More than $6 billion in emergency funds to help students impacted by the novel coronavirus will be distributed "immediately" to colleges and universities, including Peninsula College, according to Department of Education (ED) Secretary Betsy DeVos.
The CARES Act provides institutions with significant discretion on how to award this emergency assistance to students. Peninsula College will receive $580,200 that could be allocated to students for expenses such as room and board, tuition, childcare, health care, food, and technology. Stakeholders from across campus will be meeting early next week to develop a plan for getting funds to students.
“We are quickly developing manageable and equitable distribution of these funds for our students. Disbursement is expected to begin shortly,” David Minger, Interim Associate Dean for Enrollment Services said. In a call with stakeholders on Thursday afternoon, Under Secretary Diane Jones said that funds could be sent to institutions as early as next Wednesday.
The funds are part of the more than $14 billion earmarked for colleges and universities as part of the Education Stabilization Fund included in the third coronavirus stimulus package, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump late last month.
For more information contact Peninsula College’s Financial Aid Director, Barbara Cloutier, at bcloutier@pencol.edu.