CRRSAA Grant Info

Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA)

Jefferson Community College received Student Aid funding under the CRRSAA section 314(a)(1) program.  This program with some changes, provides supplemental funds to the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) program.  Jefferson Community College signed and returned to the Education Department a Certification and Agreement as required und the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) program.  We acknowledge that by drawing down the CRRSAA funds, our institution agrees to be bound by the conditions set forth in the CRRSAA Supplemental Agreement including using 100 percent of these funds to provide emergency aid grants to students.

Jefferson Community College has received $1,180,526 in total for CRRSAA funds for student Aid from the Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

Jefferson Community College has distributed $1,142,570 under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) as of June 30, 2021.

Jefferson Community College determined 934 students at the institution were eligible to receive a student grant from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA).

931 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), as of June 30, 2021.   Three awards were unclaimed and/or refused.  Those funds will be added remaining funds to be awarded Fall 2021.

Jefferson Community College has prioritized awarding of CRRSAA Emergency Financial Aid Grants to its students in the following manner (methodology)

Distribution Methodology & Implementation Timeframe:

Jefferson intends to distribute these grant funds as quickly as is practicable via check or electronic funds transfer to allow students to manage expenses resulting from the disruption of campus operations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Jefferson Community College will hold an allowed 2.88% of emergency funds of back for future distribution.  We realize these funds are available to distribute to impacted students for up to one year.  However, it is the intention of the College to have all funds disbursed by the end of 2021 year.

According to the SUNY Administration, the College has been directed to award CRRSAA HEERF II Funds directly to students within a SUNY provided template that awards funds based on a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) obtained through the completion of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the student’s Spring 2021 census date enrollment status. 

In keeping with The Department of Education and SUNY guidelines for prioritizing funding to Pell eligible/highest need students, SUNY provided a template for determining award amounts to the eligible students.

SUNY Matrix for the Awarding of CRRSAA HEERF II FUNDS

Table 1:  EFC Range and Number of Students

Table 2:  Award Amount Per EFC Range and FT/PT Status

Total CRRSAA HEERF II Emergency Grants = $ 1,180,526

• 12% of Emergency Grants awarded to Priority 1: $1,146,502.50
• 88% of Emergency Grants awarded to Priority 2: $34,023.50

Students received awards ranging from $536.25 to $1430

Directions, guidance provided to students:

All HEERF II eligible students were sent a Jefferson “Jeffie” automated message:

Hello Jefferson Student!

Please make sure you are checking your email in coming days for a very important message about the HEERF II Student Aid Funds – Direct Emergency Grants to Students!

Students with no balance will be sent an email to their college email and/or private email indicating their eligibility for HEERF II funds and the amount they are to receive.  All students will receive the following SUNY suggested communication with their award email:

Dear XXXX

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, funds have been made available through the CRRSAA Act to award emergency grants to students for expenses related to the 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), or childcare.

The Campus has deemed you eligible to receive an emergency grant in the amount of $XXXX  This is not a loan and will not need to be paid back and will not affect your financial aid award amounts for academic year 2021-2022.  You will receive a direct payment of your emergency grant.

Students must understand it is their responsibility to notify the JCC Financial Services Office immediately if they will not incur expenses that meet or exceed the amount of their emergency grant.

JCC Financial Services
[email protected]

Students with balances, will be sent the following email with a DocuSign form:

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, funds have been made available through the CRRSAA Act to award emergency grants to students for expenses related to the 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), or childcare. The Campus has deemed you eligible to receive an emergency grant in the amount of $XXX. This is not a loan and will not need to be paid back and will not affect your financial aid award amounts for academic year 2021-2022. Students must understand it is their responsibility to notify the Financial Services Office immediately if they will not incur expenses that meet or exceed the amount of their emergency grant.

You will receive a direct payment of your emergency grant of $xxxx by your chosen means of refunding (electronic transfer or paper check), unless you respond within 10 days indicating you would like to apply all or a portion of your emergency grant to your outstanding account balance.  You must identify the amount you would like to apply to your account on this form. I hereby authorize this identified amount of funds I receive through the HEERF II to pay towards any balance related towards cost of attendance owed to Jefferson Community College