AWC disburses Cares Act funds to spring 2020 students

Grants to be direct-deposited, or mailed in check form

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona Western College (AWC) students enrolled in for-credit classes on March 13 of 2020 will receive stimulus funds as long as they qualify.

The CARE ACT Relief grants range from $100 to $800 depending on how many credit hours a student was registered for, are available for all students who qualify to be considered for Federal Financial Aid, whether or not they have ever received aid, or their families qualify for need-based aid.

According to AWC, students enrolled in 12 credit hours or more will receive $800; students enrolled in 9-11.5 will receive $500, students enrolled in 6-8.5 credits will receive $250 and those with less than 6 credits will receive $100.

The U.S. Department of Education does not allow these funds to be used for international students, undocumented students, non-matriculated (non-credit) students, dual-credit (currently in high school) students, or students enrolled in distance-only degree programs.  

AWC says students enrolled in a mixture of online and face-to-face classes will receive funds based on the non-online credit hours they are taking.

Students don’t need to apply for the grants, but the college is using current FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion to verify eligibility.

Students who have not completed a FAFSA this year will not receive a grant. Students have until August 1, 2020 to complete a FAFSA.

Payment for the Emergency Relief Fund will be made after the August 1 application deadline. Cares Act grants will be disbursed to direct deposit accounts or Bank Mobile accounts within two days of May 13 if a student has a current FAFSA application.

Students without a direct deposit account or Bank Mobile account will receive a paper check within 3 weeks of disbursement. Students can sign up for direct deposit using their checking account or creating an account, both with our partner Bank Mobile.

More information about the stimulus funding disbursements can be found at azwestern.edu/covid.