11
May
2020
|
15:09 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

College Now Disbursing Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Grants Provided by CARES Act

Nearly 3,430 DMC students enrolled in Spring 2020 courses with completed FAFSA applications qualify for first phase of grant disbursement

Article by: Melinda Eddleman

In March, the U.S. Congress authorized the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide assistance to Americans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, the U.S. Department of Education informed Del Mar College (DMC) that the institution would receive $3,854,029 through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.

The College must provide at least half of the CARES Act funds as emergency financial aid grants to help students cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. The allocation for the emergency financial aid grants totals over $1.9 million.

 

In these unprecedented times, it is critical that our students get the financial support that they and their families need, so the College is happy to extend this offer to our students and hope this will assist in their educational pursuit. Although we can’t be together right now, everyone at Del Mar College continues supporting our Viking community in any way that we can.
Dr. Rito Silva, DMC Vice President for Student Affairs

During the first phase of disbursement, the College will award over $1.2 million to nearly 3,430 qualifying DMC students. Those students have received a notification letter about their grant. To qualify for this disbursement, students had to be enrolled in Spring 2020 face-to-face courses that were transitioned to online instruction and have on file a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. (sample notification letter provided in PDF format in upper right-hand corner of web page)

Qualifying students will receive $300 to $500 based on their need.

“I am extremely grateful to the U.S. Department of Education and Del Mar College’s administration for the opportunity to award our students these grants,” says Joseph Ruiz, Director of DMC Financial Aid Services. “COVID-19 has forced our students to change the way they learn; but DMC students are resilient, and hopefully grant funds can help them during this difficult time.”

Students should spend the money toward eligible expenses related to the cost of attending the College, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, transportation and childcare.

To view their updated 2019-2020 financial aid award letter, students can log into WebDMC and then click on “Financial Aid” and “Financial Aid Checklist.” Disbursements are being provided using the method students selected from the College.

The College will implement a second phase of disbursement to students enrolled in summer and fall courses using the remaining funds required to support emergency financial aid grants. Students are encouraged to complete their FASFA as early as possible to be eligible for future funding.

The other half of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund grant will go toward resources that support students’ success in completing their educational goals. Those plans will be provided at a later date.

 A news release sent by U.S. Senator John Cornyn’s office last month stated that four Coastal Bend higher education institutions, including Del Mar College, received over $23 million in federal grants combined through the CARES Act. Texas colleges and universities received over $1 billion out of the $14 billion allocated to institutions across the nation.

About Del Mar College

Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.