CARES Act Reporting

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The information below is provided in compliance with the Department of Education’s CARES Act Reporting requirements.

CARES - Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ActSouth Suburban College acknowledges that it signed and returned the federal Certification and Agreement to receive CARES Act funding on April 15, 2020, and agreed to use no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Grants to students.

The College received: $1,104,212 of HEERF I funds on 5/7/20, $1,104,212 of HEERF II funds on 1/19/21, $5,255,031 of HEERF III funds on 5/14/21, and $453,978 of HEERF III SSARP funds on 7/14/22, totaling to $7,917,433 of funding from the US Department of Education for HEERF Emergency Financial Aid Grants to be distributed to students. These disbursements made are sent out in different phases, each having different requirements and methods of the amount received. All students who did meet the eligibility requirements were sent a check. Please be sure to update any change of address as soon as possible as it helps to avoid any delays.

The total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 2,051 students.

SSC has distributed CARES Act funds to 2,051 students for a total of $1,036,800. These funds were sent directly to the student through a check with the address that was on file at that time.

The College first disbursed the aid using a need-based formula related to the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on the student’s ISIR. A graduated disbursement formula was then developed which took into account the total amount of CARES Act money available to our Pell recipients (75%) and our non-Pell recipients (25%). Disbursements for each of our two categories was then further broken down by enrollment status of full-time, three-quarter time, half time, and less than half time.

These disbursements were made to students who are meeting satisfactory progress guidelines, taking college credit courses, and not exclusively taking online courses.

The College is working on a needs-based application to further assist our students in successfully manage their educational experience. A needs assessment survey was emailed to all of our students to help the College understand the levels of support that is needed.

The second phase of CARES checks was sent out early April 2021 to eligible students based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as a result of their FAFSA, and number of actively enrolled credit hours. Students had to meet the following criteria: must have received an official 2019-2020 and/or 2020-2021 FAFSA, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and meet the Title IV Federal Financial Aid eligibility requirements. In addition, the student must have been enrolled in a degree-seeking program for Fall 2020 and not exclusively enrolled in an online program (an educational program that has no residential classes over the course of the entire program) for terms awarded before December 27, 2020.

There were 690 students who met all requirements and the amount distributed for all students totaled $547,100.00. These funds were sent directly to the student through a check with the address that was on file at that time.

SSC developed this tiered approach to provide more substantial award amounts to students with higher EFCs. This method will be utilized for distribution to enrolled and qualifying students in future terms as long as there is money available.

Tier 0 EFC Low EFC
(0 < EFC <= 5576)
High EFC
(EFC > 5576)
12+ Credit Hours $950 $850 $750
9–11 Credit Hours $850 $750 $650
6-8 Credit Hours $750 $650 $550
1-5 Credit Hours $650 $550 $450

The third phase of CARES checks was sent out early June 2021 to eligible students based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as a result of their FAFSA, and number of actively enrolled credit hours. Students had to meet the following criteria: must have received an official 2020-2021 FAFSA, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and meet the Title IV Federal Financial Aid eligibility requirements. In addition, the student must have been enrolled in a degree-seeking program for the Spring 2021 semester.

There were 674 students who met all requirements and the amount distributed for all students totaled $540,700.00.

SSC developed this tiered approach to provide more substantial award amounts to students with higher EFCs. This method will be utilized for distribution to enrolled and qualifying students in future terms as long as the money is available.

Tier 0 EFC Low EFC
(0 < EFC <= 5576)
High EFC
(EFC > 5576)
12+ Credit Hours $950 $850 $750
9–11 Credit Hours $850 $750 $650
6-8 Credit Hours $750 $650 $550
1-5 Credit Hours $650 $550 $450

The last remaining funds of CARES (HEERF I & II) were disbursed for Summer 2021 enrollment. Checks were sent out in early August 2021 to eligible students based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as a result of their FAFSA, and number of actively enrolled credit hours. Students had to meet the following criteria: must have received an official 2020-2021 FAFSA, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and meet the Title IV Federal Financial Aid eligibility requirements. In addition, the student must have been enrolled in a degree-seeking program for the Summer 2021 semester.

There were 108 students who met all requirements and the amount distributed for all students totaled $83.500.

SSC developed this tiered approach to provide more substantial award amounts to students with higher EFCs. This method will be utilized for distribution to enrolled and qualifying students in future terms as long as the money is available.

Tier 0 EFC Low EFC
(0 < EFC <= 5576)
High EFC
(EFC > 5576)
12+ Credit Hours $950 $850 $750
9 – 11 Credit Hours $850 $750 $650
6-8 Credit Hours $750 $650 $550
1-5 Credit Hours $650 $550 $450

This disbursement was based on the Fall 2021 registration. It counted students who were enrolled in credit only courses after the 10th day.

There were 2,296 students who met all requirements and the amount distributed for all students totaled $1,986,200.

Those in dual enrollment, high school, or step up programs were not eligible. The chart below shows how much you would receive based on the credit intensity:

Enrollment Intensity Award Amount
12+ Credit Hours $1000
9 – 11 Credit Hours $900
6-8 Credit Hours $800
1-5 Credit Hours $700

This disbursement was based on the Spring 2022 registration. It counted students who were enrolled in credit only courses after the 10th day.

There were 1,952 students who met all requirements and the amount distributed to all students totaled $1,746,400.

Those in dual enrollment, high school, or step up programs were not included in the distribution. The chart below shows how much you would receive based on the credit intensity:

Tier 0 EFC (0 < EFC <= 5576) EFC > 5576)
12+ Credit Hours $1,100 $1,050 $1,000
9–11 Credit Hours $1,000 $950 $900
6-8 Credit Hours $900 $850 $800
1-5 Credit Hours $800 $750 $700

Emails were also sent within 3 weeks of the distribution notifying students of the intent of the funding.

This disbursement was based on the Fall 2022 registration. It counted students who were enrolled in credit only courses after the 10th day.

There were 2,028 students who met all requirements and the amount distributed to all students totaled $1,835,550.

Those in dual enrollment, high school, or step up programs were not included in the distribution. The chart below shows how much you would receive based on the credit intensity:

Tier 0 EFC (0 < EFC <= 5576) EFC > 5576)
12+ Credit Hours $1,100 $1,050 $1,000
9–11 Credit Hours $1,000 $950 $900
6-8 Credit Hours $900 $850 $800
1-5 Credit Hours $800 $750 $700

Emails were also sent within 3 weeks of the distribution notifying students of the intent of the funding.

This disbursement was based on the Spring 2023 registration. It counted students who were enrolled in credit only courses after the 10th day and had a 0 EFC on file. This is due to this grant being a needs-based grant and limited funding was available.

There were 670 students who met all requirements and the amount distributed to all students totaled $141,250.
Tier 0 EFC
12+ Credit Hours $400
9–11 Credit Hours $300
6-8 Credit Hours $200
1-5 Credit Hours $100

Emails were also sent within 3 weeks of the distribution notifying students of the intent of the funding.