Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act

On March 27, the president signed into law a $2 trillion relief and stimulus package – the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act includes $30.75 billion to assist postsecondary institutions in responding to COVID-19, including the ability to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.

Suncoast Technical College (STC) has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. STC has received its allocation of these funds and is prepared to send each Adult CTE student enrolled in a qualifying CTE program as of April 20, 2020, an equal share of the funds.

Thus far, STC has received $211,911 from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act has been $287,896.

STC has distributed these funds in the amount of $742 to each of the 388 eligible students. These 388 students were identified as being or could be eligible to participate in the Federal student financial aid programs under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and thus are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

The intent of these funds is to offset hardships that have arisen due to the pandemic and can be used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus including eligible expenses under a student's cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care.

We hope that these grant dollars will help you persevere through these extraordinary times. If you have had a change in address, please contact Student Services with an update so that we are sure to send the check to the correct address.