Dear ASCC Student,

As part of the federal government's American Rescue Plan Act, 2021, the American Samoa Community College has been allocated additional funds to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).

This supplemental funding for students may be used for "any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care."^[1]

The ARPA supplemental funding is a federal program in which the U.S. government guidelines have instructed colleges/universities that , “The Department’s final rule on student eligibility for HEERF states that all students who are or were enrolled in an institution of higher education during the COVID-19 national emergency are eligible for emergency financial aid grants from the HEERF, regardless of whether they completed a FAFSA or are eligible for Title IV. That includes citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented students.”^[1]

The amount of the enclosed check is your Financial Aid Emergency Relief Fund.  If you should have any questions, please contact our office at 699 -9155, extension 308.

We continue to wish you well, and we hope that the financial assistance of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund will provide the needed support during these challenging times.

Sincerely,

Dr. Rosevonne Pato

ASCC President