COVID-19 Relief Funding (CARES, CRRSSA, ARP)

As of February 8, 2023, NCC has spent all student COVID relief funds (CARES, CRRSSA, ARP).  NCC awarded a total of $17,623,716.55 to 11,301 students assisting with housing costs, tuition bills, books, technology needs, and emergency living expenses.  Read more below on how these funds were used at each stage of the pandemic and recovery.

 

Awarding of Funds

Impact of the COVID crisis this spring at NCC has been substantial, effecting the college on every front including faculty and staff members. But no group has felt the brunt more than students who have had to manage major challenges to their personal and academic lives.

 

To help students who have been impacted financially, the college is distributing emergency government grant funding through the federal CARES Act. The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student Aid provides funding for institutions to award emergency financial aid grants to students who have been impacted by the COVID crisis. Students are provided the flexibility to spend grant dollars as they deem appropriate. The funds were specifically provided to help students with COVID-19 related challenges which may include items such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care.

 

The CARES Act requires all colleges and universities participating in the program to provide access to the following information.

  • Northampton Community College has signed and returned to the Department of Education the CARES Act Certification and Agreement. This document is an assurance that NCC 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.
  • The total amount of funds that NCC will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $3,019,558.

Round 1 Details

  • 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 submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter) is $1,889,300.
  • 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 to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 5,402.
  • The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 3,186.
  • NCC’s method of evaluating eligibility was based on the student being Title IV eligible and being an enrolled student as of March 13, 2020. (Students enrolled in programs that can only be completed online are ineligible.) A valid survey response indicating COVID-related expenses was required for payment.
  • Eligible NCC students, full and part time, will receive cash grants of varying amounts. Pell-eligible full time students will receive the largest grants ($700), followed by those students who are part time Pell-eligible ($600), full-time non Pell-eligible ($500) and part-time, non Pell-eligible ($400).

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Eligible students received the following email to make them aware of CARES Act grants available to them:

 

Subject line: You are eligible for money through the Cares Act

 

Dear NCC student,

According to our records, you are eligible to receive a federal Cares Act grant through Northampton Community College. These grant funds were made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress. We at NCC have already reviewed your qualifications and determined that you are eligible to receive a grant, pending final verification.

 

To obtain your grant, please access a quick survey and answer several brief questions about how the COVID pandemic has impacted your college learning experience. It’s important you take action soon to receive your grant funding by clicking this link and completing this short survey: tinyurl.com/NCC-CARES-Act-Survey

 

Deadline to register is May 17. If you have any questions, contact the Northampton Community College Financial Aid Office at financialaid@northampton.edu.

 

Round 2 Details

Round 2 was distributed to all non survey responders from Round 1 as well as eligible students enrolled in summer 2020 who indicated they have a COVID-19 related expense.

  • 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 submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter) is $2,198,900 (cumulative after the close of round 2).
  • 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 to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 5,663 (cumulative after the close of round 2).
  • The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 3,721.
  • NCC’s method of evaluating eligibility was based on the student being Title IV eligible and being an enrolled student as of March 13, 2020 or now enrolled in summer 2020 classes on 5/28/2020. (Students enrolled in programs that can only be completed online are ineligible.) A valid survey response indicating COVID-related expenses was required for payment.
  • Eligible NCC students, full and part time, will receive cash grants of varying amounts. Pell-eligible full time students will receive the largest grants ($700), followed by those students who are part time Pell-eligible ($600), full-time non Pell-eligible ($500) and part-time, non Pell-eligible ($400).

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Eligible students received one of the following email to make them aware of CARES Act grants available to them:

 

E-mail for Spring Follow-up Recipients

Dear NCC Student,

We are sorry we missed you the first round of CARES Act Funding! We want to reach out to give you another opportunity to access these funds. These grant funds were made available to Northampton Community College through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress. We at NCC have already reviewed your qualifications and determined that you are eligible to receive a grant, pending final verification.

 

To obtain your grant, please access a quick survey and answer several brief questions about how COVID pandemic has impacted your college learning experience. It’s important you take action soon to receive your grant funding by clicking this link and completing this short survey CARES Act survey. 

 

Deadline to register is June 12, 2020. If you have any questions, contact the Northampton Community College Financial Aid Office at financialaid@northampton.edu.


E-mail for New Round of Summer Eligible Students


Dear NCC Students,

According to our records, you are eligible to receive a federal Cares Act grant through Northampton Community College. These grant funds were made available to Northampton Community College through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress. We at NCC have already reviewed your qualifications and determined that you are eligible to receive a grant, pending final verification.

 

To obtain your grant, please access a quick survey and answer several brief questions about how COVID pandemic has impacted your college learning experience. It’s important you take action soon to receive your grant funding by clicking this link and completing this short survey CARES ACT SURVEY.

 

Deadline to register is June 12, 2020. If you have any questions, contact the Northampton Community College Financial Aid Office at financialaid@northampton.edu.

 

Round 3 Details

Round 3 of CAREs funding was targeted towards Title IV eligible students with technology related expenses who were registered as of 7/26/2020 for Fall 2020 classes and Title IV eligible on that date.

  • 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 submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter) is $2,880,900 (cumulative after the close of round 3).
  • 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 to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 8,786 (cumulative after the close of round 3).
  • The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 5,271 (cumulative after the close of round 3).
  • NCC’s method of evaluating eligibility was based on the student being Title IV eligible and being an enrolled student as of 7/26/2020.

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Eligible students received the following email to make them aware of CARES Act grants available to them:

 

Good Evening NCC Student,

 

According to our records, you may be eligible to receive a federal Cares Act Student Technology Grant through Northampton Community College. These grant funds were made available to Northampton Community College through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress. This round of CARES act funding will be used to assist student with technology expenses associated with the Fall 2020 coursework and to continue in the remote learning environment.

 

To apply for the grant, please access a quick survey and answer several brief questions about how COVID pandemic has impacted your college learning experience and generated any additional technology expenses. It’s important you take action soon to receive your grant funding by clicking this link and completing this short survey CARES ACT SURVEY.

 

The deadline to complete this survey is 8/4/2020 and funding is limited. If you have any questions, contact the Northampton Community College Financial Aid Office
at financialaid@northampton.edu.

Payments for Round 3 were made on the basis of expenses incurred by Eligible Students on the survey.

  • Additional technology purchase needed for coursework (i.e. camera, headset,etc) - $100
  • Computer, Tablet, or Device needed to access remote learning - $350
  • Computer, Tablet, or Device needed to access remote learning and additional technology purchase needed for coursework (i.e. camera, headset,etc) - $450
  • Internet Service upgrades or additional expense; - $250
  • Internet Service upgrades or additional expense and Additional technology purchase needed for coursework (i.e. camera, headset,etc); - $350
  • Internet Service upgrades or additional expense and Computer, Tablet, or Device needed to access remote learning; - $500
  • Internet Service upgrades or additional expense and Computer, Tablet, or Device needed to access remote learning and Additional technology purchase needed for coursework (i.e. camera, headset,etc); - $600

As of 9/30/2020, additional payments made on a rolling basis during the Fall 2020 followed the same awarding methodology as round 3 payments and bring cumulative total spent to $2,929,300 with a total of 4,238 unique recipients.

 

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting under CARES Act Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion, 18004(a)(2), and 18004(a)(3)

 

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting

 

Quarterly Public Reporting Requirement for HEERF I, II, and III (a)(1) and (a)(4) Student Aid Portion

 

Northampton County COVID-19 Relief Funds

 

NCC also administered $200,000 in scholarships funded by a grant from the federal CARES Act, under the administration of the Commonwealth of PA Dept of Community and Economic Development and the County of Northampton in support of students with COVID related expenses and/or financial need for the Fall 2020 semester.

 

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSSA) Act 

NCC has received federal stimulus funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and will be issuing student grant funding. This grant may be used for emergency expenses  and also can be used to satisfy any bill you may owe the college incurred since the beginning of the National Emergency March 20, 2020.

 

The total amount of funds that NCC will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $3,019,558 million.

 

Round 1 Details:

NCC's prioritized 2485 students enrolled on for spring 2021 as of 1/19/2021 with the highest need as defined by costs incurred (enrollment level + residency status) as well as the lowest expected family contribution on the FAFSA.  Students needed to meet all title IV elgiibility requirements to be included as defined on the FAFSA.

 

Survey respondents included 1438 students with a total award amount of $1,140,850 (which included spending remaining $129,100 of CAREs funding).

 

Awards were granted by enrollment level as of 1/19/2021: Full Time:$800, 3/4 time: $500, Half-Time $400, Less than Half-Time $200.  Additional amounts were provided for residency level 2: $250, residency level 3: $500, residency level 6: $300. 

 

Round 2 Details:

This round was targeted towards students enrolled during COVID with balances due or who had to cease enrollment due to COVID related expenses. As with previous rounds students had to be title IV eligible as defined on the FAFSA.

 

Valid respondents were provided with the balance owed + $500 for emergency expenses or $700 for emergency expenses if no balance was owed.  

 

After round 2, the total cumulative $ spent for both rounds was $1,670,930.36

 

Round 3 Details:

This round was offered to all students registered for summer and now included those not title IV eligible per guidance issued from the US Department of Education issued May 21, 2020.

Valid respondents were provided with the balance owed + $500 for emergency expenses or $700 for emergency expenses if no balance was owed. 

After round 3, the total cumulative $ spent for all three rounds was $2,429,678.36

 

Ongoing Funds Distribution:

After the distribution of the 1st three rounds, the remaining amount may be applied for as needed via the link at the top and bottom of the website.  Students may indicate an amount requested on the application.

 

Funding is limited and will prioritized based on any of the following: expenses incurred, finanical need, balances owed, other relief funding recieved and generally capped at $1500 in absence of other directly documented expenses.  Survey responses will be reviewed and processed weekly.

 

Our cumulative total as of 7/5/2021 for both CARES Funding and CRRSSA funds $ totals $6,023,116.

 

American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (ARP)

NCC has received federal stimulus funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and will be issuing student grant funding. This grant may be used for emergency expenses  and also can be used to satisfy any bill you may owe the college incurred since the beginning of the National Emergency March 20, 2020.

 

The total amount of funds that NCC will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $11,568,583.

 

Beginning in the October 2021, we began awarding funds to all enrolled students.  We advertised the funding availability to all current and prospective students advising them to complete the application if interested.  We did not award funds until commencement of attendance (defined as confirmed to be attending classes) was verified. 

 

Students received up to $1500 towards a past due balance (later in the semester this was expanded to the full amount of unpaid balances).  Students received additional payments of $500 for enrollment half time or greater, $400 for enrollment less than half time, and $1000 for not being currently enrolled. 

 

In order to prioritize students with the exceptional financial need, students with an EFC less than 5000 on the FAFSA received an additional $200 and students with higher tuition costs received additional funding (Out of State- $300, Other PA County-$200, Monroe County $100).

 

After the initial fall round, the application remained open on the web for students to continue to apply throughout the Fall semester. 

 

In the Spring 2022, we adjusted to the guidance of ‘enrolled’ as defined in 34 CFR § 668.2 of defining enrollment as being registered for classes, and we able to provide funding to registered students in advance of the spring semester.  The opportunity was distributed again to all registered and prospective students.  We followed the same awarding method as listed above for the fall however we adjusted the ‘Monroe’ residency to be $200, All Other PA Counties residency status to $300, and international students to $800 to prioritize the need of these students in a greater way.  

 

After the initial spring round, the application remained open on the web for students to continue to apply throughout the Spring 2022 semester. As occurred in the fall we intially paid $1500 towards balances and expanded this to the full spring balances towards the end of the spring semester.

 

Awarding for Summer 2022 began in April, initially with both relief payments (using same methodology as Spring 2022 listed above, capping balances at $1500) and payments towards balances.  Eligibility was then later limited towards payments for billing assistance only to preserve remaining funding.

 

Award Amounts for Fall 2022 were finalized using the criteria below.  Students received up to $1000 towards any balance due towards the college in addition to a payment amount determined in accordance with each of the following criteria. Once again, NCC prioritzed it's neediest students through the metrics below.

 

Enrollment:

6 or more credits: +$500
Less than 6 credits: +$400

 

Residency:

Monroe: +$100
All Other PA Counties: +$200
Out of State/International: +$300

 

FAFSA EFC Less than 5000: +$200

 

Payment amounts were based on the factors above at the time of awarding. A student received only one payment for the Fall 2022 semester.

 

NCC also awarded ARP funds in support of on campus student housing costs.  Students were required to file the FAFSA and be living in on campus housing at time of disbursement.  Funds were awarded in the fall but split between fall/spring.  Students had to remain in housing to receive spring portion of the award.

 

Awards amounts were based on need as defined by increased tuition costs based on residency as well as score on the FAFSA (EFC). Student's total award was a sum of amounts below based on residency and EFC.

 

Residency

Northampton County - $0
Monroe County - +$1000
All Other PA Counties - +$1500
Out of State/international - +$2000

 

EFC

0 -+$1500
1-5500 -+$1200
5501+-+$1000



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