OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Dec. 15, 2021 – Oakland Community College will be giving a minimum of $400 for every student who registers for Winter 2022 semester, with many students qualifying for additional funds. The funds are provided through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and do not need to be repaid.  

Once students register for winter 2022 classes, they can apply for this “no-strings-attached” money as part of a Federal program designed to assist in continuing their education during the COVID-19 pandemic. All students will receive a minimum of $400 and additional money may be awarded based on other factors including credit load and financial need. Money will be directly awarded to students and can be used to cover tuition, fees, transportation, technology, childcare or other related educational expenses.??

“An additional $8-million is available for our students is a continuation of the program we provided for students in the fall semester. The good news is that these funds are not a student loan and students are not required to pay the funds back,” said Chancellor Peter Provenzano, Jr. “With OCC’s in-district rate of $99 a credit hour, the minimum $400 award is equivalent to getting a free four-credit class.”

The deadline for students to apply for these free funds is Jan. 25, 2022, with funds being disbursed directly to students the week of Jan. 31, 2022.  

Provenzano encourages student to take advantage of these funds to further their goals stating, “It’s a great time to be an OCC student.”

For more information about the free funds, students should visit https://www.oaklandcc.edu/coronavirus/relief-fund.aspx.