LYNN — North Shore Community College is distributing funds to students who have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting cancellation of traditional classes.
The college estimates that 2,957 students are eligible for the emergency grant funding, which NSCC received in April through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump.
North Shore Community College aims to distribute the entirety of the $1.7 million it has received from the federal Department of Education for student Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
“We want to make sure that students know about this important resource available to them,” NSCC President Dr. Patricia A. Gentile said in a statement. “We have a lot of federal funding to distribute and our students need it now when they are experiencing the very real impacts of COVID-19.”
As of Wednesday, NSCC has approved 79 percent of the 663 applications that students have submitted, which amounts to $247,286 in funds that have been awarded.
Students are eligible for grants between $300 to $700, with amounts determined by enrolled credits and individual need, according to Susan Sullivan, NSCC director of financial aid.
To qualify, students must be registered for spring or summer courses and provide an explanation of expenses related to the disruption of NSCC services and face-to-face instruction.
For example, applicants could demonstrate that they had to purchase a laptop, experienced an increase in their monthly utility bills, or needed to add Internet service because classes were moved online. Other students may have been relying on Stop Hunger on Campus (SHOC) food vouchers or the college’s monthly mobile market, according to an NSCC press release.
Although the funds are not income-based, students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), to apply for the funds, even if they have not otherwise been eligible for financial aid, Sullivan said.
“These funds are to help students with any expenses they incurred with us with the move to remote learning,” said Sullivan. “With changes in people’s situations, (such as) losing their jobs, we want to help them based on their current financial aid situation, not on what their situation was when they filled out the financial aid forms.”
To offset some of those expenses, the college distributed about 300 Chromebooks to students prior to receiving the CARES Act funding, according to a college spokesperson.
Sullivan said NSCC has until next April to distribute the emergency funding, but aims to spend it more quickly. Part of that effort includes letting students know the funds are available.
Student applications will be rejected if they have a GPA lower than 2.0 and don’t meet federal requirements. Non-U.S. citizens, international students, Early College students, Gateway to College students, dual enrollment students, and students taking courses toward a high school degree will not qualify for the funds.
Sullivan said the college is working to find other ways to support students who are not eligible for the CARES Act grants.
Students can re-apply for funding each semester during the duration of the program. The emergency funds do not have to be repaid and will not impact a student’s financial aid package.
“It’s something,” said Sullivan. “I wish we could give them more but we have a number of students. We’re here to help, any student, any situation and they should reach out to us so we can help them be successful in their classes.”
CARES Act COVID-19 Emergency Grant applications and more information is available on the NSCC website.
