Update: Classes begin online Tuesday, 1/19. Due to Plumas County’s purple tier status, offices are minimally staffed from 9am-3pm.
COVID-19 Financial Aid Updates
In accordance with Governor Newsom’s stay at home order, FRC campus is closed. The Financial Aid Office will be minimally staffed during this time. The best point of contact is for students to email the Financial Aid Office via FRC email.
Students will continue to have access to financial aid resources, including those from student loans.
Feather River College has signed and returned an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education and will use at least 50% of the student portion of their Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) allocation to emergency grants directly to students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund provides funding for emergency financial aid grants to students, specifically for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. These funds may cover expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. Feather River College received $299,577 under the CARES Act for emergency financial aid grants to students.
As of May 11, 2020, FRC will have distributed $271,600 to students for emergency financial aid grants.
Eligible Students
Approximately 448 students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and were enrolled at FRC on March 23, 2020.
Received an Emergency Grant
Emergency financial aid grants were sent to 443 students during the week of May 11, 2020
Eligibility
Guidance released by the U.S. Department of Education indicated that only students who are, or could be, eligible for Title IV aid (i.e. the Pell Grant and/or Federal Direct Loans) under Section 484 of the HEA may receive emergency grants. This definition includes but is not limited to:
- U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens
- Students with valid SSN
- Students registered with the selective service
- Students with a high school diploma or GED
- Programs leading to a degree or certificate
Several factors were considered in determining the amount of emergency financial aid to students including eligibility criteria for on-campus enrollment, number of units enrolled, and FAFSA-determined Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The amount funded was based upon the following factors:
| EFC $0 - $4,000 | efc $4,001 - $10,000 | EFC $10,000 + | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part Time 3.0 - 5.5 units enrolled | $200 | $100 | $100 |
| Part Time 6.0 - 11.5 units enrolled | $600 | $400 | $200 |
| Full Time 12 + units enrolled | $800 | $600 | $400 |
Students have been notified by email that FRC has received funding from the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to be distributed in the form of emergency grants to help students affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Students have also been instructed to make sure that FRC has an up-to-date mailing address for them and to be on the lookout for an emergency grant check in the near future.
The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office is working closely with the governor’s office, the California Department of Public Health and local colleges to mitigate effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Nearly all California community colleges are working to transition educational services to online delivery, with many closing or suspending classes for days or weeks, including for scheduled and rescheduled spring breaks, to make the switch.
Visit the California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response website to keep up with the latest COVID-19 news in California.
Additional guidance will be issued by the U.S. Department of Education as it becomes available.
Additional guidance will be issued by the U.S. Department of Education as it becomes available.
Information derived from the Department of Education (ED) and may be subject to change.
Federal Work Study: Currently, for students enrolled and performing FWS at a campus that must close due to COVID-19, the institution may continue paying the student FWS wages during that closure, per the U.S. Department of Education.
EOPS and CalWORKs Work Study: State law does not currently allow payment of CalWORKs work study wages if students are not actually working in their work study job. The Chancellor’s Office is currently reviewing regulations regarding EOPS work study and will update this question once that research is complete.
Additional guidance will be issued by the U.S. Department of Education as it becomes available.
Information derived from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) and may be subject to change.
There is no impact to eligibility for the CCPG, and no penalty if a CCPG recipient is unable to complete all attempted coursework in a single semester. CCPG recipients must make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to retain the grants. Students should work with their local college campus to determine any actions needed to retain these grants.
Information derived from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) and may be subject to change.
Students that typically are not eligible for other types of financial aid may be eligible for the FRC Promise Scholarship, a waiver of enrollment fees, if they qualify as “first-year, first-time" students. As of today the law required students to maintain full-time status to retain eligibility from term to term. There is some flexibility on the number of units for students with disabilities.
Information derived from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) and may be subject to change.
The California Student Aid Commission has not issued guidance to date on any changes to the Cal Grant eligibility requirements. Updates will be posted here as we receive them.
Information derived from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) and may be subject to change.
Students must be taking a minimum of 12 units at time of payment. SSCG has been disbursed as of February 13, 2020. If the student reduces the number of units after being paid for the term, there is no impact for that term, or for following terms.
Information derived from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) and may be subject to change.
The Senate and House passed S.3503 and the bill is headed to President Trump for signature. The bill will give the VA authority to continue GI Bill payments uninterrupted in the event of national emergencies. The new law allows the VA to pay education benefits regardless of the fact if a program has moved from the classroom to online. Also, students will continue to receive the same monthly housing allowance payments until December 21, 2020, or until their school resumes normal operations.