Mercer County Community College Prepares to Distribute $1.9 million in Federal CARES Act Funds to Assist Students in Need
4/18/20
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – Mercer County Community College (MCCC) is ready to begin the process of distributing more than $1.9 million in direct aid to students, made available through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
“We have been anxiously awaiting the funds from the CARES Act,” said MCCC President Dr. Jianping Wang. “Our students are hurting, and many of them will not be able to complete the current semester without help.”
Last week, the federal government announced final approval of the $2 trillion CARES Act package, with $14 billion earmarked to help colleges, their students, and their families mitigate financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New Jersey’s share is $323 million, with $3.85 million going to MCCC. Of that amount half – or just over $1.9 million – is slated for direct aid to students.
“MCCC intends to distribute funds to students expeditiously who are in need of help with tuition and fees, textbooks, technology, food, and other eligible ways in order for them to stay enrolled and keep on learning,” Wang said.
In addition to tuition and fees, eligible expenses include any financial obligation that could prevent a student from completing his or her education, including housing, child care, transportation, or access to technology. To be eligible, U.S. Department of Education requires completion of both, the 2019-20 and 2020-21 FAFSA Applications (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
To expedite the distribution process, MCCC has created a simple online application for students, which is available at www.mccc.edu/CARES.
“Community college students largely stay local, and they are the important part of the workforce for New Jersey,” Wang said. “When we reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic is over, we will need the participation of these students in the workforce to ensure a speedy economic recovery.”
Registration for summer 2020 terms is now open at Mercer County Community College, with registration, counseling, and advising all available either online or via remote platforms. More information is available at www.mccc.edu/enroll.
Are you ready to help us keep our students on track to finish classes and graduate? Then share and support our MCCC Student Emergency Fund. Donating at www.mccc.edu/mercermatters, or by texting MercerMatters to 41444, will help keep students enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every dollar matters!
With campuses in Trenton (above) and West Windsor, N.J., Mercer County Community College is set to begin distribution of more than $1.9 million in direct aid to students, made possible through the federal CARES Act.