Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds III (HEERF III)

Modesto Junior College (MJC) students experiencing financial difficulties due to the Coronavirus pandemic may be eligible to receive emergency aid in the form of a grant from the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 published on May 11, 2021.

The federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) stimulus bill includes additional emergency grants for students enrolled at Modesto Junior College.

Modesto Junior College received $18.3 million dollars under the American Rescue Plan to provide emergency grants to students.

This funding is intended to provide financial relief to MJC students who are experiencing a loss of income or added expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency financial aid grants may be used by students for any component of their cost of attendance, such as: tuition, food, housing, health care, mental health care, and/or child care.

Funding is primarily based on the number of high-need students, full-time enrollment, and total number of students eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.

Modesto Junior College is required to prioritize emergency grants to students with EXCEPTIONAL FINANCIAL NEED, such as those who are Pell Grant recipients. Eligibility for HEERF III funds will be determine based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act Application (CADAA) in order to have an EFC. All students are encouraged to submit a FAFSA or CADAA as soon as possible.

2022-2023

FALL 2022 FINAL DISBURSEMENT-

There will be one last final disbursement of HEERF III funds for the Fall 2022 semester. In order to be eligible for HEERF III funds in this last disbursement, students need to meet the following requirements:

Have a 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a 2022-2023 California Dream Act Application (CADAA) with an official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on file with the MJC Student Financial Services Office as of October 17, 2022.
Be actively enrolled as of October 17, 2022.

MJC will base the award amount on the student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and units enrolled. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number is used by MJC to calculate how much financial aid you are eligible to receive.

Students can find their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) amount on their Student Aid Report. To access your Student Aid Report, visit FAFSA.gov or on the CADAA Report.

FALL 2022 AWARD AMOUNTS

Tier	EFC	.5 to 8.5 units	9 to 11.5 units	12 + units
Tier 1	EFC = 0	$600	$900	$1,200
Tier 2	EFC = 1 – 6,205	$450	$675	$900
Tier 3	EFC = 6,205 – 10,000	$350	$525	$700
Tier 4	EFC = greater than 10,000 with unmet need	$250	$375	$500

Students eligible for this grant are eligible for the award amounts listed above based on enrollment and EFC criteria on October 17, 2022 for Fall 2022.

2021-2022

Modesto Junior College will award HEERF III funds in two rounds:

Fall 2021 - September 2021
Spring 2022 - February 2022

In order to be eligible for HEERF III funds, students need to meet the following requirements:

Have a 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a 2021-2022 California Dream Act Application (CADAA) with an official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on file with the MJC Student Financial Services Office as of September 22, 2021 for Fall 2021, and January 27, 2022 for Spring 2022
Be actively enrolled in courses at MJC at time of the disbursement

MJC will base the award amount on the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and units enrolled. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number is used by MJC to calculate how much financial aid you are eligible to receive.

Students can find their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) amount on their Student Aid Report. To access your Student Aid Report, visit FAFSA.gov or on the CADAA Report.

Award Amounts

Tier	EFC	.5 to 8.5 units	9 to 11.5 units	12 + units
Tier 1	EFC = 0	$700	$1,050	$1,400
Tier 2	EFC = 1 – 5,846	$500	$750	$1,000
Tier 3	EFC = 5,847 – 10,000	$400	$600	$800
Tier 4	EFC = greater than 10,000 with unmet need	$300	$450	$600

This is an emergency grant and not a loan. These funds do not have to be repaid.

For more information on the American Rescue Plan click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to complete any other form to receive the HEERF III emergency grant?

No additional form or application is required. Students will be awarded automatically based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on the FAFSA/CADAA and enrollment status.

When will grants be disbursed?

Our goal is to distribute the funds as soon as possible. Applications will be prioritized based on the tiers. We will process Tier 1 first, followed by Tier 2, Tier 3 and finally Tier 4.

Students in the above categories will be notified of their award via their MJC student email account. Modesto Junior College does not guarantee that all students will receive funding.

How much will I receive?

Funds are limited. Amounts will be determined based on EFC and enrolled units. Please refer to the chart above.

Students eligible for this grant are eligible for the award amounts listed above based on enrollment and EFC criteria on September 22, 2021 for Fall 2021, January 27, 2022 for Spring 2022 and October 17, 2022 for Fall 2022.

Modesto Junior College does not guarantee that all students will receive funding.

What if I don’t have a FAFSA or CADAA on file for 2021-2022?

Students may still submit a FAFSA or CADAA application. The deadline to submit a FAFSA or CADAA application for the 2021-2022 academic year is June 30, 2022. If you submit your FAFSA/CADAA after September 22, 2021, the award will NOT be retroactively paid for Fall 2021. If you submit your FAFSA/CADAA after January 27, 2022, the award will NOT be retroactively paid for Spring 2022.

MJC Student Financial Services will process new HEERF III request once a semester.

FAFSA

CADAA

May I request a second grant?

No, students are eligible for funding only once a semester.

What expenses can I use the HEERF III funding to help with?

Students may use these funds for any component of a student's cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus such as:

Tuition
Food
Housing
Course materials
Healthcare
Child care
Technology-related expenses (such buying a computer)

Can I decline or return funds if I did not experience any COVID-19 expenses?

Yes, students may decline and/or return funds. Send an email to mjc_finaid@mjc.edu requesting to cancel the grant.

How do students receive the money?

Students will receive funds via their Bank Mobile account. Students need to make sure their accounts are set up.

What if I owe a balance to Modesto Junior College for tuition or other fees?

Modesto Junior College will not hold any funds to pay any outstanding balance. These funds will go directly to students. However, students may choose to use these funds to pay any outstanding balance.

How do I apply for a financial aid re-evaluation?

If your financial circumstances have changed, you are able to submit a Special Circumstance request to be consider for a re-evaluation of your financial aid eligibility. Please note the outcome of your request will not change the initial HEERF III grant amount; however, it may affect your eligibility for federal and state grant.

Who can I contact on campus, if I have questions regarding the HEERF III emergency financial aid grant?

If you have any questions or concerns, please email Student Financial Services at mjc_finaid@mjc.edu

Total number of students who received the HEERF III grants:

As of October 8, 2021, 7,180 students received a HEERF III grant.

As of October 22, 2021, an additional 160 students received a HEERF III grant.

As of November 4, 2021, an additional 11 students received a HEERF III grant.

As of February 10, 2022, an additional 7,710 students received a HEERF III grant.

As of November 7, 2022, an additional 8,223 students received a HEERF III grant.

As of February 28, 2023, an additional 37 students received a HEERF III grant.

Total amount of HEERF III grants distributed to students:

As of October 8, 2021, $6,223,550 were distributed to students.

As of October 22, 2021, an additional $106,250 were distributed to students.

As of November 4, 2021, an additional $7,300 were distributed to students.

As of February 10, 2022, an additional $6,501,250 were distributed to students.

As of November 7, 2022, an additional $6,124,850 were distributed to students.

As of February 28, 2023, an additional $14,800 were distributed to students.

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