By Southern Torch Staff
POWELL, Ala. — Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) distributed the second round of direct payments to students this week after receiving additional funding from the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
NACC received $950,891 in this distribution of CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act) funding for colleges. This program was passed as a part of the larger CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund program, and it is intended to provide timely assistance to students as well as stimulate the economy. This particular portion of funds has been mandated for distribution directly to students.
Students who qualified for a full or partial Pell Grant and are currently attending Northeast will each receive $890. Current NACC students who did not receive a Pell Grant but completed the FAFSA form will receive $538.66. A total of 1,130 Northeast students completed the FAFSA form for the current academic year.
“The NACC staff, particularly Business Manager Rodney Bone and the Business Office Staff and Financial Aid Director Kip Williamson and the Financial Aid Office, have worked very hard on this to see that students got the maximum payments,” stated NACC President Dr. David Campbell. “Our students have suffered many hardships during Covid and regretfully we have had to limit some traditional events, such as graduation. Perhaps this money will help compensate them some.”
Northeast Dean of Financial Services Rodney Bone is glad to see students receive this additional funding. “We hope this money will provide some relief to our students,” said Bone. “These additional funds may also help interested students enroll in classes this summer.”
NACC’s Financial Aid Department wants to ensure all students receive as much financial assistance as possible when attending college. “Due to the pandemic and current hardship on families, if you or another family member has lost a job or received an undue financial burden, you may be entitled to additional Pell dollars,” said Financial Aid Director Kip Williamson. “The first thing students must do is complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Using the information required by the FAFSA application, our Financial Aid office here at NACC may be able to make further adjustments in assisting student with college expenses.”
Students may complete the FAFSA form online by visiting studentaid.gov. There is no charge to complete the form, but students must be prepared with information such as their Social Security Number, federal income tax returns, W-2s, and bank statements if applicable.The deadline to complete the FAFSA form for the upcoming academic year is June 30, 2021. However, students are highly encouraged to complete the application as early as possible.