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QCC Emergency Assistance Grants

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QCC recognizes the financial stresses our students are facing due to the COVID-19 crisis.  Emergency grant funds are available from two sources to assist students with their financial needs related to the pandemic:

  1. Federal CARES Act Emergency Grants – This is the most substantial source of funding.
  2. QCC Foundation and/or Institutional Funding - Limited funding is also available through generous donations by and to the QCC Foundation

Eligibility Criteria

You must be:

  • Actively enrolled (registered and attending/participating) and accepted to a degree or certificate program for the semester you are requesting funding, OR
  • Actively participating in programming and/or classes through the QCC Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education or the QCC Adult Community Learning Center. 

You must apply by the following deadlines:

  • Spring 2020 (for CWDCE and ACLC courses between March and June) – CLOSED
  • Summer 2020 – By August 14
  • Fall 2020 (for CWDCE and ACLC courses between September and December) – By December 1

Funding is limited. Applying by the deadlines allows you to be considered, but does not guaranty funding.  Eligible students will generally be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.  If awarded, we may not be able to meet your full financial need.  The application may be closed earlier than the listed deadlines or your request may be delayed or denied if funding is exhausted.  For semesters which have not yet started, disruptions to campus operations due to COVID-19 must still be ongoing to qualify.

How to apply for Emergency Grant Assistance

Students must complete the QCC Application for Emergency Assistance Grants to request funding.  Students who may qualify for funding through the CARES Act will also be required to complete the appropriate year FAFSA to establish eligibility. The College will use the information provided to determine emergency grant eligibility and the amount of a grant. Please note that not all students will qualify and QCC may not be able to meet the full financial needs of all that do qualify.  QCC has a limited amount of funding, and we appreciate students only asking for the amount needed so we can serve as many students affected by the coronavirus as possible.

Requests will be reviewed within 15 business days from their completed submission. Awarding of funds will generally be made on a case-by-case, “first-come, first served” basis. Students and financial needs that do not qualify under the CARES Act may be prioritized in the determination of assistance from QCC Foundation and Institutional grant resources.

All information regarding your eligibility for emergency grant funding will be sent to your Qmail account, if you have one.  Students who are not assigned a Qmail account will receive communication via the email account we have on record.  Funds will be disbursed through your student account; however emergency grants awarded through the CARES Act and most QCC Foundation funding sources will be refunded directly to you regardless of any balance you may owe to the College.  Institutional funds and some Foundation funds may be applied to balances owed to the College by the student first at the College’s discretion. 

CARES Act – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Students must complete the FAFSA to be eligible for CARES Act funding.

What is the CARES Act?

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020.  The CARES Act provided $14 billion to students and institutions across the U.S. to assist with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.

QCC students with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 may be eligible to participate in the federal emergency grant program. Students must be eligible to participate in Federal Financial Aid programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). 

Who is eligible for CARES Act emergency funds?

Applicants must meet the criteria to participate in Federal Financial Aid programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), to be considered for federal emergency grants.  The criteria to participate include but are not limited to the following:

  • Admission to an eligible degree or certificate program at QCC;
  • A valid Social Security number;
  • U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status;
  • Registration with Selective Service (if the student is male);
  • A high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting; and
  • Meet the standards for QCC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy

Please note there are no income limitations to eligibility in Section 484 in Title IV of the HEA!

If a student has filed a complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), then the student has generally demonstrated eligibility.  

Additional documentation may be required if the FAFSA and/or College records cannot confirm all eligibility criteria have been met.

What if I have not filed the FAFSA?

Students who have not filed a FAFSA but who are eligible to file a FAFSA must do so (and list QCC as a school to receive the application) to be considered for CARES Act funding.  We strongly recommend that you use the FSA ID process to sign.  The College will receive your FAFSA in 5-7 business days if you sign electronically.

Students seeking CARES Act funding for Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 must complete the 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid [at] qcc.mass.edu or call 508.854.4261 for questions regarding how to submit the FAFSA.

What type of expenses are allowable under the CARES Act?

Applicants must have expenses related to the disruption of QCC operations due to COVID-19. 

The disruption to QCC’s campus operations due to COVID-19 include, but may not be limited to:

  • the change from a physical classroom experience to remote instruction,
  • the change to providing support services remotely, and
  • the limitations on usage of campus resources

As such, some examples of eligible expenses might be:

  • The purchase of a laptop because the college moved to remote instruction
  • Educational supplies, such as software, printers, paper, or ink due to no longer having access to these things on campus
  • An increase in a student's monthly utility bill because the college moved to remote instruction 
  • The need to add or enhance internet service in order to participate in remote instruction
  • Increased food expenses if a student was previously relying on QCC’s Food Pantry or other food resources

Please note these examples are not exhaustive.

What if I am NOT eligible for CARES Act emergency funding?

The following QCC students are NOT eligible for CARES Act emergency funding but may qualify for QCC Foundation or Institutional Grant assistance (see below):

  • Students enrolled exclusively in an online program on March 13 (Note: This is rare and is different from enrolling in online courses.)
  • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students
  • International students
  • Early College, Gateway to College, and other dual enrollment students,
  • Students taking HiSet/GED/College Prep classes or English Language classes through the Adult Community Learning Center,
  • Students participating in programming through QCC’s Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, and
  • Students who are not enrolled in a degree or eligible certificate program at QCC.

Emergency Assistance Grant – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is eligible for QCC Foundation and Institutional emergency funds?
  • You must be actively enrolled in a degree or certificate program for the Summer 2020 and/or Fall 2020 semester(s), OR actively participating in programming through the QCC Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education or the QCC Adult Community Learning Center. 
  • Students and financial needs that do not qualify under the CARES Act may be prioritized in the determination of assistance from QCC Foundation and Institutional grant resources.
How much funding will I receive?

The College will use the information you provide on the QCC Application for Emergency Assistance Grants to determine your eligibility for and the amount of a grant.  We will be limiting the maximum dollar amount awarded to each applicant to try to assist as many students as possible.  Please note that not all students will qualify and the College may not be able to meet the full financial needs of all that do qualify. 

Am I required to repay the funds I receive?

No, the funds received through this program do not need to be repaid.

Will this funding reduce or change my financial aid award with QCC?

Federal emergency funds received through the CARES Act will not impact your financial aid award, due to a special exception in the CARES Act. 

However, emergency funds received from the QCC Foundation or Institution are considered a resource for the student and must fit into a student’s financial aid award, if they have one. If you have already received a financial aid award that meets your financial aid need and/or your Cost of Attendance, we may be required to reduce other funds. QCC will reduce student loan funds before other grants when required.  Because most emergency funds are refunded to the student regardless of any balance due, in rare cases, required adjustments can create a balance due to the College. You will receive a revised award letter any time a change is made to your Financial Aid Award. 

Can I apply for funding for more than one semester?

Yes, students can apply each semester if they continue to experience hardships and QCC has remaining funding.  Priority may be given to students asking for funding for the first time as we progress through the Summer and Fall semesters. The program is scheduled to continue in Summer 2020, Fall 2020, and potentially in Spring 2021 as long as the funding is not exhausted sooner and if the disruption to campus operations due to COVID-19 is ongoing at that time.

Are there deadlines to obtain emergency grant funding?

You must apply by the following deadlines:

  • Summer 2020 – By August 14
  • Fall 2020 (for CWDCE and ACLC courses between September and December) – By December 1

Funding is limited.  Applying by the deadlines allows you to be considered, but does not guaranty funding.  Eligible students will generally be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.  If awarded, we may not be able to meet your full financial need.  The application may be closed earlier than the listed deadlines or your request may be denied if funding is exhausted.

For semesters which have not yet started, disruptions to campus operations due to COVID-19 must still be ongoing to qualify.

What additional resources are available to me if I need access to food and other services?

The College has a COVID-19 resource page. We encourage all students to review the resources available to support their enrollment.

Who should I contact if I have questions about completing the QCC Emergency Assistance Grant application?
  1. If you are enrolled in a degree or certificate program at QCC, please contact Jason Kurland, Assistant Dean of Students, at jkurland [at] qcc.mass.edu for questions regarding how to submit the application.
  2. If you are participating in programming through the Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, please contact Kate O’Connor at  kaoconnor [at] qcc.mass.edu for questions regarding how to submit the application.
  3. If you are participating in programming through the Adult Community Learning Center, please contact Kimberly White at kwhite [at] qcc.mass.edu for questions regarding how to submit the application.
What if I need help with my bill or need more funding than what is provided?

If you have not already done so, you may still submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial aid for the Fall 2020 semester.

For Fall 2020, please complete the 2020-2021 FAFSA. There is still time for you to qualify for grant assistance!  The FAFSA deadline for the MASSGrant Plus is November 1! 

Be sure to select QCC to receive your application electronically.  Eligibility criteria do apply, and additional information may be needed to determine your eligibility. Please reply to all requests for additional information by QCC promptly.

Please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@qcc.mass.edu or call 508.854.4261 for questions regarding financial aid eligibility.