CSCU Announces $25 million in direct payments to community college students

President Terrence Cheng today announced that the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system has completed the distribution of more than $3.6 million in emergency grants to community college students. Funded with federal COVID relief money, more than 2,400 students applied for and received $1,500 payments. The grants do not have to be repaid and can be used for any expense related to the cost of attendance.

“Many of our community college students are facing difficult financial situations, which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic,” said President Cheng. “In advance of the holidays and as students register for spring semester classes, these grants are a lifeline. We truly appreciate our federal partners for looking out for students at our public colleges and universities.”

In addition, CSCU has delivered the final payment in the previously announced Student Support Program, distributing more than $21 million to all students enrolled in community colleges as of December 1, 2021. The amount of each payment varies by institution based on enrollment and Pell counts before the pandemic.

CSCU institutions received $151 million in funding of federal funding to directly support students under the Higher Education Emergency Relief program, all of which must be expended by early 2022. This includes $64 million at the Connecticut State Universities, $760,000 at Charter Oak State College, and the $86 million Student Support Program at the community colleges. The disbursements to community college students this December are the final payments under this program.