CARES Emergency Funds (HEERF I)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act establishes and funds the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund I (HEERF I) and directs institutions of higher education to use no less than 50 percent of funds received under Sections 18004(a)(1) and 18004(c) of the CARES Act to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
In April 2020, Shasta College was allocated $1,836,637 for student emergency grants and $1,836,637 for institutional support funds under the CARES Act Section 18004(s)(1). The college received an additional $182,433 ($91,216 for student emergency grants and $91,217 for institutional funds) in August 2020 under the CARES Act Section 18004(a)(2). In March 2020, the college received an additional $374,845 under the CARES Act Section 18004(a)(2). Additionally, campus leadership approved the Financial Aid Office to use the $91,217 allocated for institutional funds in August 2020 for student emergency grants in March 2021.
Federal Reporting
Federal regulations require quarterly reporting for both student emergency and institutional funds. Please view Federal Reports for reports related to CARES HEERF I funds.
Frequently Asked Questions for Students
The below "Frequently Asked Questions for Students” is intended for Shasta College students.
As of 4/25/21, all allocated CARES Act emergency financial aid grants for students have been awarded.
Yes, the Shasta College Foundation has a Survive and Thrive emergency student grant application. Students can apply for up to $250 once per semester.
The following information is from the federal Department of Education website’s FAQ for these funds: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/heerfstudentfaqs.pdf “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. If a student has filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), then the student has demonstrated eligibility to participate in programs under Section 484 the HEA. Students who have not filed a FAFSA but who are eligible to file a FAFSA also may receive emergency financial aid grants. The criteria to participate in programs under Section 484 of the HEA include but are not limited to the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen; a valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Service (if the student is male); and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting.”
After an injunction delivered by the United States District Court Northern District of California on June 18, 2020, our campus also included students who had completed a CA DREAM Act Application as potentially eligible CARES Act recipients.
Due to the federal Department of Education’s requirement that “only students who are or could be eligible” to file a FAFSA and meet the criteria to participate in federal financial aid programs under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), Shasta College focused on the following students:
- Students who had filed a 2019-20 FAFSA/CADAA or 2020-21 FAFSA/CADAA and had fully completed their financial aid file (e.g., completed any required verification documentation).
- Students whose FAFSA information demonstrated that the student had any amount of financial need for 2019-20.
- Students enrolled in at least 3 units at the end of the Spring 2020 term, or by specific disbursement dates for Summer or Fall 2020.
- Students who were already registered in fully online classes on/before March 13, 2020 (the date the President declared a national emergency) were not included.
Spring 2021 CARES Act awards utilized the initial list of eligible students from Spring 2020 and the same criteria (with the exception that students had to have completed a 2020-21 financial aid file and be enrolled in at least three units in Spring 2021).
No. According to the federal Department of Education, these funds are not intended for students who were already enrolled in fully online courses/programs. According to federal DOE guidance, students who were enrolled exclusively in an online program on March 13, 2020, the date of the President’s Proclamation, “Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak,” are not eligible for emergency financial aid grants.
Current immigration law prohibits non-US Citizens who are currently pursuing (or may want to pursue) an extension of their nonimmigrant stay or change their nonimmigrant status (to US Citizenship) from accepting some forms of public benefits. In some cases, the law also prohibits the spouse of a non-US Citizen (even if the spouse may be a US Citizen themselves) from accepting public benefits. The decision to accept or not accept these funds is yours. For more information about this immigration law, please see: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-cardprocesses-and-procedures/public-charge The Shasta College Financial Aid Office cannot answer questions about immigration law.
Current immigration law prohibits non-US Citizens who are currently pursuing (or may want to pursue) an extension of their nonimmigrant stay or change their nonimmigrant status (to US Citizenship) from accepting some forms of public benefits. In some cases, the law also prohibits the spouse of a non-US Citizen (even if the spouse may be a US Citizen themselves) from accepting public benefits. The decision to accept or not accept these funds is yours. For more information about this immigration law, please see: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-cardprocesses-and-procedures/public-charge. The Shasta College Financial Aid Office cannot answer questions about immigration law.
However, in a recent webinar sponsored by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, representatives from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center indicated that tax credits and stimulus checks don’t count in public charge because they are not on-going sources of income maintenance.
No, the Shasta College Financial Aid Office used existing data from 2019-20 and 2020-21 financial aid applications to determine eligibility.
Please log into MyShasta, click on “MyFinancialAid” and review your 2019-20 Financial Aid Award letter. The CARES emergency funds will be listed as “COVID CARES Funding” and a dollar amount.
Make sure you are looking at your 2020-21 award letter. If you don’t see it, call our office at (530) 242-7650.
The last award will be disbursed Friday, April 30, 2021.
Shasta College partners with BankMobile to disburse financial aid funds (“refunds”). If you have previously received financial aid refunds, you do not need to do anything.
If you have never received a financial aid refund, PLEASE log into BankMobile’s site and set up your preference for how you want to receive your funds. Your choices are:
- Deposit to an existing account - Your money will arrive 1-2 business days after BankMobile receives the funds from the college.
- Deposit to a BankMobile Vibe Checking Account - Your money will arrive the same business day BankMobile receives the funds from the college.
- Check by mail – a check by mail could take up to 21 days. If you choose check by mail, you MUST log into MyShasta to see if we have your current address on file. If we do not, please use MyShasta to update your mailing address. (see image on the next page)
The website to indicate your preference is: RefundSelection.com
- Enter your BankMobile Personal Code or choose to get an instant personal code
- Choose your preferred delivery method
Unfortunately, the CARES Act funds designated for student emergency grants have all been awarded to students. We strongly encourage students to complete their 2020-21 financial aid file as soon as possible as other types of aid, such as federal Pell grant, is still available. If you need assistance, please contact the Financial Aid Office at the information below. You can also make an appointment with one of our Student Success Facilitators for a phone or zoom appointment online.