CC receives $930k from CARES Act

Clarendon College is receiving $929,717 from the CARES Act for expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interim President Tex Buckhaults reported the funding to the Board of Regents during their regular meeting last Thursday.

CC has been approved for the funding in three parts, he said. The first is $442,844 for students, and CC has identified 362 students who are eligible for the funding. The college is working to contact all of those individuals so they can apply before the deadline at the end of this month. CC will then begin awarding the funds in the first two weeks of June.

The second part of funding is institutional, Buckhaults said, and totals $442,843. Of that CC has already tapped about $157,000 for dorm and meal plan refunds for the spring semester. The college also plans to use part of that funding for scheduling software to reduce the need for students to stand in line for registration and financial aid, improved wifi capabilities, an improved text messaging system, and other expenses.

The third part totals $44,030 and can be used for “strengthening the institution.” Buckhaults told the Enterprise that money has not been designated for a specific purpose yet.

The college’s financial aid office also applied for and received about $10,000 in emergency funding for students personally adversely affected by the pandemic. About 18 students have been identified by the college as eligible for that funding but those funds cannot be dispersed until the financial aid director receives proper training on the program by the state.