About The CARES Act and the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)
On March 27, 2020, the federal government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act includes a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). A portion of HEERF funds must go directly to eligible students in the form of emergency financial aid grants for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 crisis (HEERF Student Share Grant Funds) .Students must have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for the HEERF Student Share Grant Funds.
1. CERTIFICATION AND AGREEMENT
The Institute signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the Institute has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
2. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT THE INSTITUTION WILL RECEIVE, OR HAS RECEIVED.
Pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs, the Institute received $135,637.00
3. OF THOSE FUNDS, THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS AS OF THE DATE OF REPORTING
The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants the Institute has distributed to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of submission is $83,914.00 in March 2021, and $51,723.00 in June 2021, totalling $135,637.00.
4. THE ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT THE INSTITUTION ELIGIBLE
The Institute estimates the total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs, is 161.
5. NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANT TO STUDENTS UNDER THE CRRSAA AND ARP (a)(1) AND (a)(4) PROGRAMS
The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs, is 160.
6. METHOD OF DETERMINING WHICH STUDENTS WOULD RECEIVE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANT TO STUDENTS UNDER THE CRRSAA AND ARP (a)(1) AND (a)(4) PROGRAMS
The Institute took the total population and the total amount of funds received, and distributed equally among all students enrolled.
7. INSTRUCTIONS, DIRECTIONS AND GUIDANCE REGARDING THE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANT
The Institute distributed gift cards from the financial aid office for those funds. The students were notified in person and the remainder of the students that were not available through in person contact were notified by text message. All students were also notified to pick up the funds from the financial aid office and the hours that someone would be available was also told to each eligible student. Once the student visited the office the funds were disbursed and a sign statement acknowledging that the funds came from the CARES ACT as a portion of the HEERF grant and receipt was acquired by the student.
About The CARES Act
On April 9, 2020, the Department of Education published documents related to the Emergency Financial Aid Grants, including a letter from Secretary Betsy DeVos, a form Certification and Agreement for institutions to sign and return to access the funds, and a list of institutional allocations under Section 18004(a)(1)of the CARES Act. The Certification and Agreement directs each institution applying for HEERF funds to comply with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act and submit an initial report to the Secretary thirty (30) days from the date of the institution's Certification and Agreement to the Department. Each HEERF participating institution must post the information listed below on the institution's primary website, as an initial report under Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act. This report is associated with approved information collection under OMB control number 1801-0005.
1. CERTIFICATION AND AGREEMENT
The Institute signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the Institute has used no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
2. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT THE INSTITUTION WILL RECEIVE, OR HAS RECEIVED.
Pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students, the Institute received $33,892.00
3. OF THOSE FUNDS, THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS AS OF THE DATE OF REPORTING
The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission is $29,945.00 as of July 5, 2020.
4. THE ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT THE INSTITUTION ELIGIBLE
The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.[1], is 60.
5. NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANT TO STUDENTS UNDER SECTION 18004(a)(1) OF THE CARES ACT
The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act., is 53.
6. METHOD OF DETERMINING WHICH STUDENTS WOULD RECEIVE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANT TO STUDENTS UNDER SECTION 18004(a)(1) OF THE CARES ACT
The Institute took the total population of students that were enrolled on March 14th, and ordered gift cards from Truist Bank. The amount equaled $565.00 per student.
7. INSTRUCTIONS, DIRECTIONS AND GUIDANCE REGARDING THE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANT
The Institute distributed gift cards from the financial aid office for those funds. There was a memo put by the time clock that instructed the students to visit the admin office for distribution of gift cards, and each student signed receipt of the cards.
