CARES Act & COVID-19 Emergency Grants
Last Updated: 3/31/2023
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on March 27, 2020, created education stabilization funds available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).
GCCC has received $1.28 million in total from the CARES Act and $1,364,349 with HEERF-Minority Serving Institution funds added.
GCCC is tasked with distributing at least 50% of these funds ($641,003) directly to students as emergency financial assistance to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations in the wake COVID-19.
Click here for more information about how much of these funds have been distributed and how many students have received funding.
Quarterly Reports:
UPDATE
As of June 4, 2020, all institutional funding set aside for students who were NOT eligible for CARES Act funds has been exhausted (e.g., international students, DACA students, etc.). GCCC distributed $32,183 in institutional funds to 40 applicants as of this date.
As of June 9, 2020, all Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 students who seek CARES Act funds MUST apply to be considered for emergency funds online.*
*As of Aug 6, 2020, all CARES Act Emergency financial assistance for students has been awarded and the application has closed.
GCCC students must meet the following eligibility requirements to receive emergency CARES Act funding:
- Eligible to receive Title IV federal aid. This eligibility is evaluated through completion of the 2019-2020 FAFSA (Deadline: Midnight CST on June 30, 2020)
- Enrolled on/after March 23, 2020 for Spring 2020 students.
- Enrolled anytime during Summer 2020 session(s) for summer students.
- Experienced expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.
The intent of emergency grant assistance is to support students experiencing temporary financial hardship related to the disruption of campus due to COVID-19. Funds are limited and not intended to provide ongoing relief.
President's Authorization Statement:
At GCCC, we acknowledge that we have signed and returned the CARES Act certification and agreement form. We also acknowledge that we are using these funds to provide the mandated amount of 50% of emergency financial aid grants to our students until funds are exhausted.
Sincerely, 
Dr. Ryan Ruda, GCCC President
| Date | Total # of Students Eligible | Total # of Students Receiving Funding | Total Funding Distributed |
| Aug 6, 2020 | 731* | 731** | $641,003*** |
*GCCC acknowledges that as of this date, this figure represents the number of Spring and/or Summer 2020 students who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and therefore eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant.
**GCCC acknowledges that as of this date, the figure indicated represents the number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant.
***GCCC acknowledge that as of this date, the figure indicated represents the total funding that has been distributed to students as our 30-day reporting date.
At least 80% of CARES Act funding has been disbursed to Title IV-eligible Spring 2020 students who experienced expenses related to disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. These students received funds based on their enrollment status as of March 23, 2020.
The remaining CARES Act funds are being disbursed to Title IV-eligible students enrolled in Spring 2020 or Summer 2020, and these students must qualify through an application process.
All students eligible for emergency aid were notified by their official GCCC email and direct mail, which included their check and this letter from GCCC administration.