KWC was awarded funds through the CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) I, CRRSA Act: HEERF II, and the ARP Act: HEERF III for distribution to students who have experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19.
A portion of these funds is being made available for grants to all students who are or were enrolled at KWC on or after March 13, 2020 regardless of whether they completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or are eligible for Title IV. This includes citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented. Emergency grants will be used for eligible expenses related to a student’s cost of attendance, which includes housing, food, course materials, technology, health care (including mental health), childcare, and travel/transportation. Additionally, students with outstanding balances may also apply for assistance.
Applying for Assistance
To apply for assistance students must complete a request application that can be found at https://kwc.edu/heerfreporting or by contacting Shawn Tomes, VP of Mission and Culture at (270) 999-2612 or stomes@kwc.edu. The application must include a written description of the financial hardship experienced; explaining how it is directly related to COVID-19 as well as a specific dollar amounts for which you are seeking assistance. The maximum amount that may be applied for is $2,000. This program will end on April 30, 2022.
Eligibility
Funds will be awarded based on the following eligibility guidelines:
- Any student who is or was enrolled at KWC on or after March 13, 2020, the date of declaration of the national emergency due to the coronavirus.
- Any student who exhibits an exceptional need, regardless of whether they completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or are eligible for Title IV. Criteria could include being eligible for other federal or state need-based aid or have faced significant unexpected expenses, such as the loss of employment (either for themselves or their families), reduced income, or food or housing insecurity.
Awarding Funds
All grant applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of the VP of Executive Initiatives and Facilities, Dean of Student Success and Director of Financial Aid, or their designees. The President’s Cabinet has approved the funding amount for this purpose.
Funds will be distributed based on following priority guidelines:
- Priority 1: Students who are Pell eligible and have a documented need.
- Priority 2: Students who are non-Pell eligible with a documented need.