Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) 

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) is federal legislation that provided NWCC with $2,893,508 for emergency grants to students.  The funds support students’ emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus such as tuition, food, housing, and health care (including mental health care).

The ranger alert and email were sent on February 26, 2021 notifying 5,893 students identified as being eligible to receive federal funds from HEERF II.  Between March 4-14, 2021 the college will issue the full $2,893,508 to BankMobile for the identified students.  Students will also receive follow-up emails from the Business Office.  Students who do not select a distribution method via BankMobile will receive a paper check mailed to them from BankMobile, which can cause a delay in receiving the funds.

The CRRSAA directed these funds to go to students with exceptional financial needs, such as those eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.  To determine students who are Pell-eligible or have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Northwest reviewed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) documentation to determine student eligibility.  The following tiers were established by NWCC based on student’s EFC as of February 24, 2021:

1. Tier I will receive $900 with an EFC of 0-3,800
2. Tier II will receive $600 with an EFC-3,801-5,711
3. Tier III will receive $300 with an EFC-5,712- or no FAFSA on file with the College

NWCC received $2,893,508 for student aid emergency grants.  The remainder of the CRRSAA HEERF II funds will be used to help support the college’s coronavirus response measures including defraying expenses associated with coronavirus.

There is no application process to receive the emergency grant funds.  5,893 students are eligible to receive the grant funds.

Northwest Mississippi Community College’s total allocation was delivered to BankMobile, the College’s student account partner, for disbursement. Depending on the student’s disbursement preference, these funds were either electronically deposited into their individual bank accounts, BankMobile account, or mailed a paper check. Students who did not select a BankMobile distribution preference will be issued paper checks from BankMobile, which can cause a delay in receiving the funds. 

Yes. This is a change from the previous policy set by Congress under the CARES Act.

No. Any funds a student receives from the CRRSAA HEERF II will not need to be repaid.

Yes. The funds are for the students to use however they see fit but are intended for unexpected expenses, unmet financial need, or expenses related to the disruption of campus operations resulting from the coronavirus. These include expenses for food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, or childcare. Northwest chose to put the money directly into the hands of its students so that they may choose how to best use these funds. It is intended that the students use the grant to cover expenses incurred on or after December 27, 2020, the date the CRRSAA was enacted.

No. Distribution of CRRSAA HEERF II Student Aid funds is made directly to students and not applied by Northwest toward any outstanding balances that may still be owed by the student. As such, receipt of these funds does not indicate the recipient has satisfied their financial obligations to Northwest Mississippi Community College for any charges incurred during the Spring 2021 term or any terms prior. Please check your current student account balance on your MyNWCC account.

If you have set up your BankMobile preference please log in to your account at RefundSelection.com. Your username is your official Northwest Mississippi Community College email address. EX:  Adam Jones, username: ajones3456@northwestms.edu, password: 123456. 

If you have not established your BankMobile preference below are the steps to set up your account preference:

1. Visit RefundSelection.com and select “Need a Code?”
2. Enter “Northwest Mississippi Community College” in the School Name field.
3. Enter your Student ID Number in the College ID Number field.
4. Enter your Official Northwest email address in the Email Address field.
5. If you have not previously created a BankMobile profile, you will be asked to confirm your name and if you would like to have a code sent to your email. Select Yes.
6. Check your Northwest email for the code to begin the BankMobile fund delivery preference.

*Your personal code expires 24 hours after you receive it.  Please promptly select your fund delivery preference through BankMobile.  After selecting one of the two fund delivery preferences from BankMobile, you will be able to see the status of your pending disbursement.

If you have forgotten your login credentials or are experiencing difficulties resetting your password please contact BankMobile directly at 1(877) 327-9515.  If you have additional questions regarding BankMobile feel free to contact the Business Office at businessoffice@northwestms.edu or (662) 562-3207.

The Grant Award Notice from the U.S. Department of Education issued up to $19,124,569 in HEERF III institution and student grant funds.  The college is eligible to receive $9,709,111 to support student emergency grants.  Additionally, NWCC received $9,415,458 for institutional purposes.

HEERF III emergency grants will be issued to eligible students by October 20.

Spring semester HEERF III emergency grants will be issued to eligible students by March 11, 2022.

The ARP directed these funds to go to students with exceptional financial needs, such as those eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.  To determine students who are Pell-eligible or have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC), Northwest will review the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) documentation to determine student eligibility. A tier based on student’s EFC as of September 17, 2021 will determine the amount of emergency grant that each degree seeking student will receive. The FASFA is not required to be on file to receive ARP funds. NWCC will use the FASFA to determine students with the greatest needs. 

The ARP directed these funds to go to students with exceptional financial needs, such as those eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.  To determine students who are Pell-eligible or have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC), Northwest will review the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) documentation to determine student eligibility. A tier based on student’s EFC as of March 4, 2022 will determine the amount of emergency grant that each degree seeking student will receive. The FASFA is not required to be on file to receive ARP funds. NWCC will use the FASFA to determine students with the greatest needs. 

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has affected many families financially. To support those financial circumstances Northwest Mississippi Community College can assist students with a professional judgement to your original Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Financial Aid Office at NWCC will help students with their FAFSA adjustments. A financial aid counselor may exercise professional judgement and change elements in the federal needs analysis to account for circumstances that have not been adequately considered in the original FAFSA.

Conditions that may merit the use of Professional Judgement include:

• Cost of Attendance Increase Requests;
• Dependency Status Appeal Requests; and
• FAFSA Review Requests.

Professional judgment forms are available to print from the NW website under financial aid then student forms. An independent student will use the student special circumstance form and a dependent student will use the parent special circumstance form. You MUST return your completed special circumstance form and all required documentation to the NWCC Financial Aid Office. Make sure to write a summary of your special circumstance and attach it to the form. Your request will not be considered unless you provide adequate and appropriate documentation. The deadline to receive a professional judgement from Financial Aid is September 17th, 2021. 

Spring semester Professional judgement forms are due to the Financial Aid office by March 3, 2022.

Contact information:

We estimated roughly 6.000 students were eligible for the ARP HERE III Student Aid Funds in Fall 2021.

We estimate roughly 4,200 students will be eligible for the ARP HEERF III Student Aid Funds in Spring 2022.

NWCC will disburse $9,709,111 emergency grants over the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters.

Below is the Tier breakdown of the Fall 2021 disbursement:

The Spring 2022 Tier breakdown of the Spring 2022 disbursement:

Northwest Mississippi Community College’s total allocation was delivered to BankMobile, the College’s student account partner, for disbursement. Depending on the student’s disbursement preference, these funds were either electronically deposited into their individual bank accounts, BankMobile account, or mailed a paper check. Students who did not select a BankMobile distribution preference will be issued paper checks from BankMobile, which can cause a delay in receiving the funds. 

No application is required for students to receive HEERF III emergency grants.  The funds will automatically be sent to students by October 25, 2021.  An email to student’s NWCC email account was sent on October 18 concerning the amount students would receive from the grant.

There will be no application for students to recieve HEERF III Emergency grants for the Spring Semester. The funds will automatically be sent to students by March 11,2022. Emails will be sent to students NWCC email accounts announcing the amount students will recieve for the Spring semster distribution. 

NWCC based the amount students received on the 2021 Estimated Family Contribution listed on the FAFSA.  Students were eligible to adjust the FAFSA based on hardship until September 17, 2021. 

Students were eligible to adjust FAFSA based on hardship until March 3, 2022.

Funds were student to students BankMobile accounts.

If you have set up your BankMobile preference please log in to your account at RefundSelection.com. Your username is your official Northwest Mississippi Community College email address; this is the first initial of your first name, full last name, and last four digits of your student ID, @northwestms.edu. For example: Adam Jones, student ID #123456; ajones3456@northwestms.edu.

If you have not established your BankMobile preference, below are the steps to set up your account preference:

1. Visit RefundSelection.com and select “Need a Code?”

2. Enter “Northwest Mississippi Community College” in the School Name field.

3. Enter your Student ID Number in the College ID Number field.

4. Enter your Official Northwest email address in the Email Address field.

5. If you have not previously created a BankMobile profile, you will be asked to confirm your name and if you would like to have a code sent to your email. Select Yes.

6. Check your Northwest email for the code to begin the BankMobile fund delivery preference.

*Your personal code expires 24 hours after you receive it. Please promptly select your fund delivery preference through BankMobile. After selecting one of the two fund delivery preferences from BankMobile, you will be able to see the status of your pending disbursement.

If you have forgotten your login credentials or are experiencing difficulties resetting your password, please contact BankMobile directly at 1 (877) 327-9515. If you have additional questions regarding BankMobile feel free to contact the Business Office at businessoffice@northwestms.edu or (662) 562-3207.