Thanks to the passage of the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, more than 1,500 Columbus Technical College students will soon receive $669. CARES Fund disbursement started this week, and students should receive the funds within the next few days.

“Each student has his or her own story about how the coronavirus made a negative financial impact in their lives,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Tara Askew. “Knowing they will see this helping hand makes a world of difference.”

There are strict guidelines associated with the disbursement of the CARES funds. In order for students to receive the funds, they must have been enrolled in at least one on-campus class as of March 16 of 2020, have been in a class that earns at least one credit hour in a program that leads to a certificate, diploma, or degree, and have a current FAFSA application on file. For a complete list of CARES eligibility and exclusions, visit the Financial Aid page on the Columbus Tech website.

There are currently more than 400 CTC students who have yet to complete a 2019-2020 FAFSA form. If that is completed by June 15, and the students meet the other requirements, they may be eligible. Columbus Tech has developed a plan to pay out over $1.5 million to qualified students over the next several months.