Direct emergency aid helped thousands of Grossmont, Cuyamaca college students through pandemic
EL CAJON 鈥� More than $20 million in federal emergency aid has been disbursed to thousands
of students in the Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District since the COVID-19
pandemic began in March 2020, helping to cover basic needs and enable them to focus
on their education.
The aid, awarded directly to students as $500, $750, and $1,000 cash grants, has helped students pay a variety of expenses including books and supplies, housing expenses, food, clothing, transportation, and childcare. Some students have received more than one grant since the pandemic began in March 2020.
As of Sept. 29, more than 7,400 students at Cuyamaca College have received a total of $7,998,972 in direct cash grants. More than 12,000 students at Grossmont College students have received a total of $12,161,562. About $1.2 million in federal funding remains to disperse to Cuyamaca students, and about $9 million remains for Grossmont students.
Cuyamaca students who need emergency aid can apply through the Cuyamaca Cares Emergency Assistance Fund, at . Grossmont students can apply for aid at the college鈥檚 Emergency Grants web page at .
鈥淥ur students have had to juggle so much 鈥� transportation costs, grocery bills, rent, utility bills, childcare, health care 鈥� all at a time when many have lost their jobs or had their hours cut back during this pandemic,鈥� said Marsha Gable, Vice President of Student Services at Grossmont College. 鈥淚鈥檓 very happy we鈥檝e had the federal support to help our students make ends meet at a challenging time, so they can focus on their educations without as many worries as they might have without the aid.鈥�
Funding for emergency student aid has come through the federal government鈥檚 of 2020, of 2020, and the of 2021. This allowed for disbursements of funds to colleges and universities through the .
The federal emergency aid has helped college students around the country stay enrolled in classes, reduce stress, and increase their academic outcomes, . The study was based on a survey of 18,000 students and 321 institutions conducted by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators; NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education; and the consulting firm HCM Strategists. The study鈥檚 findings are published in the report,
Claudette Clark, a student who has attended both Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges and studies music performance, said the aid helped pay some basic bills at a critical time 鈥� between the time she lost work and unemployment benefits began arriving. Clark, like many people across the region and the country saw work evaporate as the pandemic began.
鈥淚t was at a time when uncertainty and hopelessness were rising,鈥� said Clark, who lives in Hillcrest. Clark received two $500 cash grants.
Jessica Robinson, Interim President at Cuyamaca College, said students shouldn鈥檛 have to choose between a warm meal on their table and their education. 鈥淭hey shouldn鈥檛 compete,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淭his is why we have these emergency grants.鈥�