Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Information
The federal government has provided emergency relief funds to colleges, including Suffolk County Community College, through legislation such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), and the American Rescue Plan (ARP). These relief funds are categorized as HEERF I (under the CARES Act), HEERF II (under CRRSAA), and HEERF III (under ARP).
CARES Act Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF I)
The College has expended all $6,589,770 of its allocated CARES Act HEERF I funds, including the 50% of those funds which were distributed to eligible students as emergency grants. For more information on how those student emergency grants were awarded, please refer to the archived CARES Act webpage.
CRRSAA (HEERF II) Emergency Relief Funds
In December 2020, the federal government provided a second round of emergency relief funds to colleges under CRRSAA to support students and institutions with expenses and financial needs related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. More information on these HEERF II funds can be found on the U.S. Department of Education’s website. Suffolk County Community College received $25,567,624, a prescribed portion of which is allocated to be distributed to eligible students in the form of emergency financial aid grants.
HEERF II Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants
$6,589,770, of the College’s HEERF II allocation is to be distributed to eligible students in the form of emergency financial aid grants. The College began distributing these grants to students in April 2021.
CRRSAA and the State University of New York (SUNY) require that institutions disbursing HEERF II emergency financial aid grants to students prioritize students with demonstrated exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants and students with Pell-eligible expected family contributions (EFCs). Consistent with requirements set by SUNY, the College began awarding emergency financial aid grants to students with Pell-eligible EFCs in April, using the formula below.
Eligible students enrolled at the College during the Spring 2021 semester were notified via email on April 15, 2021 of their award, which was based on students’ full-time or part-time enrollment status and demonstrated financial need, using EFC. No application was required in order for students to receive these funds.
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Student Award Chart |
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Award Amount Per EFC Range and FT/PT Status |
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100% |
75% |
50% |
25% |
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Base Grant |
EFC Range |
EFC Range |
EFC Range |
EFC Range |
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$740.00 |
FT |
$1,480.00 |
$1,295.00 |
$1,110.00 |
$925.00 |
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$370.00 |
PT |
$1,110.00 |
$925.00 |
$740.00 |
$555.00 |
Students receiving awards were informed that the grants were for expenses related to any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus. Eligible expenses include tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), and childcare. Information on what is included in a student’s cost of attendance is available on the College’s financial aid webpage. Students were informed that these grants were not loans and would not need to be paid back; nor will the grants affect students’ financial aid award amounts for the 2021-2022 academic year.
A small amount of funding remains available after completion of the first round HEERF II awards described above. These funds will be distributed to students enrolled in the Spring 2021 semester who did not already receive a HEERF II award and who otherwise meet CRRSAA eligibility criteria and have demonstrated financial need.
Students may contact their campus Financial Aid Office with any questions they may have.
American Rescue Plan (HEERF III) Emergency Relief Funds
In March 2021, the federal government provided a third round of emergency relief funds to colleges under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to support institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. $22,572,740 of the College’s HEERF III allocation is to be distributed as emergency financial aid grants to eligible students. More information on the distribution and use of these funds will be made available when the College begins to award these funds.
Where can I find the College’s required reporting describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund?
