CARES Act Financial Aid Grants to Students

• CARES Act Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting - September 2020
• CARES Act Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting - December 2020
• CARES Act Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting - March 2021
• CARES Act Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting - June 2021

How do I know if I was awarded a CCC CARES Grant?

• Log in to myCCC using your Comet ID and Password.
  • If you have trouble logging in call the CCC help desk at 928-226-4357.
• Use the Quick Launch and navigate to: Financial Aid
• In the top tab menu choose Award > Award for Aid Year > Financial Aid Year 2019-2020 > Award Overview.
• If you have been awarded you will see a “CCC Cares Act Grant” award listed

What was CCC’s award criteria for the Summer 2020 semester CCC CARES Grant?

Students who met the following criteria on June 10, 2020 defined by the Department of Education were awarded either a $495 or a $530 CCC Cares grant award:

1. Financial aid applicants with a 2019-2020 FAFSA that was sent to CCC.
2. Enrolled in a degree or certificate program for at least one credit in the summer 2020 semester on June 10, 2020 at CCC.
3. Making Satisfactory Academic Progress.
   1. Eligible Satisfactory Academic Progress statuses include: Good; Probationary; Warning; Warning Transfer; Academic Plan Restricted Hours Good; Academic Plan Restricted Hours Probation; Academic Plan Restricted Hours Warning; Academic Plan 2nd Degree Good. 
4. Not owe an overpayment on Title IV grants or loans.
5. Not be in default on a Title IV loan.
6. Filed "as part of the original financial aid application process" a certification that includes
   1. A statement of educational purpose.
   2. Student's SSN.
7. Be a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible noncitizen.
8. Have received a High School diploma or GED equivalent certification
9. Have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds if convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges.
10. Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits.
11. Have repaid Title IV loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits if obtained inadvertently.
12. Have had Selective Service registration verified.
13. Have had Social Security Number verified.
14. Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations.
     

What was CCC’s award criteria for the Spring 2020 semester CCC CARES Grant?

Students who met the following criteria on May 7, 2020 defined by the Department of Education were awarded a $600 CCC Cares grant award:

1. Financial aid applicants with a 2019-2020 FAFSA that was sent to CCC.
2. Enrolled in a degree or certificate program for at least one credit in the spring 2020 semester on May 7, 2020 at CCC.
3. Making Satisfactory Academic Progress.
   1. Eligible Satisfactory Academic Progress statuses include: Good; Probationary; Warning; Warning Transfer; Academic Plan Restricted Hours Good; Academic Plan Restricted Hours Probation; Academic Plan Restricted Hours Warning; Academic Plan 2nd Degree Good. 
4. Not owe an overpayment on Title IV grants or loans.
5. Not be in default on a Title IV loan.
6. Filed "as part of the original financial aid application process" a certification that includes
   1. A statement of educational purpose.
   2. Student's SSN.
7. Be a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible noncitizen.
8. Have received a High School diploma or GED equivalent certification
9. Have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds if convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges.
10. Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits.
11. Have repaid Title IV loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits if obtained inadvertently.
12. Have had Selective Service registration verified.
13. Have had Social Security Number verified.
14. Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations.
     

What if I think I should have qualified for a CCC Cares Grant but didn't get one?

Please read the above information and if you believe that you should have qualified, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that we can investigate your eligibility status as of May 7, 2020 for spring 2020 and June 10, 2020 for summer 2020.

CARES Act Compliance Disclosures from Coconino Community College

Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act” or the “Act”)), Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (March 27, 2020), directs institutions receiving funds under Section 18004 of the Act to submit (in a time and manner required by the Secretary) a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”). Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act requires institutions to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received from Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). On April 9, 2020, the Department published documents related to the Emergency Financial Aid Grants, including a letter from Secretary Betsy DeVos, a form Certification and Agreement for signing and returning by institutions to access the funds, and a list of institutional allocations under 18004(a)(1).
 

The Certification and Agreement directs each institution applying for HEERF funds to comply with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act and submit an initial report (the “30-day Fund Report”) to the Secretary thirty (30) days from the date of the institution’s Certification and Agreement to the Department. The Department will provide instructions for providing the required information to the Secretary in the near future. In the meantime, each HEERF participating institution must post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website. The Department would like to receive the most current information from the date when the institution received its allocation for emergency financial aid grants to students, and the institution should have received its allocation within a few days after submitting the Certification and Agreement. Accordingly, the following information must appear in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation under 18004(a)(1) and updated every 45 days thereafter:
 

1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the 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.
 

1A. Response from Coconino Community College (May 8, 2020): Coconino Community College signed and returned our Certification and Agreement on April 10, 2020. Coconino Community College 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.
 

2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
 

2A. Response from Coconino Community College (May 8, 2020): Coconino Community College was awarded $552,365 on April 27,2020 to be used for Financial Aid Grants to Students.
 

3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).
 

3A. Response from Coconino Community College (May 8, 2020): Coconino Community College has distributed $447,000 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.  (June 12, 2020) Coconino Community College distributed an additional  $105,365 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. 

4. The estimated total number of students at the institution 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.
 

4A. Response from Coconino Community College (May 8, 2020): Coconino Community College estimates there are 745 students eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 for spring 2020. (June 12, 2020): Coconino Community College estimates there are 199 students eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 for summer 2020.

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
 

5A. Response from Coconino Community College: Coconino Community College has distributed by check or direct deposit Emergency Financial Aid Grants to 745 of 745 eligible students for spring 2020 as of May 7, 2020. Coconino Community College has distributed by check or direct deposit Emergency Financial Aid Grants to 199 of 199 eligible students for summer 2020 as of June 12, 2020. (updated May 8, 2020, June 12, 2020, September 4, 2020)

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
 

6A. Response from Coconino Community College (updated May 8, 2020, June 12, 2020): The CCC Cares Implementation Team determined the three guidelines in awarding CARES Act Financial Aid Grants to Students:

1. Maximize equity by keeping red tape for students to a minimum;

2. Maximize impact by ensuring that the application and distribution processes are quick;

3. Maximize efficiency by imposing as little administrative burden as possible on program staff.
 

The CCC Cares Implementation Team met and agreed that in totality, all CCC students had incurred additional expenses due to our campus disruption, including campus closure and movement of all classes to online venues that occurred beginning March 23, 2020. Quantification of amount of expenses per student is difficult to ascertain and is not required in the Act, and the financial aid staff had learned from students that they had dealt with food price spikes and shortages and an inability to purchase food sold at the CCC campus, leading to alternative, more expensive purchases, unexpected child care expenditures, expenditures related to transportation and relocation to complete school work at alternative locations, technology upgrades and purchases including cable internet and cell contract alterations and overage charges associated with attending classes virtually via cell phone. The CCC Cares Implementation Team determined that financial aid applicants (those with a FAFSA) were all part of the cohort experiencing financial harm due to the campus disruption caused by COVID-19. Based on ED guidance, 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, as amended (HEA), may receive emergency financial aid grants. These items specifically are:
 

1. Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program.
2. For currently enrolled students, be making satisfactory academic progress.
3. Not owe an overpayment on Title IV grants or loans.
4. Not be in default on a Title IV loan.
5. File "as part of the original financial aid application process" a certification that includes
   1. A statement of educational purpose.
   2. Student's SSN.
6. Be a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible noncitizen.
7. Has completed High school or GED equivalent certification
8. Have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds if convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges.
9. Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits.
10. Have repaid Title IV loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits if obtained inadvertently.
11. Have Selective Service registration verified.
12. Have Social Security Number verified.
13. Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations.
     

Systematically and equitably, CCC selected all students who have a completed FAFSA file that passed and has been verified with all Department of Education HEA484 edit checks and are currently enrolled in a degree or certificate program, are enrolled at least one credit, are making Satisfactory Academic Progress, as of May 7, 2020 for spring semester 2020 and June 10, 2020 for summer semester 2020. Students enrolled in online programs have been deemed ineligible. However, students who are taking classes online, but are not in an online program have been deemed eligible if they meet the other criteria.
 

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
 

7A. Response from Coconino Community College (updated May 8, 2020, June 12, 2020): No restrictions were placed on the Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed directly to students. Students were informed of their disbursement using the standard CCC disbursement email notification. Information was placed on the CCC Financial Aid and CCC COVID-19 web pages explaining that the Grants were awarded to students based on the criteria listed in 6A above and that the CARES Act Financial Aid Grants to Students is intended to provide emergency financial aid to students affected by COVID-19 for expenses including food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. It was further explained that CARES Act Student Share funds may not be applied toward tuition or institutional charges.  

Please direct questions related to the CARES Act Financial Aid Grants to students to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.