CRRSAA Funds Support OCCC Students

1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP program to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students

A Portland Community College representative signed the “Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement, Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA Act) Act”.  The agreement assures that the institution intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CRRSA Act and ARP Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Student.

Portland Community College received funding from the U.S. Department of Education for the purpose of making Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.  PCC President Mark Mitsui and OCCC President Birgitte Ryslinge signed an agreement to provide Oregon Coast Community College $91,575 for CRRSA and $301,480 for ARP of these funds for the purpose of making Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students attending classes at Oregon Coast Community College.

3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA Act and ARP as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

Summer Term: As of July 21, 2021, OCCC has distributed $10,000 to students.
Fall Term: As of December 10, 2021, OCCC has distributed $127,094 to students.

4. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 314(a)(1)) of the CRRSAA Act and ARP.

 Summer Term: As of July 21, 2021, the total number of students eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants was estimated to be 17.
Fall Term: As of December 10, 2021, the total number of students eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grant was estimated to be 131.

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA Act and ARP.

Summer Term: As of July 21, 2021, the total number of students who have received CRRSAA Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants is 17.

Fall Term: As of December 10, 2021, the total number of students who have received CRRSAA Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants is 131.

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA Act and ARP.

Eligible students will be identified by the Financial Aid Office and notified by email. In order to qualify for a CRRSAA and ARP Grant, students must meet all existing Title IV eligibility requirements, which includes completion of a valid 2021-2022 FAFSA. OCCC is required to prioritize grants to students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants.  Eligibility requirements are consistent with guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Education, which the College is required by law to follow in allocating this federal funding.

Students must complete their 2021-22 FAFSA and any verification requirements.  Students must complete their 2021-22 FAFSA and any verification requirements not later than September 15, 2021.  There is no separate application process for this grant, but students must complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA application and verification by the deadlines above. Awards are first-come-first-serve basis using their FAFSA filing date until funds run out.

Students within the eligible EFC range are automatically selected based on the following criteria:

• • • be Title IV Eligible
    • be a degree or certificate seeking student
    • be enrolled in at least five (5) credits in the Summer 2021
    • be enrolled in at least six (6) credits in the Fall 2021
    • have an EFC range from 0-3000
    • FAFSA filing date
    • completion of verification requirements

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

The following email was recently sent to OCCC students registered in the summer term. The message details Federal funding made available in response to the pandemic aimed at reducing the financial hardship experienced by qualifying students. 

Dear Student,

Oregon Coast Community College has received $393,055 from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and American Rescue Plan (ARP) to support students financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The CRRSAA grants can be used to cover the Cost of Attendance including tuition and fees, food, housing, health care (including mental health), childcare, transportation, and technology.

Student Eligibility

Eligible students will be identified by the Financial Aid Office and notified by email. In order to qualify for a CRRSAA Grant, students must meet all existing Title IV eligibility requirements, which includes completion of a valid 2021-2022 FAFSA. OCCC is required to prioritize grants to students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants.  Eligibility requirements are consistent with guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Education, which the College is required by law to follow in allocating this federal funding.

Students must complete their 2021-22 FAFSA and any verification requirements not later than June 15, 2021 to be eligible for a summer disbursement,  September 15, 2021for Fall disbursement or January 7, 2022 for Winter disbursement.  There is no separate application process for this grant, but students must complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA application and verification by the deadlines above. Awards are first-come-first-serve basis using their FAFSA filing date until funds run out.

Students within the eligible EFC range are automatically selected based on the following criteria:

• • • be Title IV Eligible
    • be a degree or certificate seeking student
    • be enrolled in at least five (5) credits in the Summer 2021
    • be enrolled in at least six (6) credits in the Fall 2021
    • be enrolled in at least six (6) credits in the Winter 2022