CAC to Award CARES Act Funds to Over 3,000 Students

By Angela Askey, Executive Director Public Relations and Marketing 

[NEWS RELEASE] Central Arizona College will begin awarding Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding to more than 3,000 eligible students this week.

The CARES Act establishes and funds the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and directs institutions of higher education to use funds received under the CARES Act to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to Coronavirus.

CAC will award Technology Expense Grant funds to currently attending students. Eligibility requirements include but are not limited to U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizens, a valid Social Security number, registration with Selective Services (males only), and a high school diploma, GED, or completed high school in an approved homeschool setting. Qualified students must have been taking three credits or more at CAC as of March 13, 2020. Funding does not apply to those who were exclusively enrolled in an online program as of March 13, 2020.

Eligible students will receive $350 each. Students will receive the funds as an electronic bank transfer if they are already signed up, or a check will be mailed to their address on record.

In addition to the Technology Expense Grant, students experiencing extreme financial hardship can apply to receive additional funds by selecting the application link at www.centralaz.edu/cares.  Funds will be available until they are exhausted.

Students who are ineligible to receive CARES Act funding (per requirements detailed above) can apply for monetary assistance from the CAC Student Emergency Fund until funds are gone. This application link is also available at www.centralaz.edu/cares.

For the latest information on college operations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, refer to the CAC website.