Citrus College continues to distribute 16,307 grants in the form of emergency aid money to eligible students enrolled in spring 2021.
Over the past year, Citrus College has paid out a total of $5,705,250 in Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act money as emergency financial aid grants, Vice President of Student Services Richard Rams said in an email interview.
Citrus College has issued three CARES Emergency Grants since spring 2020. Rams said the college will continue to disburse emergency aid grants within the following months.
Director of Financial Aid Stephen Fahey said in an email interview that $2,165,000 worth of CARES emergency financial aid grants have been disbursed to students in spring 2021.
A total of 16,307 grants have been awarded, Rams said, to help eligible students with expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.
Rams said eligibility for these awards is based on current enrollment at Citrus College and demonstrated need.
The Citrus College Financial Aid webpage said that to be eligible for an emergency aid grant, students must have a valid 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application on file with the college as of March 17. In order to deposit their grants into their personal checking or savings account, students must make a refund selection via BankMobile.
CARES emergency grants are funded by Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, Rams said.
The Citrus College Financial Aid webpage said the college plans to pay out at least 50% of CARES funds directly to students.
Some funds remain in the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II allocations, Rams said, and he anticipates “an additional allocation from HEERF III funds in the next several months, allowing Citrus College to award additional emergency grants in the upcoming academic year.”
In addition, the district received $3,714,707 from the Department of Education to support the shift to remote instruction, said Fahey. They received $477,000 in minority-serving institution funds as well.
For the period of January, The CARES Act has awarded Citrus College $291,273 in institutional funds.
