Fall 2021 HEERF III
Meridian Community College has received additional Higher Education Emergency Relief
Funds through a formula from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). As with the CARES Act (HEERF I) and the CRRSAA (HEERF II) funds already released,
these grants are provided to assist students with expenses related to the disruption
of campus operations due to the coronavirus. Eligible fees under a student’s cost
of attendance, such as tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, health
care, and childcare, are included.
heerf III basics
With an extended time frame for using these funds, the college expects to allocate maximum total awards per term for our students to provide funds for each semester for the next year. These funds will each have an application period and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to students as long as allocated funds are available. Grant awards will stop when the total amount allocated for each semester has been reached based on each semester’s established allocation and guidelines.
To assist our students with the costs associated with the fall of 2021, the college has established the following process:
Students must complete the 2021 Fall HEERF III application online by October 15, 2021.
The 2021 Fall HEERF III application is available again with a deadline to apply of November 12, 2021.
For students to be eligible, they must meet the following criteria:
- Have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus, including the eligible fees under a student’s cost of attendance such as tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care;
- Complete a 2021 Fall HEERF III application by the cut-off date of November 12, 2021;
- Enroll in a minimum of 3 semester credit hours;
- Be a U.S. citizen.
The fall 2021 HEERF III grant award will be based on hours enrolled and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) calculated expected family contribution (EFC), if available.
The EFC is used by the college to satisfy the requirement by the U.S. Department of Education that a priority of funding be provided to the neediest students.
The grants will be posted to accounts and checks will be mailed out, if applicable, at the end of October for the first disbursement, or the end of November for the second disbursement.
If you, or your spouse or parent(s) where applicable, have had a decrease in your 2020 or 2021 income or benefits due to the Covid pandemic, you may qualify to have your federal aid eligibility reevaluated. To begin this process, complete the “reevaluation questionnaire” which can be found on the MCC website at meridiancc.edu/become_an_eagle/financial_aid/reevaluation-questionnaire.html
HEERF III FAQ
The American Rescue Plan Act provides grants for students who have costs related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus. Eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare, are included.
For students to be eligible, they must meet the following criteria:
- Have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus, including the eligible fees under a student’s cost of attendance such as tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care;
- Complete a 2021 Fall HEERF III application by the cut-off date of November 12, 2021;
- Enroll in a minimum of 3 semester credit hours;
- Be a U.S. citizen.
Yes, once you have completed admissions and registered for a minimum of 3 semester credit hours for the 2021 fall term, the application is located on EagleNet on the "Stu. Finances & Records" menu with a link titled Fall 2021 HEERF III Grant Application.
No. Unfortunately, the amount of funds provided to the college are limited. We anticipate we will not have any allocated funds remaining by this date. Therefore, once we have passed this application cutoff date, we will not be awarding additional fall 2021 HEERF III grants.
The fall 2021 HEERF III grant award will be based on hours enrolled and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) calculated expected family contribution (EFC), if available.
The EFC is used by the college to satisfy the requirement by the U.S. Department of Education that a priority of funding be provided to the neediest students.
The grants will be posted to accounts and checks will be mailed out, if applicable, at the end of October for the first disbursement, or the end of November for the second disbursement.
- The first disbursement date is estimated to be the end of October 2021, when all eligibility
criteria and processes have been completed. Announcements will be made at that time.
- The second disbursement date is estimated to be the end of November 2021, when all eligibility criteria and processes have been completed. Announcements will be made at that time.
No, neither Pell eligibility nor Title IV eligibility is required to receive a HEERF III grant.
No, these are grants, not loans, and do not have to be paid back.
Yes. A student may provide documentation that proves U.S. citizenship to the MCC admissions office. Examples of proof would be a birth certificate or an unexpired U.S. passport. The student will then have their 2021 fall HEERF III grant eligibility evaluated and awarded if all other requirements were met.
*Documentation must be provided by the November 12th application deadline.
Please email heerf@meridiancc.edu for any additional questions.