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* NOTE: This application for CARES Act funding is now closed as all available funds have been dispersed.

CARES Act Funding Gives Students Relief Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) will award $2,783,350 in direct payments to students, using funds provided by the CARES Act. The funding was provided to colleges and universities to help provide relief to students amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is my highest priority to ensure the safety, security and success of our students,” said OCCC President Jerry Steward. “Many of our students have experienced financial strain during this crisis and I hope they will take advantage of the services we have provided to help them, including this new funding.”

The Department of Education has stipulated that the following conditions must be met for eligibility.
An eligible student must:

be a U.S. Citizen or an Eligible Non-Citizen
have a valid Social Security Number (SSN)
have a High School Diploma, GED or Completion of High School status in an approved homeschool setting in accordance with applicable state laws
have registered for Selective Service (males only)
not have been enrolled in all-online courses on March 13, 2020
not have defaulted on a student loan
not owe grant refunds
not be concurrently enrolled in elementary or secondary (high school)

Additionally, OCCC excludes from eligibility any college employee whose tuition is being or has been waived by OCCC.

Based on these requirements, OCCC projects that roughly half its students are eligible for funding, and those eligible will be contacted and given the opportunity to apply.

Oklahoma City Community College enrolls over 17,000 students annually. Thousands more are served in non-credit classes and programs. The college has more than 60 fields of study and offers associate degrees, certifications and leadership opportunities.

For more information and opportunities, visit www.occc.edu, and follow @OtripleC on social media for the latest updates and announcements.

CARES Act Reporting Requirements

Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) has signed and submitted the Certification and Agreement for CARES Act funding to the Department of Education. This data complies with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act “30-day Fund Report.”

OCCC will use no less than 50% of the allotted $5,566,700 of Section 18004(a) (1) CARES funds to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to OCCC students. OCCC received $2,783,350 from the Department of Education for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. As of September 30, 2020, OCCC has distributed $3,130,864.10 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to 2,183 students. The College used $347,514.10 of their Institutional share of CARES funding to award all students who responded by the deadline for applicants. The College has determined that 5,071 OCCC students met the eligibility requirements to apply for CARES Act funding.

Eligibility was determined using criteria set by the Department of Education. To apply for an emergency grant, a student must be Title IV eligible and achieved Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in their coursework. Each eligible student that applies and is enrolled as of March 23, 2020, in three (3) or more credit hours and at least one face-to-face class at OCCC will receive an amount that will not exceed $2,048.00.

OCCC students were notified of eligibility via an email to their student email account and a text message to the phone number provided to the College. The link to apply for funding was provided in the email.

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