CRRSAA Funding for Students Application Available Wednesday, March 10th
Update – Students must apply for CRRSAA funding through link sent to your email
Middlesex College is working extensively to ensure that enrolled students have access to apply for newly provided funding under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), which updates the prior CARES Act legislation. Students were initially alerted to the availability of the application through a text message, indicating that a link to the application would come via email. Some students used the link in the text message to apply for the funding, rather than the link provided to students via their Middlesex College email. The link provided via email is an individual link, and allows us to confirm your enrollment.
If you did not apply for funding using the link provided in your individual Middlesex College email, it will not be funded, and you will need to access the application through the link in your email and fill it out again to allow us to consider your application.
The recently enacted federal CRRSAA (the successor to the CARES Act, passed by Congress in December, 2020) provides money to colleges and universities for emergency student grants. The purpose of the money is to award emergency financial aid grants to students for specific expenses that are a direct result of the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.
Middlesex College will be using an online application process to develop the list of eligible students to receive funding from the CRRSAA funds allotted. The application will be available March 10th and will be distributed to students’ myMiddlesex email via Survey Monkey. This application will be available for two weeks, closing at 11:55 pm on Friday, March 26th.
FAQs for Student Funding Under the CRRSAA
Q. Who is eligible for consideration for funding under this program?
To be eligible, you must be registered for classes during the Spring 2021 semester. Those classes may be in-person or online or a combination of both. The College will emphasize students with exceptional need in its application/consideration process.
Q. What if I previously applied for funding under the CARES Act?
If you previously applied for funding under the CARES Act and received funds, you do not need to apply again. Your application will carry forward and be considered for this new funding. If you did not receive funding, you are encouraged to apply again, as some of the prior requirements for eligibility have been relaxed by the United States Department of Education for this round of funding.
Q. What expenses can I use CRRSAA funding to help with?
Financial aid grants for students may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.
Q. How much will I receive?
Funds are limited. For students applying for emergency aid, grant amounts will be determined based on the number of applications received and the specific needs presented in the application. Middlesex College cannot guarantee that all applications submitted will be funded. It is expected that the expanded eligibility for this funding will reduce individual awards.
Q. When will we know the results?
Our goal is to award the emergency funds as soon as possible. Funding will be provided to awarded students in three cycles (late March/early April, late summer, and then fall), with initial awards provided on a rolling basis.
Q. How do students receive the money?
Students will receive a refund check in the mail or will receive funds via Direct Deposit if they are eligible to do so.
Q. What if I owe a balance to Middlesex College for tuition or other expenses?
You will have the option to have Middlesex College apply your award toward your outstanding balance. You are not required to do so to receive funding.
Q. Will these funds impact current or future financial aid?
No. This funding is not financial aid, it is an emergency relief funding from Congress.
Q. What can I do if I am not eligible for funding under CRRSAA?
Students who are not eligible for funding under CRRSAA Act, or find that their award is not sufficient to cover emergency expenses should consider applying for emergency support through Amanda Lyons, Basic Needs Coordinator, at resource_hub@middlesexcc.edu.