West Valley College acknowledges that we signed and submitted the Certification and Agreement form on April 12, 2020 to the Department of Education and intend to distribute 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
On April 25, 2021 West Valley College received $6,157,540.00 to be distributed as Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
As of December 30, 2021: $2,502,830 over three academic years, including:
| Funds Distributed | Academic Year |
|---|---|
| $913,000.00 | 2021-2022 |
| $1,381,630.00 | 2020-2021 |
| $674,950.00 | 2019-2020 |
While HEERF student share dollars are not considered Title IV financial aid, the Department of Education’s April 21, 2020 guidance states that students must meet requirements in Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to receive HEERF emergency grants. Based on the number of students we have awarded Title IV aid, the total number of students potentially eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants is approximately 8,974.
As of December 30, 2021: 3502 students over two academic years, including:
| Number of Students | Academic Year |
|---|---|
| 1,110 students (unduplicated) | 2021-2022 |
| 1,653 students (unduplicated) | 2020-2021 |
| 739 students (unduplicated) | 2019-2020 |
West Valley College utilized the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data and a local Emergency Needs Grant Application to determine student eligibility. Based on student enrollment, the per-student award amount varied between $250 and $2000.
The college updated the Emergency Cash Grants application to be in line with CARES Act requirements. Students who are experiencing financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic should contact the Student Needs department to apply for emergency funds. The application is posted on the college website and linked from other locations on the website.
May 6, 2020: The college released its first disbursement to students and provided additional disbursements during the following terms.
Students are notified by email when funds are disbursed or if an application is denied.