are offered exclusively online. 
   
   
6. Describe the method(s) used by KCKCC to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA.
   
   For the Spring 2021 semester, KCKCC awarded $500-$1000 to any student who met eligibility requirements and were enrolled in a minimum of 6 or more credit hours.
   
   Students were required to be degree or certificate seeking and have current enrollment. 
   Grants were funded to eligible students using the student’s enrollment status.
   
7. Describe instructions, directions, or guidance provided by KCKCC to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
   
   All Spring 2020 students were notified by email of the availability of the application. 
   
   Current students with a FAFSA on file were notified of the availability of the Summer 2020 application at the time the application opened.
   
   Spring 2021, current students with a FAFSA on file were notified by email that the application and relief funds were available.
   
   KCKCC COVID-19 Relief Fund Applicationand information are visible on the KCKCC website.
   
   KCKCC coordinated a social media campaign about the HEERF funding opportunity. Faculty and Staff were notified of the application availability and details through multiple internal communications. Signs were posted on campus. Faculty and Staff were also advised to encourage students, who have asked questions or expressed the need for help during the pandemic, to complete the application.