North Shore Community College students who have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic and disruption of NSCC operations and face-to-face learning may be eligible for a federal CARES Act grant, which provides emergency funding for college students. NSCC has received $1,723,366 from the federal Department of Education for student Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
To date, NSCC has received 663 applications and approved 564 or 79% and awarded $247,286. “We want to make sure that students know about this important resource available to them. 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,” said NSCC President Patricia A. Gentile. The college estimates that approximately 2,957 NSCC students are eligible for a grant.
Students who submit a CARES application must be registered for the spring and/or summer courses. Amounts granted are determined based on enrolled credits. Applicants must provide an explanation of expenses related to the disruption of NSCC operations and face-to-face classroom instruction due to COVID-19.
Examples of qualifying expenses include: if a laptop was needed because the college moved to remote learning courses; if monthly utility bills increased because the college moved to remote learning courses; if internet service needed to be added or enhanced in order to participate in remote learning courses; if students rely on SHOC food vouchers or the college’s monthly mobile market.
Students must complete the CARES Act Covid-19 Emergency Grant application to obtain funding from the program. Applications and more information are available at: https://www.northshore.edu/ cares-act/index.html
If a student has filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) then the student has demonstrated eligibility to participate.
Gentile noted requests are reviewed within seven to ten business days from their completed submission. Awarding of funds will be made on a case-by-case, “first come, first served” basis, to NSCC students enrolled in a degree or certificate program for the Spring 2020 and/or Summer 2020 semester who meet the criteria.
Students can re-apply for funding each semester (if they continue to face the same or similar hardships) for the duration of the program. Funds received through this program are emergency grant funds and do not have to be repaid. In addition, this funding does not reduce or change student financial aid awards.
The following NSCC students are not eligible for CARES Act Emergency Funding: International students, Early College students, Gateway to College students, any other dual enrollment students, any student taking courses towards a high school degree, and those students who are not enrolled in a degree or eligible certificate program.
Since all services are remote for the time being, please contact the Student Financial Services team at sfs@northshore.edu or call 978-762-4189.
