COVID-19 Student Emergency Funding | Financial Aid at PCOM
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Student Emergency Funding 
COVID-19 Funds

PCOM understands that many of our students have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. In order to help these students, PCOM is distributing student emergency funds (SEF) to assist students with their finances.

Through funding made available by donors and federal assistance, PCOM is proud to offer two separate funds to help students who have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal for both of these funds is to provide support so students may continue their education during these unforeseeable circumstances. Additionally, students not eligible for emergency funds but still need assistance can request a professional judgment within myPCOM.

Apply for Emergency Funding

How to Apply for Student Emergency Funds

We ask students to self-identify if they have incurred expenses. The process for applying for emergency aid is as follows:

  • Complete our online form.
  • Our committee will review each application and make decisions on a case-by-case basis. A financial aid staff member may reach out to you for additional information.
  • Please keep in mind funds are limited and are used to help students affected by the pandemic.
  • Approved funding is made payable to the student via refund from the Bursar's Office.

Source of Emergency Funds

Review fund details including amounts, eligibility and disclosures.

Through funding made available by generous donors, PCOM is able to provide students relief who have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care).

Source of funds

Funds are provided by PCOM through donors, alumni and other contributions.

Awarded amount

Up to $1,000 per student per academic year.

Eligibility

In order to receive funding from this source, students may not need to be Title IV eligible.

Cost of attendance

This fund is considered financial aid and counts towards a student's cost of attendance when awarded.

Disclosures

As of December 17, 2020, 123 students have been awarded and $104,869 has been disbursed.

On April 16, 2020, as part of the Federal CARES Act, PCOM signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide emergency financial aid grants to students as well as institutional funding to schools to help mitigate the costs of COVID related expenses. Of the $863,192 PCOM receives, half of the funds, $431,596, are mandated to be given as direct payment grants to Title IV-eligible students. PCOM has allocated an additional $331,596 of it's institutional funding to this total to respond to the overwhelming need for its students. PCOM has approximately 2,536 currently enrolled students who are eligible for Title IV funding and could potentially be eligible for funds if they are affected by COVID-19.

Source of funds

U.S. Department of Education

Awarded amount

Up to $1,500 per student per academic year.

Eligibility

In order to receive funding, the student must be Title IV eligible (preferably a FAFSA on file in the current academic year) and demonstrate financial need .

Award methodology

PCOM has used the following methodology to award students until the funds were depleted:

  • Title IV eligible.
  • Attested that they have had an expense related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.
  • Not an online student
  • The amount up to requested, not exceeding $1,500.
Cost of attendance

This fund does not count toward a student's cost of attendance when awarded.

Disclosures

In our first quarterly report, as of June 26, 2020, PCOM awarded the total $431,596 to 482 students. As of December 14, 2020, 735 students have been awarded $763,192 in student grant funding from the CARES ACT. This amount includes the entire Cares Act Student Grant Funding of $431,596 as well as $331,596 of the Cares Act Institutional Grant Funding.

Instructions, directions and guidance

The following emails are the dates and correspondence that was sent to all students to ensure equal opportunity for CARES Funds. A link for the application was also posted on myPCOM and this webpage.

On December 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) was passed in part to distribute to institutions of higher education in order to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus through HEERF. This funding is required to go directly to students in emergency financial aid grants for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care. Of the $1,038,054 PCOM received, $431,596 is mandated to be given as direct payment grants to Title IV-eligible students. PCOM has approximately 2,959 currently enrolled students who are eligible for Title IV funding and could potentially be eligible for funds if they are affected by COVID-19.

Source of funds

U.S. Department of Education

Awarded amount

Up to $1,500 per student per academic year.

Eligibility

In order to receive funding, the student must be Title IV eligible (preferably a FAFSA on file in the current academic year) and demonstrate financial need .

Award methodology

PCOM has used the following methodology to award students until the funds were depleted:

  • Title IV eligible.
  • Attested that they have emergency costs that have arisen due to coronavirus (COVID-19) since December 27, 2020.
  • Demonstrate financial need.
  • The amount up to requested, not exceeding $1,500.
Cost of attendance

This fund does not count toward a student's cost of attendance when awarded.

Disclosures

As of March 10, 2021, PCOM awarded $431,596 to 330 students in student grant funding from CRRSAA.

Instructions, directions and guidance

The following emails are the dates and correspondence that was sent to all students to ensure equal opportunity for CRRSAA funds. A link for the application was also posted on myPCOM and this webpage.

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was passed in part to distribute to institutions of higher education in order to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus through HEERF. This funding is required to go directly to students in emergency financial aid grants for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care. Of the $1,953,645 PCOM received, $976,823 is mandated to be given as direct payment grants to Title IV-eligible students. PCOM has approximately 2,939 currently enrolled students who are eligible for Title IV funding and could potentially be eligible for funds if they are affected by COVID-19.

Source of funds

U.S. Department of Education

Awarded amount

Up to $1,500 per student per academic year.

Eligibility

In order to receive funding, the student must be Title IV eligible (preferably a FAFSA on file in the current academic year) and demonstrate financial need .

Award methodology

PCOM has used the following methodology to award students until the funds were depleted:

  • Title IV eligible.
  • Attested that they have emergency costs that have arisen due to coronavirus (COVID-19) in the 2021-2022 academic year.
  • Demonstrate financial need.
  • The amount up to requested, not exceeding $1,500.
Cost of attendance

This fund does not count toward a student's cost of attendance when awarded.

Disclosures

As of January 18, 2022, PCOM awarded $976,823 to 717 students in student grant funding from ARPA.

Instructions, directions and guidance

The following emails are the dates and correspondence that was sent to all students to ensure equal opportunity for ARPA funds. A link for the application was also posted on myPCOM and this webpage.

On December 27, 2020 the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) was passed in part to distribute to institutions of higher education in order to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus through HEERF. Authorized under section 314(a)(3), PCOM also applied for the Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE) grant for institutions with the greatest unmet needs due to coronavirus and have recently been approved. Of the $1,261,130 PCOM receives, 140 federal work-study students who have been impacted by COVID will receive $465,582. The remaining $795,548 will be given as direct payment grants to Title IV-eligible students. PCOM has approximately 2,939 currently enrolled students who are eligible for Title IV funding and could potentially be eligible for funds if they are affected by COVID-19.

Source of funds

U.S. Department of Education

Awarded amount

Based on previous earning from Federal Work-Study - or - up to $1,500 per student per academic year.

Eligibility

In order to receive funding, the student must have been impacted by COVID for their Federal Work-Study earnings - or - be Title IV eligible (preferably a FAFSA on file in the current academic year), and demonstrate financial need.

Award methodology

PCOM has used the following methodology to award students until the funds were depleted:

  • Have received less in federal work-study compared to previous academic year - or -Title IV eligible.
  • Attested that they have emergency costs that have arisen due to coronavirus (COVID-19) in the 2021-2022 academic year.
  • Demonstrate financial need.
  • The amount up to what was earned previous to the pandemic.
Cost of attendance

This fund does not count toward a student's cost of attendance when awarded.

Disclosures

As of May 20, 2022, PCOM awarded $1,261,130 to 776 students in student grant funding from SAIHE.

Instructions, directions and guidance

The following email(s) are the date and correspondence that was sent to students who have received SAIHE funds.  PCOM relied on the previous correspondence and application for the rest of the funds.  A link for the application was also posted on myPCOM and this webpage.

Notes

These funds are not designed to be used for routine expenses or as a supplement to a student’s educational funding sources. Students who are experiencing long-term financial hardships due to a change in circumstances should contact their respective financial aid office to discuss a financial aid appeal.

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