Seminole State expands CARES Act fund disbursements to Spring 2020 students

Seminole State College of Florida is expanding the distribution of $4,075,030 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to help students who may have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19.

The emergency funding provides eligible students enrolled at least part-time (taking 6 or more credit hours) with financial grants that can be used for expenses related to food, housing, health care, childcare, course materials and technology incurred in direct relation to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. The CARES Act grants are available for PELL eligible and non-PELL, financial aid eligible students enrolled in the Spring 2020, Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 semesters. If funding remains, grants will also be available in Spring 2021. Emergency grant funds are not intended to be used to replace a loss of income or to pay for student expenses that are not directly related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Spring 2020 CARES grants are in addition to the College’s Summer 2020 Course Retake option which allowed students to unenroll from a Spring 2020 course and retake it online or remotely free of charge in Summer Term 2020. 

To be eligible to receive a CARES Act grant, students are required to have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file.

Eligible students will receive one award for either Spring or Summer, and potentially could receive a second award for Fall.

CARES Act grants for eligible students

Spring 2020

• All PELL eligible students taking six or more credit hours will receive a one-time grant disbursement of $700.
• All non-PELL, financial aid eligible students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $5,577 - $7,500 on their FAFSA, taking six or more credit hours will receive a one-time grant disbursement of $350.

Summer 2020

• All PELL eligible students taking six or more credit hours will receive a total grant disbursement of $700. Summer students who have already received $500 will receive an additional $200. 
• All non-PELL, financial aid eligible students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $5,577 - $7,500 on their FAFSA, taking six or more credit hours will receive a total grant disbursement of $350. Summer students who have already received $250 will receive an additional $100.

Fall 2020

• All PELL eligible students taking six or more credit hours will receive a one-time grant disbursement of $500. 
• All non-PELL, Financial Aid eligible students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $5,577 - $7,500 on their FAFSA, taking six or more credit hours will receive a one-time grant disbursement of $250. 

Per CARES Act legislation, international students, DACA students, dual-enrollment students and students who were exclusively in an online program on March 13, 2020, are not eligible for CARES Act grants.

Students who do not qualify for federal financial aid or CARES Act grants can apply for emergency aid through Destination Graduation, a partnership between the College and the Heart of Florida United Way.

Students needing tuition and book assistance for Fall Term can apply for scholarships through the Foundation for Seminole State College from June 15 to July 15.