2021FallWarrior

College Returns to Normal Operations for Fall 2021 Semester

Masks continued to be required inside all classrooms and buildings for the fall semester. ECCC continued to provide en- hanced sanitation of classrooms and common areas, as well as increase the already abundant amount of hand san- itizing stations in all areas of campus. Those who were not been vaccinated were encouraged to do so, and the col- lege held two free vaccination clinics on campus during the fall for inter- ested students and staff.

semester. ECCC closed its campus to students and visitors at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, with classes transitioning to online and alternative delivery formats for the remainder of the spring and summer semesters. Campus was reopened in Fall 2020 with a combination of hybrid on-campus classes and online classes, limited student activities, and reduced attendance at athletics and other on- campus events. Recommended health and safety protocols were in place dur- ing all semesters.

East Central returned to normal operations beginning with the Fall 2021 Semester, including the return to a full schedule of traditional in-person classes, open facilities, enhanced stu- dent engagement opportunities, and full capacity at on-campus events. The return to normal operations also applied to the college’s centers in Philadelphia, Choctaw, Louisville, For- est, and Carthage. The move marked a return to pre-covid-19 operations for the first time since early in the spring 2020

ECCC Distributes More Than $6 Million in Federal Stimulus Funds to Students •

apply the funds to outstanding ac- count balances at the college. “For nearly 100 years, our col- lege has had the best interests of its students in mind,” said President Dr. Brent Gregory. “This is especially evident in how the college is choosing to distribute the federal funds we are receiving during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. “ECCC will continue to explore ap- propriate options for federal funding to positively impact our current and future students on their educational journey with us during these challeng- ing times.”

ECCC will have distributed HEERF funds as financial aid grants directly to students during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stimulus funds were available to all enrolled students each term, including full-time, part-time, online, and dual credit students. However, pri- ority was given to domestic students and those with demonstrated financial need based on Pell Grant awarded. Students could use the funds for their educational expenses at ECCC, for emergency costs incurred due to COVID-19, or other personal needs. Students also had the opportunity to

Over the past six academic terms, ECCC will have distributed more than $6 million in federal COVID-19 pandemic relief funds directly to its students. The funding comes from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF, stimulus packages passed by Congress as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide some relief from the economic fallout related to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Fall 2021 academic terms,

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