Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

Are you a student whose life has been disrupted by Coronavirus or COVID-19?  Are you facing financial challenges and struggling to make ends meet?

UPDATE: DEADLINE TO APPLY IS JULY 10, 2020

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act - Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Grant at Meridian Community College provides emergency financial assistance to eligible students who are experiencing hardship that could adversely affect their educational success.

Meridian Community College is grateful for the formula allocation of $1,470,055 from the CARES Act that we will be able to award to students as Emergency Relief Fund Grants

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A CARES HEERF GRANT:

Not all MCC students are eligible for the CARES Act funds under federal law. 

Students must meet the student eligibility requirements for Title IV Aid to qualify for the HEERF grants. To determine eligibility, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The FAFSA application can be completed at https://studentaid.gov. The items on the application will seek to verify that the student is a citizen or eligible noncitizen, if the individual has a valid Social Security number, whether male students have registered for Selective Service, verify a valid high school diploma or equivalent, and verify additional personal information required by federal law for CARES Act emergency fund eligibility.

Students who have submitted a FAFSA to MCC, may complete the application for HEERF grants through the link below.  The application will be available to eligible students who will acknowledge expenses incurred related to food, course materials, technology, healthcare or childcare costs related to the disruption of campus operations related to COVID-19.

The college will review each application and ensure that compliance requirements have been met.  Funds will then, be awarded on a first-come, first serve basis with a limited amount in the first round in order to provide funds to as many students as possible.  After the first round has been awarded, if funds are remaining, applicants may be awarded a second round of funding.

Grants will be mailed to each student in the form of a check as awards are processed. 

Students should ensure that their mailing address on file is correct.  In order to verify and/or correct your mailing address, log in to Eaglenet:

  • Select the Student Tab,
  • Select Personal Information Menu link
  • Select “Update Address and Phone for Students.”
  • Verify your address and update if incorrect.

 

While HEERF student dollars are not Title IV aid, students receiving those dollars must meet Title IV eligibility requirements.  The easiest way to determine if a student has met those requirements is through the FAFSA.

No. Here is a list of the qualifications. The student must:

  • Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program. 
  • Not be enrolled in elementary or secondary school.
  • For currently enrolled students, be making satisfactory academic progress.
  • Not owe an overpayment on Title IV grants or loans.
  • Not be in default on a Title IV loan.
  • File "as part of the original financial aid application process" a certification that includes: 
    • A statement of educational purpose.
    • Student's SSN.
  • Be a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible noncitizen.
  • Have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds if convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges. 
  • Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits.
  • Have repaid Title IV loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits if obtained inadvertently.
  • Have Selective Service registration verified.
  • Have Social Security Number verified.
  • Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations.
  • International and Undocumented Students are not eligible.
  • Students who were enrolled exclusively in an online program on March 13 are not eligible.  For MCC, the only program that meets that criteria is Health Information Technology.  Therefore, students who were enrolled in the HIT program on March 13 are not eligible. 

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS JULY 10, 2020

APPLY HERE
 

 Updates will be made here as information is available. Monitor this site for updates.

The CARES HEERF Grant awarded Meridian Community College $1,470,055 to assist students impacted by Coronavirus pandemic.
100% of the total cost of the program has been financed with Federal money.
 

Meridian Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion or age in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities. Compliance with Section 504 is coordinated by Mrs. Deanna Smith, Dean of Student Services, 910 Highway 19 North, Meridian, MS  39307.  601.484.8895, Fax: 601.484.8635, email: dsmith40@meridiancc.edu. Compliance with Title IX is coordinated by Mr. Derek Mosley, Social Science Instructor, Smith Hall, 910 Highway 19 North, Meridian, MS  39307.  601.553.3453, Fax: 601.484.8635, email: dmosley@meridiancc.edu.