Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting
On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748), which provides emergency relief funds to organizations and individuals affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), found in Section 18004 of the CARES Act, provides funding to institutions of higher education. Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act requires institutions to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received from Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act directs institutions receiving funds under Section 18004 of the Act to submit (in a time and manner required by the Secretary) a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”). This is the first report describing Concordia College’s use of funds for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
1. Certification
Concordia College signed and returned to the Department of Education the Funding Certification and Agreement on April 24, 2020. Concordia College intends to use no less than 50% of the funds received under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
2. Award
Concordia College will receive a total of $1,590,356 under Section 18004(a)(1) of the HEERF. At least $795,178 will be distributed directly to students impacted by campus disruptions due to the coronavirus. These funds being from the Department of Education and pursuant to our Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
3. Funds Distributed
As of June 3, 2020, Concordia College has distributed $795,178 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
4. Student Eligibility
Per the guidance from the Department of Education at the time of distribution, Concordia College had approximately 1,550 students 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. Upon updated guidance from the Department of Education an additional 10 students were made eligible for a total of 1,560 students.
5. Student Recipients
As of June 3, 2020 Concordia College has distributed Emergency Financial Aid Grants to 1,560 students.
6. Methodology
Tiers representing students Expected Family Contribution (EFC) are used to determine how much funding students are to receive. Below are the tiers and corresponding amounts.
| EFC Range | $ Amount per student |
|---|---|
| $0-$6,999 | $725.00 |
| $7,000-$13,999 | $625.00 |
| $14,000-$20,999 | $500.00 |
| $21,000-$26,999 | $350.00 |
| $27,000 and up | $200.00 |
In addition, students were invited to apply for additional funding via survey from the division of Student Development and Campus Life. This survey was distributed three times (3/14/20; 3/25/20; 4/22/20) and students were able to request emergency funding related to expenses incurred due to coronavirus. Fund amounts between $20 - $725 per recipient were distributed to students from institutionally funded budgets and distributions made after March 27, 2020 were reimbursed with federal funding received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act per guidance from the Department of Education.
Funds were distributed directly to student accounts bypassing any outstanding balances and deposited via direct deposit to student bank accounts. Students for whom direct deposit was not set up, or for whom banking information was not available, had checks mailed to the home address on record.
7. Instructions Given to Students
This email was sent to all students eligible to receive funding under Section 18004(a)(1). These surveys were sent to all students.