Nashville State to Disburse Federal Funding to Students

Nashville State Community College has been certified, received funding and will begin paying out to students the federal emergency financial assistance provided by Congress under the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The CARES Act payments will not affect students’ regular financial aid. Due to the disruption caused by COVID-19, the funds will help Nashville State students cover the cost of course materials, technology, health care and child care.

Using guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, plans for disbursement of payments were created through the strategic planning of the Tennessee Board of Regents and community and technical college presidents. As a result, Nashville State will be paying our funds to current Spring semester students now and the remainder during the Fall semester to help students continue and complete their educations.

“With the tornadoes, COVID-19, and the severe power outages from May 3, this has been an extremely challenging time for our students, but they have persisted because they are committed to investing in themselves,” said Nashville State’s President, Dr. Shanna L. Jackson. “Nashville State is disbursing these funds directly to students, so they can get a little relief.

”Checks will be mailed to students or direct deposited into their bank accounts. To expedite payment, students not currently enrolled in direct deposit are encouraged to do so as soon as possible by clicking here.

Nashville State has begun notifying students of details. Individual payments to students will vary, in part because the federal formula allocating funding to each college includes a factor weighted toward the percentage of its students receiving Pell Grants. Additionally, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos encouraged colleges “to prioritize students with the greatest need” while also considering funding levels “to ensure that these funds are distributed as widely as possible.”

Most degree-seeking full- and part-time students who were enrolled as of March 13 will receive the assistance. As outlined in the CARES Act, students enrolled at one college and taking one or more courses at another will receive payments only through their home college. High school students in dual-enrollment programs and employees in special-industry training programs at the colleges do not qualify for the program.

As part of the agreed upon state-wide plan, Nashville State will distribute 90 percent of the funds to eligible students (as outlined below) and 10 percent through special payments to students with additional need, through an application process.

Students with questions should email CARES@nscc.edu.

Students eligible for payments are:

• Degree-seeking students who were enrolled full- or part-time on or after March 13th for the Spring 2020 semester, with the following exceptions under federal regulations:
  • Students not eligible to participate in federal Title IV aid programs (Pell Grant, federal student loans, and other federal financial aid programs).
  • Students who initially enrolled exclusively in distance education courses as of March 13, 2020.
  • High school dual-enrollment students.
  • Non-degree-seeking students.
  • Employees in special-industry training programs at the colleges.