MCC Receives $2 Million in Student Aid from Federal CARES Act

Middlesex Community College serves a diverse population of learners who come to the college seeking opportunity. Understanding that the pandemic has created challenging financial circumstances for many within the MCC community, Middlesex continues to work hard to help lessen the financial burden some students face. As part of the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of March 2020, Middlesex received several grants totaling $2 million.

The U.S. Department of Education authorized more than $7 billion of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to go towards emergency student expenses related to the pandemic. MCC signed and returned the certification and agreement form to receive funds from the CARES Act.

“At Middlesex, we want to ensure students are receiving the education they need to help them remain on track with their degree or employment paths – regardless of their financial situations,” said Frank Nocella, MCC’s Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer. “Funding opportunities help make MCC a more valuable asset to our students who experience unexpected financial hardships. While many unknowns remain due to the pandemic, education does not have to be one of them, and support from the CARES Act is crucial to our students’ success.”

Middlesex disbursed $997,070 of grant funds to 2,558 eligible students as of September 2020. An additional $1 million in grants was given out in December 2020 to 2,400 students, including $210,800 from the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund (GREER) for 469 students and $15,008 for 34 students from the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutional Fund (AANIPISI).

To be eligible, students must have been enrolled at Middlesex for the Fall 2020 semester, submitted a 2020-2021 FAFSA, met Federal Title IV Financial Aid eligibility requirements, and incurred expenses caused by disruption of campus operations related to the COVID-19 crisis.

MCC has compiled a list of additional resources to help students who are struggling financially due to the pandemic. Named MCC CARES, these resources are made up of partnerships with local banks and community donations to fund the MCC Student Emergency Fund.

“The coronavirus pandemic has led to many changes for our students,” said Jeffrey Aalbers, MCC’s Interim Financial Aid Director. “A shift to online learning, unemployment or underemployment, home schooling for dependents, and lack of daycare options are just a few of the challenges facing our students today. MCC CARES is a way for the school to try and help our students as they deal with these economic challenges.”

Middlesex has also listed resources that link to housing assistance, grocery expenses, student loan debt, unemployment benefits and tuition appeal information. For more information related to tuition, financial aid or essential needs, contact MCCCares@middlesex.mass.edu or visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/mcccares

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!