COVID-19 Emergency Funding – CARES Act

 Update on CARES ACT Funding

YVC is no longer accepting CARES Act Emergency funding requests. If you are experiencing hardship you may be eligible for emergency funding through other YVC programs. Contact Counseling & Advising for information on funding from the YVC Foundation (counseling@yvcc.edu, 509-574-4956) and Homelessness Grant (Guadalupe Huitron-Lilly, 509-574-4683). Students interested in workforce education programs can apply for the Opportunity Grant and Worker Retraining through the Financial Aid-Special Funding Application.

If you or your household have experienced a change in circumstances you may request a second review of financial aid eligibility. Use the Income Revision-Student or Income Revision-Parent forms along with supporting documentation to request such a review. This review may lead to additional grant or loan eligibility or an increase in your overall Cost of Attendance.  Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information (finaid@yvcc.edu, 509-574-6855).

What is CARES?

YVC students with financial hardship related to the campus closing and moving all classes and services to an online system due to the COVID-19 health crisis may qualify for emergency funds from the federal CARES Act.

Eligibility

All currently registered Yakima Valley College students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply:

  • All students should complete a FAFSA or WASFA application for the 2021-2022 year. Students who cannot complete either the FAFSA or WASFA and have completed a CARES application will receive further instruction from the Financial Aid office after submitting the emergency funding application.

Process

Please submit the online application. Awards are determined by EFC ranges as follows:

  • 0-5,846: $1,200
  • 5,847-10,000: $1,100
  • 10,001-19,999: $1,000
  • 20,000-above; no application: $900

Results or requests for additional information will be communicated via the Financial Aid Portal or by email. Funding will be disbursed using your refunding preference established with BankMobile Disbursements. Please be sure your current address is on file with our Registration Office. Here is more information about BankMobile Disbursements. Please contact YVC’s Financial Aid office for additional information about establishing your refund preference.

 

CARES Act Questions and Answers

The CARES Act is federal legislation that provides a variety of financial support to individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic. One part of this federal program allocates money to Yakima Valley College, and a portion of that allocation can be awarded to students who are experiencing financial expenses because of the campus disruption in operations due to the coronavirus.

Expenses need to be related to changes in campus operations due to the coronavirus.  Unanticipated expenses in the following areas qualify:

  • Food
  • Housing
  • Course Materials (books, related school supplies)
  • Technology (computer, computer accessories, software, internet access, printer)
  • Healthcare
  • Childcare

Students are eligible for a maximum of $1,800 in support for each academic quarter. Amounts are determined by students’ Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the number of credits they are enrolled in. You must re-apply for funding each quarter.  Applications are processed in the order received while funds remain available.

First, be sure to check that your current address is on file with the college’s registration office.  An incorrect address could cause a significant delay in receiving the funds. Check your address by logging into your Student Portal and going to “Show Student Info”.

Then check the requirements above and ensure that the expenses are related to disruption in college operations due to the coronavirus. Then please submit the online application.

No, money received through this fund does not need to be repaid.

No, this funding does not negate nor replace financial aid, and it is a one-time grant.

Yes, enrolled students can apply in each of the following quarters.  While funds remain available, we anticipate taking applications for Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Fall 2021.  Awards are made in the order that applications are received.

Applications are taken throughout the quarter – there is no deadline to apply. Funds are distributed no sooner than the 10th day of the quarter.

No.  Emergency financial aid grants under the CARES Act are qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code.  This grant is not includible in your gross income.

The funds will be delivered to you via Bank Mobile.  Instructions are available on how funds are disbursed and how to set up a preference for receiving a refund.  Also, note that these funds will go out to you without paying any outstanding charges you may have; you may view your Student Account balance within the portal.

With your permission, emergency funds can be applied to tuition and fees charged on your student account. By affirming your choice on the form, you can have your funds first applied to open charges on your student account and any remaining balance refunded to you via the refund preference you selected with Bank Mobile. Alternatively, you can have your full Emergency Award released directly to you via Bank Mobile. This last option would skip paying any outstanding balance on your student account and you would have to separately settle that balance according to the institution’s payment schedule.

If you have questions or need more information, call 509.574.6855 or email finaid@yvcc.edu.

CARES Act Reporting

Acknowledgment

On April 28, 2020, Yakima Valley College received funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. YVC intends to use the funds to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.

Total Funds Received

Yakima Valley College received funds totaling $13,553,291.00.

Total Grants Distributed

Yakima Valley College has awarded $13,553,291.00 in grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of 6/30/2022.

Eligibility Estimate

As of Spring quarter 2022, YVC estimated that 3,948 students are eligible for HEERF III funds. As of Winter 2022, YVC estimated that 4,870 students are eligible for HEERF III funds. The Fall of 2021, YVC estimated that 4,788 students are eligible for HEERF III funds. The Spring of 2021, YVC estimated that 4,366 students are eligible for HEERF II and HEERF III funds.

YVC estimated that 3,600 Spring 2020 students were 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 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of May 28, 2020.

Number of Students Helped

YVC helped 8 students in Spring quarter 2022. YVC has helped a total of 4,636 unduplicated students by providing Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of 06/30/2022.

In addition to the information and instructions provided here, the following communication was emailed to all potentially eligible students:

Dear Student,

YVC has CARES Act funds available for students who have a valid FAFSA/WASFA on file. This simple online form will only take a few minutes, begin now! This is free grant money as part of the federal government’s response to COVID. The Financial Aid Office encourages all students to submit the online form. You have the option to have funds applied to tuition charges or sent directly to BankMobile. Check your Student Account balance here. In case you did not set up a BankMobile preference for receiving a refund please visit refund selection.

Click here to Apply for Emergency Funding

Quarterly Report of Disbursement

  • 3/31/2023: Total Disbursed: $13,553,291.00, 3 unduplicated students served in Spring 2022 and total unduplicated students served 4,629, estimated unduplicated students eligible 4, (CARES III Allocation)
  • 1/1/2023: Total Disbursed: $13,553,291.00, 4 unduplicated students served in Spring 2022 and total unduplicated students served 4,636, estimated unduplicated students eligible 3,903 (SAIHE/CARES III Allocation)
  • 10/1/2022: Total Disbursed: $13,553,291.00, 5 unduplicated students served in Summer 2022 and total unduplicated students served 4,636, estimated unduplicated students eligible 1,377 (SAIHE/CARES III Allocation)
  • 7/11/2022: Total Disbursed: $13,553,291.00, 8 unduplicated students served in Spring 2022 and total unduplicated students served 4,636, estimated unduplicated students eligible 3,948 (SAIHE Allocation)
  • 4/7/2022: Total Disbursed: $13,550,798.79, unduplicated students served 4,634, estimated unduplicated students eligible 4,870 (CARES III, MSI III, CARES III & SAIHE Allocation)
  • 1/04/2022: Total Disbursed: $9,969,732.08, unduplicated students served 3,895, estimated unduplicated students eligible 4,788 (CARES II, MSI II, CARES III & SAIHE Allocation)
  • 9/30/2021: Total Disbursed: $6,451,394.88, unduplicated students served 3,241, estimated unduplicated students eligible 1,654 (CARES II, MSI II & CARES III, SAIHE Allocation)
  • 6/30/2021: Total disbursed: $5,055,487.50, unduplicated students served 2,988 (CARES II, MSI II & CARES III Allocation)
  • 4/10/2021: Total disbursed: $2,145,863, unduplicated students served 2,644 (CARES I & MSI I Allocation)
  • 12/31/2020: Total disbursed: $1,423,670, unduplicated students served 2,189 (CARES I Allocation)
  • 9/30/2020: Total disbursed: $787,675, unduplicated students served 1,977 (CARES I Allocation)

As of the end of quarter 2, 2022 SAIHE funds have been exhausted. As of the end of quarter 2, 2022 100% of CARES/HEERF-Student funds have been disbursed. As of the end of quarter 1, 2021 CARES I and MSI I funds have been exhausted. As of the end of quarter 4 2021, CARES II and MSI II funds have been exhausted. As of the end of quarter 1, 2022 CARES III and MSI III funds have been exhausted.