SPC CARES Act || St. Petersburg College

SPC CARES Act

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) provided $6 billion to colleges nationwide for emergency student financial aid to be distributed to enrolled students who are “Title IV eligible” and have expenses related to the COVID–19 virus. SPC received and immediately began to distribute $6,406,741 on a first-come, first-served basis. Students who filed a 2020-21 FAFSA, met federal financial aid eligibility requirements AND had a job loss, loss of income, temporary furlough, or medical expenses as a result of COVID-19 were eligible to apply for a one-time $500 grant. Eligible students received a total of $500 from a combination of the Foundation Emergency Grant and SPC CARES Act funds. SPC released the funds whether the student owed SPC a balance or not. Funds could be spent on expenses related to COVID-19 as the student indicated on their application.

Students enrolled in the following fully online certificate programs were not eligible to receive funds: Computer-Related Crime Investigation Certificate, Cybersecurity Certificate, Emergency Administration and Management Certificate and Homeland Security Certificate.

The SPC CARES Act application has closed.

SPC CARES MORE

Realizing that some students may have needed additional funds, SPC released the remaining SPC CARES Act funds in up to $1,000 increments to students who received SPC CARES Act funds, provided documentation of expenses up to $1,000 as a result of COVID-19 and the reason for those expenses (reduction of income, medical, child care, etc.) and continued to meet original eligibility requirements. Funds were awarded on a “first come, first-served” basis.

Students who previously received SPC CARES Act funds were eligible to apply.

The SPC CARES MORE application has closed.

SPC CARES 2

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) provided additional funding to colleges nationwide for emergency student financial aid to be distributed to enrolled students who are “Title IV eligible” and have expenses related to the COVID–19 virus. SPC received and immediately began to distribute $6,406,741 on a first-come, first-served basis. Students who filed a 2020-21 FAFSA, met federal financial aid eligibility requirements AND had a job loss, loss of income, temporary furlough, or medical expenses as a result of COVID-19 were eligible to apply for a one-time grant of $1,000 for students enrolled in 9 or more credit hours within their current degree program or $500 for 1-8 credit hours with their current degree program. SPC released the funds whether the student owed SPC a balance or not. Funds could be spent on expenses related to COVID-19 as the student indicated on their application.

Students who previously received SPC CARES Act and/or SPC CARES MORE funds were eligible to apply.

The SPC CARES 2 application has closed.

SPC CARES 2 – Exceptional Need

Realizing that some students may have needed additional funds, SPC released the remaining SPC CARES 2 funds in up to $1,000 increments to students who received SPC CARES 2 funds, provided documentation of expenses up to $1,000 as a result of COVID-19 and the reason for those expenses (reduction of income, medical, child care, etc.) and continued to meet original eligibility requirements. Funds were awarded on a “first come, first-served” basis.

Students who previously received SPC CARES Act, SPC CARES MORE and/or SPC CARES 2 funds were eligible to apply.

The SPC CARES 2 – Exceptional Need funds application has closed.

SPC CARES 3

The federal government allocated additional funds for college students through Higher Education Emergency Relief III fund (HEERF III) for emergency student financial aid for eligible students who had a job loss, loss of income, temporary furlough, or medical expenses as a result of COVID-19. Award amounts were $2,000 for Pell eligible students, $1,500 for financial aid applicants who are not Pell eligible or $1,000 for non-financial aid applicants. SPC released the funds whether the student owed SPC a balance or not. Funds could be spent on expenses related to COVID-19 as the student indicated on their application.

Students who previously received SPC CARES Act, SPC CARES MORE, SPC CARES 2 and/or SPC CARES 2 – Exceptional Need funds were eligible to apply.

The SPC CARES 3 application has closed.

SPC CARES 3 – Exceptional Need

Realizing that some students may have need additional funds, SPC released the remaining SPC CARES 3 funds students who received SPC CARES 3 funds, provided documentation of expenses as a result of COVID-19 and the reason for those expenses (reduction of income, medical, child care, etc.) and continued to meet original eligibility requirements. Funds were awarded on a “first come, first-served” basis.

Students who previously received SPC CARES Act, SPC CARES MORE, SPC CARES 2, SPC CARES 2 – Exceptional Need and/or CARES 3 funds were eligible to apply.

The SPC CARES 3 – Exceptional Need application has closed.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?

What if I thought I was eligible, but I received an email that I'm not?

Financial Assistance Services is here to help. Please call 727-791-2485 or submit your question online at A$KFA$ to determine why your application was denied.

Are funds taxable?

No. These funds are qualified as disaster relief payments under Section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code. This grant is not to be included as taxable income for IRS Income tax filings. See IRS Guidance for more details.

Other "Special Circumstances"

St. Petersburg College understands the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted our students’ educational goals. Our financial aid administrators are provided the authority to use professional judgment to make adjustments on a case-by-case basis to reflect more accurately the financial need of students and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

If your financial aid status and/or eligibility has been negatively affected by COVID-19 and you have questions or concerns: let Financial Assistance Services know your concerns by going to our A$KFA$ survey and selecting the COVID-19 Financial Aid Matters option. Our financial aid staff will follow up with you to see what we may be able to do to assist you.

SPC DATA

How many SPC students are eligible to apply for any type of CARES funding?

As of 7/24/2023, 71,667 unique SPC students were enrolled and met the criteria to apply.

Of those, 39,261 completed the FAFSA and 5,851 applied for other types of aid in at least one of the three years from 0570 spring 2020 to 0620 summer 2023.

How much has SPC awarded to students so far?

As of 7/7/2021, SPC has awarded 10,418 students a total of $5,169,459 in SPC CARES Act funds.
As of 7/7/2021, SPC has awarded 1,391 students a total of $1,237,282 in SPC CARES MORE funds.
As of 7/21/2022, SPC has awarded 8,236.83 students a total of $6,258,089 in SPC CARES 2 funds.
As of 7/21/2022, SPC has awarded 123 students a total of $147,152 in SPC CARES 2-Exceptional Need funds.
As of 5/23/2023, SPC has awarded 15,774 students a total of $26,616,896.36 in SPC CARES 3 funds.
As of 5/23/2023, SPC has awarded 579 students a total of $670,857.23 in SPC CARES 3-Exceptional Need funds.

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