MAYS LANDING – Help is available Atlantic Cape Community College students who have incurred expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The college is actively distributing the $1.98 million allocated through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that will serve as direct aid to eligible students.
So far, $1,071,525 in emergency financial aid has been distributed to 1,300 Atlantic Cape students. The remainder of the money will be given out over the next several weeks.
“The direct impact to our area and our students has been significant with so many now out of work due to the pandemic,” Atlantic Cape Community College President Barbara Gaba said. “These students need help and we are grateful that we can help ease some of their financial burden and make completing this semester, and planning for future semesters possible.”
The college is distributing the funds to students for things like food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care.
Students who are Title IV eligible and registered in on-campus courses impacted by the disruption of campus operations may be eligible to receive funds. Students who qualify have or will receive an email from the college about the opportunity.
The $2 trillion CARES Act stimulus package has $14 billion earmarked to help ease the nationwide financial strain colleges, students, and their families have suffered due to the pandemic.
“We want to support our students who are struggling,” Gaba said. “These emergency funds are to help with financial obligations and burdens that are directly impacting their education, and this is why we need to get this money to those students as quickly as possible. These students need to be prepared for when they enter or rejoin the workforce after this crisis is over, so we need to make sure they have the resources they need to meet their educational and career goals.”
