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Spring 2022 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 spring of 2022, the college has established the following process:

Students must complete the 2022 Spring HEERF III application online by February 11, 2022. 

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 2022 Spring HEERF III application by the cut-off date of February 11, 2022;
  • Enroll in a minimum of 3 semester credit hours;
  • Be a U.S. citizen.

The spring 2022 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, in March.

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 2022 Spring HEERF III application by the cut-off date of February 11, 2022;
  • Enroll in a minimum of 3 semester credit hours;
  • Be a U.S. citizen.

Staff who work in Financial Services and Student Services are working jointly to ensure eligible students are awarded grants correctly.

Yes, once you have completed admissions and registered for a minimum of 3 semester credit hours for the 2022 spring term, the application is located on EagleNet on the "Stu. Finances & Records" menu with a link titled Spring 2022 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 spring 2022 HEERF III grants.

The spring 2022 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, in March.

  • The disbursement date is estimated to be in March of 2022, 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.

However, students are still encouraged to complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA as the calculated EFC is used to determine award amounts.  FAFSA applications result in a calculated "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC.)  The college is required to give preference in funding to our neediest students and we use that number to meet this requirement.  
 
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

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 2022 spring HEERF III grant eligibility evaluated and awarded if all other requirements were met. 

*Documentation must be provided by the February 11th application deadline. 

Please email heerf@meridiancc.edu for any additional questions.

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