COVID-19 Emergency Aid

Westmoreland County Community College has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding(HEERF) from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds provide direct emergency assistance for Westmoreland students. Our goal is to assist students in accordance with federal guidelines. The following reports include expenditure information.

• 01017600-heerf-q1-1112021
• 01017600-heerf-q2-1262021
• 01017600-heerf-q3-10102021 
• 01017600-heerf-q4-01102022
• 01017600-heerf-q1-04012022
• 01017600-heerf-q2-07012022
• 01017600-heerf-q3-10012022
• 01017600-heerf-q4-1102023
• 01017600-heerf-q1-442023

Westmoreland signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education on April 24, 2020 and Westmoreland intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.  The certification document outlines Recipient Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES Act.  Westmoreland received additional COVID-19 relief funding through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act.  We will also continue to update and post the information here. 

Below is some additional information regarding the HEERF programs. 

To apply for assistance for the fall 2022 semester please complete this form. If you still have questions, please reach out to your advisor for assistance. 

CARES ACT

The CARES Act provided financial assistance through institutions of higher education but required students to meet certain eligibility criteria including: 

• Students must be Title IV eligible.  Eligibility was determined by the student completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 
• Students must be making satisfactory academic progress
• Students could not be enrolled in online only programs prior to March 13, 2020.
• Have incurred a COVID-19 related expense

CRRSA ACT

The CRRSA Act also provides financial assistance through institutions of higher education but prioritizes students with exceptional need. The CRRSA Act allows additional students to qualify as it removes the Title IV eligibility requirement but does require students to be a US Citizen or an Eligible non-citizen.  In addition, CRRSA Act funds can be awarded to students who are in online programs and can be applied directly to student accounts to cover outstanding tuition and fees with the student’s authorization.  

American Rescue Plan (ARP)

Under the ARP(a)(1), as authorized under section 2003 of the ARP, Institutions must make financial aid grants to students, which can be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency cost that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health) or child care.  Institutions are required to prioritize students with exceptional need and the legislation authorizes grants to students exclusively enrolled in distance education.

Westmoreland County Community College will continue to utilize an online application for students to apply for assistance.  The application will allow students to verify that they are US Citizen or an eligible non-citizen, indicate whether they have incurred a financial hardship due to COVID-19.  In addition, if students choose to they can authorize the school to apply ARP funding directly to their student account to reduce or eliminate any balance owed.

Students with exceptional need will be prioritized and receive higher awards but all students who apply and are eligible will be awarded some funding.

When will I receive my funding?

What do I do if I am not eligible for federal financial aid, but have significant needs?

Please reach out to your advisor or counselor and the Westmoreland team will do our best to connect you with resources.

Reporting Update

Institutions participating in CARES Act funding are required to make the following information easily available via their website. Since Westmoreland County Community College was granted $ 1,188,725  in CARES Act funding to distribute to students within one year of accepting the funds, as well as additional CRRSA Act funding, the college has committed to updating the amounts given to students and the number of students served regularly.