FORT PIERCE — Indian River State College (IRSC) has disbursed more than $2.5 million in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) to 3,960 eligible IRSC students enrolled during the summer 2021 term. Earlier this month, the college used stimulus funding to forgive eligible past-due balances for 433 students enrolled at IRSC from March 13, 2020, through the spring 2021 semester. This brings total COVID-relief funds distributed to students by IRSC to nearly $7 million this year. The one-time awards are grants and do not have to be paid back by students.

Over $17 million in HEERF emergency aid for students has been allocated to IRSC through the federal American Rescue Plan. IRSC intends to award the remaining funds to eligible students throughout the 2021–2022 academic year to meet anticipated ongoing student financial needs due to the pandemic.

“We are going to do everything we can to keep our students focused on achieving the educational goals they have set out for themselves,” said IRSC President Dr. Timothy Moore. “Whatever we can do — from disbursing stimulus funds to keeping our food pantries stocked — we are going to do it. We can’t wait to have our students back on our campuses next week, and we are going to make every effort to help them stay the course.”

IRSC suggests that students enrolled for the fall 2021 term complete the FAFSA in preparation for the next disbursement of awards. IRSC bases its calculation for the distribution of awards on a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated in the FAFSA on file.

To learn more about the 2021 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and IRSC awards, disbursement, eligibility and other funding information, visit irsc.edu/financial-aid/cares-act.html.