Sonoma State University sent an email out to all students last Friday, announcing that the University recently received $4.5 million for student emergency grants that will prioritize students with greater financial needs.

The email sent by SSU’s Director of Financial Aid, F. Shannon Little, read, “Sonoma State students who are eligible for federal financial aid and have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of less than $5,712 as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, will be receiving a CRRSAA grant amount that is determined by the student’s EFC and the number of units they are enrolled in this semester.”

The University received a grant award in Jan. from the Department of Education for $13.9 million of which $4.5 million will go to students as COVID-19 relief funds through the student emergency grants.

As stated on the SSU Financial Aid Office webpage, “These funds will be used to assist with the financial impact of the pandemic on the University and its students. As part of the grant allocation, $4,546,724, will go directly to students in the form of emergency financial aid grants to help with expenses related to COVID-19, including increased costs for housing, food, course materials, technology, health care and childcare.”

The U.S. Department of Education announced on Jan. 14 that through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), a total of $21.2 billion was going to be sent to institutions of higher education across the country of which $2.83 billion would go to California colleges and universities. CRRSAA was signed into law in Dec. 2020 by former President Donald Trump.

A statement released on Jan. 14 by the Department of Education Press Office stated, “Public and non-profit schools can use their awards for financial aid grants to students, student support activities, and to cover a variety of institutional costs, including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, faculty and staff trainings, and payroll.”

The COVID-19 pandemic left many students struggling financially to keep up with educational expenses, prompting many to drop out or take a gap year. These grants were released with the hopes that they could provide students with the aid to continue their education.

Zane Sheckherd, a third-year Criminal Justice major at SSU and recipient of the grant said, “The grant helped me a lot and I’m blessed to have received it but I wish that every student received something regardless if they get FAFSA or not because these times are hard for everyone. I’m

always grateful for something that helps my family or me, whether it’s groceries for the week or paying the next bill with grants like this, it makes everything possible.”

Shauna Jackson, a third-year Communications major at SSU shares a similar sentiment after receiving the grant, expressing that it has taken a lot of stress off of paying this last month’s bills and actually given her the chance to do something nice for herself and her mom.

Students who do not qualify for the CRRSAA funds may still be eligible for other grant programs such as CSU CARES which can be applied for through the California Dream Act Application. More information on the financial aid opportunities available to SSU students can be found on the University’s Financial Aid Office webpage.