COVID-19
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Student Emergency Grant
Wilkes Community College (WCC) signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement on April 24, 2020. WCC provides assurance that 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.
Wilkes Community College has received $700,541 from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Wilkes Community College estimates that 960 students at the institution are 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.
As of October 9, 2020, Wilkes Community College has distributed 977 grants, funded under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant Program, totaling $732,791 to 819 students.
Funds will be awarded on a weekly basis, based on receipt of applications.
Wilkes Community College used the following criteria to determine student eligibility for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. All eligible students will receive $750.00.
- To qualify a student must have been enrolled in 9 or more credit hours that were not exclusively online instruction as of March 13, 2020. Students enrolled for fewer than 9 credit hours may apply by providing documentation of extenuating circumstances.
- Per the Department of Education, only students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, may receive emergency financial aid grants. The criteria to participate in these programs include US citizenship or eligible noncitizenship; a valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Service (if the student is male); and a high school diploma or GED.
- Therefore, the following students are not eligible for the Student Emergency Assistance funds:
- Career and College Promise (high school) students
- Wilkes Early College High School and Ashe Early College High School students
- International and undocumented students (including DACA)
- Online students (enrolled exclusively in online classes as of March 13)
- Students who are not maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
Wilkes Community College put information about the Emergency grants on our COVID-19 webpage. The following information was provided to students.
The US Department of Education has distributed funds to college to provide direct emergency cash grants to college students whose lives and education have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. This funding is available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
These emergency grants are intended to assist students with expenses related to disruptions to their education due to the COVID-19 outbreak, including childcare, food, healthcare/medical, housing (including increased utility costs), technology (including computer or WiFi access for online classes), and other items.
WCC sent eligible students an email link to the online application. Students were required to use their WCC user ID and password to access the application. All students were sent follow-up communication about their application to their WCC student email address.
Funds will be dispersed via direct deposit or check. The college will make every effort to distribute funds on a weekly basis.
CARES Act Institutional Funds Reports
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA); also referred to as HEERF 2
Wilkes Community College (WCC) signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement on January 19, 2021. WCC provides assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than the required amount of funds received to provide HEERF grants to students.
Wilkes Community College has received $700,541 from the Department to award emergency grants to students which may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care, or childcare.
Wilkes Community College acknowledges that it prioritized grants to students with exceptional need.
Exceptional Need was first defined as WCC students receiving Pell grants. On March 26, 2021, WCC awarded grants to 689 students, with full-time students receiving $750 and part-time students receiving $500, for a total of $450,250.
On June 2, 2021, WCC awarded grants in the amount of $500 to 61 Workforce Development students enrolled in programs leading to a workforce credential who demonstrated an exceptional need. This need was determined by an application where students indicated a financial need stemming from loss of employment for self or family members, reduced income, food insecurity, housing insecurity or other exceptional needs due to the coronavirus.
On Friday, June 25, 293 traditional students enrolled summer semester who did not receive emergency grants fall or spring semester, received the following email:
As a student attending WCC during 2021 summer you have been selected to apply for a HEERF II Student Emergency Grant. These funds are available to our students through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II grant that was authorized by congress through the CRRSAA of 2021. These funds are to assist students enrolled at Wilkes who have a need for housing, food, etc. related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a grant that does not need to be paid back and is available to our traditional college students this summer. In order to receive these funds, you will need to complete the application below. Applications should be submitted by July 2, 2021 for consideration. This is an electronic application that will be submitted immediately upon completion. Once approved you will receive an email to your WCC email address letting you know when you can expect to receive the funds. If you have any questions, please reach out to me.
On July 16, 89 students received emergency grants in the amount of $750, for a total awarded of $66,750.
On July 30, 2021, 47 students received emergency grants in the amount of $750, for a total of $35,250.
As of July 30, 2021, WCC had dispersed $582,750.
On September 24, 2021, 186 students received emergency grants totaling $117,791.
Students who completed the FAFSA and had a maximum EFC of $15,000 were awarded grants, distributed as following:
- 1-6 credit hours: 87 students received $500
- 7-11 credit hours: 97 students received $750; 1 student received $407.50; 1 student received $1133.50
As of September 24, 2021, Wilkes Community College has distributed 1072 grants, funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, totaling $700,541.
American Rescue Plan/HEERF III
Wilkes Community College received $2,422,469 from the American Rescue Plan Act for the purpose of awarding emergency grants to students which may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care, or childcare.
Wilkes Community College acknowledges that it will prioritize grants to students with exceptional need.
On September 24, 2021, WCC awarded grants to 714 students with exceptional need, which included students who submitted a FAFSA with a maximum EFC of $15,000.
Emergency grant awards were distributed as follows:
| Credit Hours | Amount Per Student | Number of Students | Total Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | $500 | 46 | $23,000 |
| 7-11 | $700 | 192 | $144,000 |
| 12+ | $1,000 | 475 | $475,000 |
| 1 student paid from both HEERF 2 and 3: $342.50 HEERF 3 | |||
| Total Awarded | $642,342.50 | ||
On October 15, 2021, WCC awarded grants to 803 students who did not have a FAFSA on file or who had an EFC greater than $15,000. According to the HOPE Center, 50% of non-Pell eligible students are basic needs insecure; therefore WCC has determined that these students have a need for HEERF III emergency grants.
Emergency grant awards were distributed as follows:
| Credit Hours | Amount Per Student | Number of Students | Total Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | $250 | 293 | $73,250 |
| 7-11 | $500 | 259 | $129,500 |
| 12+ | $750 | 251 | $188,250 |
| Total Awarded 10/15/21 | 803 | $391,000 | |
| Total HEERF III Awarded | 1517 | $1,033,342.50 |
Emergency grant awards were distributed as follows:
| Credit Hours | EFC | Amount Per Student | Number of Students | Total Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | $0 – $15,000 | $500 | 8 | $4,000 |
| $15,001+ / no FAFSA | $250 | 13 | $3,250 | |
| 7-11 | $0 – $15,000 | $750 | 1 | $750 |
| $250 | 37 | $9,250 | ||
| $15,001+ / no FAFSA | $250 | 29 | $7,250 | |
| $500 | 2 | $1,000 | ||
| 12+ | $0 – $15,000 | $250 | 103 | $25,750 |
| $500 | 15 | $8,500 | ||
| $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | ||
| $15,001+ / no FAFSA | $250 | 44 | $11,000 | |
| $500 | 1 | $500 | ||
| $750 | 3 | $2,250 | ||
| WDCE | NA | $750 | 77 | $57,750 |
| $500 | 95 | $47,500 | ||
| Total Awarded 11/17/21 | 430 | $178,750 | ||
| Total Unduplicated Students Receiving HEERF III Awards | 1722 | $1,211,592.50 |
On Friday, December 10, 2021, emergency grant aid was awarded to two Workforce Development student enrolled in the IT Support program which leads to a workforce credential.
Emergency grant awards were distributed as follows:
| Credit Hours | EFC | Amount Per Student | Number of Students | Total Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WDCE | NA | $500 | 2 | $1,000 |
| Total Awarded 12/10/21 | 2 | $1,000 | ||
| Total Unduplicated Students Receiving HEERF III Awards Fall Semester 2021 | 1724 | $1,212,592.50 |
On February 11, 2022, WCC awarded grants to 827 students with exceptional need, as determined by a FAFSA with a maximum EFC of $15,000. WCC also awarded grants to 397 traditional students and 358 Early College High School students who did not have a FAFSA on file or who had an EFC greater than $15,000. According to the HOPE Center, 50% of non-Pell eligible students are basic needs insecure; therefore, WCC has determined that these students have a need for HEERF III emergency grants.
On February 25, 2022, WCC awarded grants to 127 Workforce Development students enrolled in programs leading to a workforce credential.
Emergency grant awards were distributed as follows:
| Credit Hours | EFC | Amount Per Student | Number of Students | Total Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | 0-$15,000 | $500 | 81 | $40,500 |
| $15,001+ / no FAFSA | $250 | 104 | $26,000 | |
| 7-11 | 0-$15,000 | $750 | 199 | $149,250 |
| $15,001+ / no FAFSA | $500 | 110 | $55,000 | |
| 12+ | 0-$15,000 | $1000 | 547 | $547,000 |
| $15,001+ / no FAFSA | $750 | 183 | $137,250 | |
| Ashe and Wilkes ECHS Students: 1-6 hours | $250 | 143 | $35,750 | |
| Ashe and Wilkes ECHS Students: 7-11 hours | $500 | 155 | $77,500 | |
| Ashe and Wilkes ECHS Students: 12+ hours | $750 | 60 | $45,000 | |
| WDCE Students | NA | $250 | 4 | $1,000 |
| $500 | 90 | $45,000 | ||
| $750 | 18 | $13,500 | ||
| $822.50 | 7 | $5,757.50 | ||
| $1,000 | 9 | $9,000 | ||
| Total Awarded February 2022 | 1,710 | $1,187,507.50 | ||
| Total Unduplicated Students Receiving HEERF III Awards | 2,127 | $2,400,100 |
On June 13, 2022, WCC awarded grants to 42 health science students to assist with summer travel to clinical locations.
| Amount Per Student | Number of Students | Total Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150.00 | 28 | $4,200 | |
| $150.75 | 1 | $150.75 | |
| $155.25 | 13 | $2018.25 | |
| Total Awarded June 2022 | 42 | $6,369 | |
| Total Unduplicated Students Receiving HEERF III Awards | 2,171 | $2,394,872 |
In February 2023, WCC awarded 30 0 EFC & President’s list students the following awards:
- 29 Awarded $713.82
- 1 awarded $713.72
- $4000 HEERF II
- $17,414.50 HEERF III
In March 2023, 10 Emergency grants were awarded to students through Resource Connections:
- $8012.25 total @ $801.23 each HEERF III
WCC has fully distributed HEERF III student awards in the amount of $2,422,469.