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CARES Act & COVID-19 Emergency Grants

The HEERF III Funds have been exhausted as of 8/18/2021. Please continue to check back in case more funds become available.

Click here for the October 21, 2020 HEERF Report

Click here for the January 10, 2021 HEERF Report

Click here for the April 10, 2021 HEERF Report

Click here for the July 10, 2021 HEERF Report

Click here for the October 10, 2021 HEERF Report

Click here for the January 10, 2022 HEERF Report

Click here for the April 10, 2022 HEERF Report

Click here for the June 30, 2022 HEERF Report

Click here for the September 2022 HEERF Report

Click here for the December 2022 HEERF Report

Click here for the April 10, 2023 HEERF Report

Click here for the June 2023 HEERF Report

HEERF III – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III

The American Rescue Plan Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) has been created to assist students with covering any component of the student’s cost of attendance (COA); or emergency costs that arise due to Coronavirus, such as but not limited to tuition, food, housing, health care, mental health care, or child care. DC3 is required to prioritize grants to students demonstrating exceptional financial need.

Student that are eligible:

  • Any individual who is or was enrolled at DC3 on or after the date the national emergency was declared for COVID-19 – March 13, 2020
    • Refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented students now qualify
    • Students exclusively enrolled in distance education, non-degree seeking, non-credit, dual enrollment, and continuing education students may receive these funds

Application Process:
Please complete the HEERF III Application in its entirety and return the completed Application to DC3’s Financial Aid Office by submitting it through https://liquidfiles.dc3.edu/filedrop/FinancialAid or you may print the form and drop it off at the Financial Aid Office in the Student Union.

Students will be required to apply for these funds each semester.

The HEERF II Funds have been exhausted as of 3/15/2021. Please continue to check back in case more funds become available.


The Spring 2021 COVID-19 Relief Fund (HEERF II) has been created to assist students with covering any component of the student’s cost of attendance (COA); or emergency costs that arise due to Coronavirus, such as but not limited to tuition, food, housing, health care, mental health care, or child care. DC3 is required to prioritize grants to students demonstrating exceptional financial need.

You must meet the following requirements to qualify:

  • Currently enrolled in Spring 2021 term, with 3 or more credit hours
  • Currently admitted as degree and/or certificate seeking at DC3
  • Have a completed FAFSA for 2020-21 on file and eligible to receive Title IV funding

As of this moment, DACA and International Students are not eligible for HEERF II funds under 8 USC 1611(a) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (1996 Welfare Reform Law).

Application Process: HEERF II Student Emergency Grant Applications will be accepted by completing the below portion of this form. Please return the completed Application to DC3’s Financial Aid Office by submitting it through https://liquidfiles.dc3.edu/filedrop/FinancialAid or you may print the form and drop it off at the Financial Aid Office in the Student Union.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on March 27, 2020, created education stabilization funds available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).

DC3 has received $949,264 in total from the CARES ACT and $61,322 with HEERF-Minority Serving Institution funds added.

DC3 is tasked with distributing at least 50% of these funds ($474,632) directly to students as emergency financial assistance to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations in the wake COVID-19. Click here for more information about how much of these funds have been distributed and how many students have received funding.

DC3C students must meet the following eligibility requirements to receive CARES Act funding:

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be enrolled in on-campus classes at the time of disruption due to COVID-19 in a least 6 credit hours
  • Be eligible to participate in Title IV Federal Financial Aid and have a valid 19-20 FAFSA on file
  • Valid social security number
  • Valid citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Selective Service registration (students identified as male at birth)
  • A high school diploma, GED, or eligible home school completion
  • Seeking a DC3 degree or eligible certificate
  • Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress standards
  • Not be in student aid default, overpayment or over award status
  • Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale while receiving Federal Financial Aid, with certain time limitations
  • Have a valid signature on FAFSA, to serve as a signed statement of educational purpose
  • Student must have current Spring 2020 enrollment OR withdrawal after March 13th and a continuing student enrolled for Summer 2020 or Fall 2020
  • Must submit the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund Application form which was e-mailed to eligible students on April 29, 2020. This application was required to be submitted via  https://liquidfiles.dc3.edu/filedrop/FinancialAid. Must have experienced expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.

If you are a high school student, enrolled exclusively in online classes, a DACA student,  or an international student you are NOT eligible for these funds.

The intent of emergency grant assistance is to support students experiencing temporary financial hardship. Funds are limited and not intended to provide ongoing relief.

CARES ACT FAQs

How do I apply for CARES Act funding?

There is no application or paperwork required. DC3 students will be identified based on their submission of a 2019-2020 FAFSA. To be considered for additional funds, students must submit the application e-mailed to them on April 29, 2020.

Do I need to submit a FAFSA to receive these funds?

Yes, the FAFSA must be on file with our office to evaluate your Title IV eligibility. If you have not completed a 2019-2020 FAFSA, you may apply online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

I was enrolled exclusively online. Am I eligible?

No, students enrolled exclusively in online courses on/after March 13, 2020 are not eligible for these funds if they experienced expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, per guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.

Will all students be awarded the same?

No. Awards will be based on enrollment status as of March 13, 2020, for Spring 2020 students.

How will I receive my funds?

Funds will be distributed to students’ in the form of a check. Checks will be mailed to students current addresses listed in the student system.  Address changes can be requested through the Registrar’s Office.

I’m not eligible for Pell Grant. Will I still receive CARES Act funds?

As long as students have completed a 2019-20 FAFSA and have been deemed eligible for federal student aid (grants or loans), they will receive CARES Act funds based on their enrollment status.

Will this emergency grant affect any of my other financial aid?

No, the CARES Act funds will not affect any aid already awarded to you or impact your future financial aid eligibility.

What can these funds be used for?

The purpose of these funds is to assist with expenses attributed to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, such as food, housing, course materials, technology (computer purchase, internet), health care, child care, or transportation (i.e., flight costs for returning home after campus was closed). The expenses would have been unforeseen costs incurred during the spring 2020.

What if I owe money to DC3 either this semester or in past semesters?

Funds will not be applied to outstanding balances at DC3. You will receive the full amount of your funding because the intended purpose is to assist you with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. However, if you wish to pay off your balance after receiving your funds, click here or contact the Business Office at 620-227-9302 to make a payment.

What if I was enrolled for Spring 2020, and I enroll for Summer 2020? Am I still eligible for CARES Act funding?

Possibly. This will depend on how much of CARES Act funding DC3 has exhausted during Spring 2020. Students who also enroll in Summer 2020 who are eligible for funds, will be contacted by e-mail.

I have more questions. Who can I contact?

Please contact the DC3 Financial Aid Office at finaid@dc3.edu or 620-227-9291

President’s Authorization Statement:

At DC3, we acknowledge that we have signed and returned the CARES Act certification and agreement form. We also acknowledge that we are using these funds to provide the mandated amount of 50% of emergency financial aid grants to our students until funds are exhausted.

Sincerely,

Dr. Harold Nolte,
DC3 President

DateTotal # of Students EligibleTotal # of Students Receiving FundingTotal Funding Distributed
June 4, 2020445*445**$445,410***
August 6, 202067****67****$29,280****

*DC3 acknowledges that as of this date, this figure represents the number of Spring 2020 students who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and therefore eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant.

**DC3 acknowledges that as of this date, the figure indicated represents the number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant.

***DC3 acknowledge that as of this date, the figure indicated represents the total funding that has been distributed to students as our 30-day reporting date.

****DC3 acknowledges that as of this date, this figure represents the number of Summer 2020 students who received funds from the CARES Grant with the total dollar amount disbursed. All funds have been awarded.

All students eligible for emergency aid were notified by the funds being refunded to them.