CARES Act - HEERF Report

GTU HEERF Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report

The Department of Education has provided a quarterly budget and expenditure reporting form for the Cares Act Institutional Portion of HEERF. Institutions are required to publish the report to their website beginning on October 30, 2020, and then quarterly thereafter. To view the most recent GTU’s HEERF Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reports, please click below. For older reports click on the arrow below.

GTU HEERF Quarterly Student Report

Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE) April 10, 2022 Quarterly Report Reporting Period: January 1, 2022-March 31, 2022 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II)

On March 29, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a notice announcing the availability of funds under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE). The SAIHE program supports Institutions that the Secretary determines, after allocating funds under section 314(a) of the CRRSAA, have unmet need related to the coronavirus.

There are seven priority groups that ED has categorized as meeting the statutory focus of having additional need related to institutional and student costs associated with the coronavirus. The GTU falls under priority group 7 which provides additional support to institutions with high percentages of graduate students. Under this priority, ED is awarding funds to eligible institutions for which graduate students are 90 percent or more of their student population.

On April 26, 2021, the GTU’s President signed the SAIHE Program Profile Information Form and a Certification and Agreement certifying that the allocation will be used in accordance with the CARES Act and all other applicable federal laws. The Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment completed the online application and uploaded the SAIHE Program Profile and the Certification Agreement using the Grants.gov portal. 

The certifying official and project director received a Grant Award Notification (GAN) from ED on August 24, 2021 authorizing an allocation of $85,255 to be distributed between July 31, 2021 and July 31, 2022. ED used the number of graduate students enrolled at the GTU as reported on the SAIHE Program Profile Information Form to calculate the allocation.

Project Award Number: P425S210061

Certifying Official: Uriah Kim, President

Recipient Project Director: Chaitanya Motupalli, Director of Student Life and International Student & Scholars

Education Program Contact: Mose Cartier II, Department of ED

Any student continuously enrolled at the GTU in spring 2022 who experienced hardship due to the coronavirus and whose expenses were incurred after March 13, 2020, the date of the declaration of the national emergency (85 FR 15337), is eligible. Furthermore, ED’s final rule on student eligibility for HEERF states that all students enrolled in an institution of higher education during the COVID-19 national emergency are eligible regardless of whether or not they completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or are Title IV eligible, including U.S. citizens, eligible non-citizens and international students. 

The Emergency Relief Fund Committee, comprised of the Associate Dean of Students, the Director for Student Life and the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment, identified 200 degree students actively registered for the spring 2022 term and confirmed their enrollment statuses to ensure all eligible students were given the opportunity to apply.

The Director for Student Life sent an email inviting these students to apply online for emergency aid (See Appendix A). A total of 37 students applied of which 10 were U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens and 27 were international.

In accordance with section 314(c) of the CRRSAA, the GTU must use these emergency funds to make financial grants to students and may be used for any component of their Cost of Attendance (COA) for emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus such as tuition, food, housing, healthcare (including mental healthcare), or childcare.

The SAIHE program under the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as those who have faced significant unexpected expenses that affect their financial circumstances, such as the loss of employment, reduced income, and food or housing insecurity. The CRRSAA guidelines are similar to the CARES Act however the cost of tuition may be considered as an allowable expense.

The Emergency Relief Fund Committee convened several times to discuss and ensure that the rubric was fair and equitable and deliberated these requests to verify that all claimed expenses were eligible as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Students were ranked according to their most urgent need and the amount of their request. Highest priority was given to those with housing, income and childcare expenses, followed by those with books and supplies expenses, and least priority was given to tuition support and non-emergency travel expenses but would be considered if funding allowed. The committee was able to fund all requests for emergency aid.

Grant distributions ranged between $400 and $900 and an email was sent to all recipients to notify them of their aid (see Appendix B). Emergency aid was disbursed by the Business Office on March 22, 2022.

ED guidelines stipulate that the GTU must receive affirmative consent before using emergency aid to satisfy an outstanding account balance. For that reason, the Director for Student Life and International Students & Scholars notified the students who requested that the grant credit to their student account and to confirm with them how they wished to receive their aid; posted directly to their student account to offset a tuition balance or by check or direct deposit.

The Financial Aid Office added the emergency grants to student records utilizing the GTU’s Financial Aid Management System (FAMS). To ensure accuracy, a report was generated and shared with the Associate Dean of Students and the Director for Student Life and International Students & Scholars to confirm the totals for each recipient. A final crosscheck was performed by the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment.

Of the $85,255 allocation, the remaining $24,155 was distributed and a total amount of $61,100 was previously distributed and reported on the prior quarterly report on January, 10, 2022, report period: October 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021.

Prior to sending disbursement files to the Business Office for final processing, the Financial Aid Office provided an Anticipated Aid report of all emergency aid recipients to cross-check charges against financial aid and to calculate a balance due or a credit refund. The report identified those who requested that their aid post to directly to their student account to offset a balance due. Emergency aid was disbursed by the Business Office on March 22, 2022.

 

Appendix A

Dear All,

 We are in the process of disbursing the remaining funds from the Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE) Program of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021 (CRRSAA). This funding allows us to provide federal grants to students (both domestic and international) that are registered full-time for the Spring 2022 term for the following purposes:

1) To cover any component of the student’s cost of attendance (COA); and

2) Emergency costs that might have arisen due to Coronavirus, such as but not limited to tuition, food, housing, health care, mental health care, or childcare. 

These grants will range from $ 300 to $ 500 (with rare exceptions made based on the applicant’s circumstances) and are not considered as institutional financial aid. Receiving these grants will not impact your financial aid eligibility. 

 If you wish to apply for these grants, please submit this application (you can also access the application using this link: https://forms.gle/EUsRGKqNFai7CJk3A) by 5 pm on Monday the 28th of February 2022. Please read the application thoroughly before filling it out. 

                                                                                                                
                                            Appendix B

Dear Student,

Thank you for applying for the grants made possible by the Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE)! The GTU’s Emergency Relief Fund Committee carefully reviewed your application and approved a payment of $ XXX.XX to meet the emergency needs highlighted therein. 

 The grant will be disbursed as requested via a check or a direct deposit if you have already set it up with the business office. Please expect the disbursements to happen within the next two weeks. If you do not receive a check or direct deposit before the end of this month, please do let me know.

 The committee sincerely hopes this grant will help provide some relief during this challenging time.

 

GTU HEERF Quarterly Student Report

Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE) January 10, 2022 Quarterly Report Reporting Period: October 1, 2021-December 31, 2021 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II)

On March 29, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a notice announcing the availability of funds under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE). The SAIHE program supports Institutions that the Secretary determines, after allocating funds under section 314(a) of the CRRSAA, have unmet need related to the coronavirus.

There are seven priority groups that ED has categorized as meeting the statutory focus of having additional need related to institutional and student costs associated with the coronavirus. The GTU falls under priority group 7 which provides additional support to institutions with high percentages of graduate students. Under this priority, ED is awarding funds to eligible institutions for which graduate students are 90 percent or more of their student population.

On April 26, 2021, the GTU’s President signed the SAIHE Program Profile Information Form and a Certification and Agreement certifying that the allocation will be used in accordance with the CARES Act and all other applicable federal laws. The Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment completed the online application and uploaded the SAIHE Program Profile and the Certification Agreement using the Grants.gov portal.

The certifying official and project director received a Grant Award Notification (GAN) from ED on August 24, 2021 authorizing an allocation of $85,255 to be distributed between July 31, 2021 and July 31, 2022. ED used the number of graduate students enrolled at the GTU as reported on the SAIHE Program Profile Information Form to calculate the allocation.

Project Award Number: P425210061

Certifying Official: Uriah Kim, President

Recipient Project Director: Chaitanya Motupalli, Director of Student Life and International Student & Scholars

Education Program Contact: Mose Cartier II, Department of ED

Any student continuously enrolled at the GTU in Fall 2021 who experienced hardship due to the coronavirus and whose expenses were incurred after March 13, 2020, the date of the declaration of the national emergency (85 FR 15337), is eligible. Furthermore, ED’s final rule on student eligibility for HEERF states that all students enrolled in an institution of higher education during the COVID-19 national emergency are eligible regardless of whether or not they completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or are Title IV eligible, including U.S. citizens, eligible non-citizens and international students.

The Financial Aid Office identified 177 degree students actively registered for the Fall 2021 term and the Associate Dean of Students confirmed their enrollment statuses to ensure all eligible students were given the opportunity to apply. Due to the limited allocation, the determination was made by the Emergency Relief Fund Committee to limit the applicant pool only to students who are currently enrolled.

The Director for Student Life and International Students & Scholars sent an email inviting these students to apply online for emergency aid based on their individual circumstances (See Appendix A). A total of 44 students applied of which 16 were U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens and 28 were international.

In accordance with section 314(c) of the CRRSAA, the GTU must use these emergency funds to make financial grants to students and may be used for any component of their Cost of Attendance (COA) for emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus such as tuition, food, housing, healthcare (including mental healthcare), or childcare.

The SAIHE program under the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as those who have faced significant unexpected expenses that affect their financial circumstances, such as the loss of employment, reduced income, and food or housing insecurity. The CRRSAA guidelines are similar to the CARES Act however the cost of tuition may be considered as an allowable expense.

The Emergency Relief Fund Committee, comprised of the Associate Dean of Students, the Director for Student Life and International Students & Scholars and the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment, convened several times to discuss and ensure that the rubric was fair and equitable and deliberated these requests to verify that all claimed expenses were eligible as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students were ranked according to their most urgent need and the amount of their request. Highest priority was given to those with housing, income and childcare expenses, followed by those with books and supplies expenses, and least priority was given to tuition support and non-emergency travel expenses but would be considered if funding allowed.

Domestic student grants ranged between $600 and $800. International students were granted a standard amount of $1,000 given that they do not have the option to borrow federal student loans. The Emergency Relief Fund Committee was able to fund all requests for emergency aid. Of these requests, an amount of $39,500 was distributed and an email was sent to all recipients to notify them of their aid and the amount granted (see Appendix B).

ED guidelines stipulate that the GTU must receive affirmative consent before using emergency aid to satisfy an outstanding account balance. For that reason, the Director for Student Life and International Students & Scholars notified the students who requested that the grant credit to their student account and to confirm with them how they wished to receive their aid; posted directly to their student account to offset a tuition balance or by check or direct deposit.

The GTU received a CARES Act HEERF Tranche 2 Institutional Share GAN on May 12, 2020 authorizing an allocation of $29,534 of to be used between May 11, 2020 and May 10, 2021. The GTU’s CFO and VP for Finance, designated $21,600 of the allocation to be used for grants to students. Six students who applied for the student share of HEERF were granted emergency aid ranging from $300 to $5,300 that was distributed from September 9, 2020 to October 30, 2020 (See GTU HEERF Quarterly Report, Emergency Federal Financial Aid Grants – Institutional Share).

Due to costs related to the E-Lab that were not anticipated, in consultation with the GTU’s CFO and VP for Finance, this distribution of student emergency grants was redirected to the SAIHE allotment. Prior to redirecting these funds, the Financial Aid Office confirmed that these students qualified for emergency aid under the SAIHE eligibility requirements.

A total amount of $61,100 in SAIHE funding has been distributed to date with $24,155 remaining. Our intent is to allow for the opportunity to designate additional funds in late fall and early spring to students who have not previously applied and to those who express a need for additional emergency aid as students continue to experience financial hardships throughout this ongoing pandemic.

The Financial Aid Office added the emergency grants to student records utilizing the GTU’s Financial Aid Management System (FAMS). To ensure accuracy, a report was generated and shared with the Associate Dean of Students and the Director for Student Life and International Students & Scholars to confirm the totals for each recipient. A final crosscheck was performed by the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment prior to sending disbursement files to the Business Office for final processing.

The Financial Aid Office provided an Anticipated Aid report to the Business Office of all emergency aid recipients to cross-check charges against financial aid and to calculate a balance due or a credit refund. The report identified those who requested that their aid post to directly to their student account to offset a balance due. Emergency aid was disbursed by the Business Office to students between November 11 and November 23, 2021.

The Office of Postsecondary Education published guidance in January 2021 reminding financial aid administrators that they may make use of the professional judgment (PJ) adjustment authority as needed. The Financial Aid Office may use PJ to adjust data that determines a student’s EFC however, there must be a significant change in order to be considered for PJ. The recalculation may result in a revision to the EFC and any significant change may result in additional need-based aid. The FAO may also use PJ to make adjustments to costs within the COA components that may result in borrowing additional federal student loans.

As the GTU has limited need-based institutional aid available, U.S. citizen and eligible non-citizen applicants were evaluated by the Financial Aid Office to determine if a PJ was warranted based on COA elements in cases where their request was greater than the amount granted. It was determined that no adjustments were necessary. All of the students borrowed up to their unsubsidized eligibility and have the latitude in their COA for additional funds. These students may request additional SAIHE emergency aid or initiate the Graduate PLUS loan process.

Appendix A

Dear All,

 GTU has recently received funding through the Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE) Program of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021 (CRRSAA). This funding allows us to provide federal grants to students (both domestic and international) for the following purposes:

1) To cover any component of the student’s cost of attendance (COA); and

2) Emergency costs that might have arisen due to Coronavirus, such as but not limited to tuition, food, housing, health care, mental health care, or childcare.

 These grants will range from $ 400 to $ 800 (with some exceptions made based on the applicant’s circumstances) and not be considered institutional financial aid or affect financial aid eligibility.

 If you wish to apply for these grants, please submit this application (you can also access the application using this link: https://forms.gle/R63V9h2745NCA5pcA) by 5 pm on Friday the 22nd of October 2021.

                                                                       
                                                                                                                                     Appendix B

Dear Student,

 Thank you for applying for grants made possible by the Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE)! The GTU’s Emergency Relief Fund Committee has carefully reviewed your application and approved a payment of $XXX.XX to meet the emergency needs highlighted therein. The funds will be disbursed as requested in your application.

 The committee sincerely hopes this grant will help provide some relief during this challenging time.
 

GTU HEERF Quarterly Student Report

Graduate Theological Union Reporting for American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) July 10, 2021 Quarterly Report Period: April 1, 2021-June 30, 2021 Financial assistance to students

On March 11, 2021, the President signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This most recent coronavirus relief package provides an additional $40 billion to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

At least half of an institution’s allocation under ARP (a)(1), HEERF III, must be used to make emergency financial aid grants to students (the Student Aid Portion); the remainder may be used for institutional purposes (Institutional Portion). ARP requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need in awarding grants to students.

All students who are or were enrolled in an institution of higher education on or after the date of the declaration of the national emergency due to the coronavirus (March 13, 2020) are eligible for emergency financial aid grants from the HEERF, regardless of whether they completed a FAFSA or are eligible for Title IV. That includes citizens, permanent residents, and international students.

On May 24,2021 the U.S. Department of ED issued updated written guidance in their Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III Frequently Asked Questions, to clarify whether or not undocumented, DACA or International students may receive these funds. The new guidance allows any individual who is or was enrolled at an eligible institution on or after March 13, 2020, the date of declaration of the national emergency due to the coronavirus to receive HEERF funds.

Emergency financial aid grants may be used by students for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or childcare. Students determine how they may use their emergency financial aid grant within the allowable uses.

Institutions who previously received HEERF funding are not required to submit a Certification and Agreement for HEERFIII. (The Certification and Agreement for approval was signed and submitted on April 21, 2020.)

The GTU received notification for a student allocation of $66,218.

Applicants must be enrolled in the spring 2021 term and expenses must have incurred after March 16, 2020; the date that the Shelter in Place order was put into effect in Alameda County. The Director of Student Life sent an email inviting students to apply.

Of  152 eligible students, 40 applied and were awarded on April 20, 2021. Student awards ranged between $600 and $8,700 depending on the student’s request and the amount of funds available. The total amount of emergency grants distributed is $66,218 as of June 30, 2021.

Funds were applied directly to the student’s account for those to selected “Yes” to the student authorization section of the application. Students who opted not to apply the funds to their student account were issued a check. Consideration was given to those with the highest tuition balance, and other factors such as requested amount, the number of family members in their household, if the student is employed, and if the student is the sole or primary provider. Priority consideration was given to those having difficulty with paying their outstanding balance.

The GTU agrees that all employees and contractors will continue to be paid during the period of any disruptions or closures in compliance with Section 18006 of the CARES Act.

 

GTU HEERF Quarterly Student Report

Graduate Theological Union Reporting for Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) HEERF II July 10, 2021 Quarterly Report Period: April 1, 2021-June 30, 2021 Financial assistance to students

On December 27, 2020, the President signed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) (P.L. 116-260). This new law gives the U.S. Department of ED approximately $22.7 billion to distribute to institutions of higher education in order to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus through HEERF.

CRRSAA section 314 (a)(1) Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act is a continuation of the CARES Act Section 18004 (a)(1) program which the department implemented as two funding streams: The Student Aid Portion for financial grants to students and Institutional Portion for institutional uses of funds related to the coronavirus.

Grant awards under this new program may be used to defray costs associated with coronavirus (including lost revenue reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, faculty and staff trainings, and payroll); carry out student support activities authorized by the HEA that address needs related to coronavirus; or provide financial aid grants to students (including students exclusively enrolled in distance education), which may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus such as tuition, housing, food, health care, or childcare. The institution must prioritize students with exceptional need.

Section 314 (d)(8) of the CRRSAA does not require institutions that previously received grants under section 18004 (a)(1) of the CARES Act to submit a new or revised application to receive funding. The Department will automatically award supplemental funds to eligible institutions that previously received a section 18004 (a)(1) Student Aid Portion or Institutional Portion award under the CARES Act when they have submitted the required HEERF Annual Report to the Department. (The Certification and Agreement for approval was signed and submitted on April 21, 2020.)

The GTU received notification of approval and was awarded an allocation of $29,534.

The regulation states that only students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV (TIV) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) may receive emergency financial aid grants, however, students are not required to meet all Title IV eligibility requirements. Undocumented, DACA and International students are not eligible for HEERF I or II under 8 USC 1611(a) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (the 1996 welfare reform law), which prohibits these students from receiving federal public funds.

Applicants must be enrolled in the spring 2021 term and expenses must have incurred after March 16, 2020; the date that the Shelter in Place Order was put in place in Alameda County.

The Director of Student Life contacted domestic students by email that included instructions to complete the online Emergency Request form (See email in Appendix A). Each student was asked to answer the following questions:

  1. Describe the circumstances surrounding the need for assistance pertaining to 1) emergency costs that arise due to Coronavirus, such as but not limited to tuition, food, housing, health care, mental health care, or childcare, and/or 2) any component of your cost of attendance. 
  2. What is the dollar amount needed to work through this emergency? Please know that we might not be able to provide the full amount that is requested. 

Students were given the opportunity to upload any supporting documents and share additional information in support of their circumstances.

Once applications were submitted, the Director of Student Life met with the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment to determine the amount of the award for applicants. Applicants were awarded based upon the same criteria as HEERF I.

18 students applied and were awarded on April 14, 2021. Student awards ranged between $850 and $7,000 depending on the student’s request and amount of funds available. The Financial Aid Office created a code in the PowerFAIDS Student Information System to identify HEERF recipients for auditing purposes. The total amount of emergency grants distributed is $29,534 as of April 19, 2021.

The committee made a good faith effort to distribute the funds in a just and equitable manner and grant amounts were determined based on various factors such as:

  • The need that was expressed in the student’s application. Priority was given to students that experienced loss of income, food and housing insecurity and mental health issues.
  • The unique circumstances that were caused due to COVID-19 were considered and decisions were made accordingly.
  • The size of the family and if the applicant is the primary provider or not were also considered as we deliberated upon the applications.

In accordance with the HEERF guidelines, the GTU Business Office posted and distributed funds directly to students by direct deposit or paper check on April 19, 2021.

The GTU agrees that all employees and contractors will continue to be paid during the period of any disruptions or closures in compliance with Section 18006 of the CARES Act.

 

 

                                                                                                                        Appendix A

 

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II provides emergency funding to institutes of higher education to assist students in need during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, this funding was known as the CARES Act Funding.

GTU has received a small amount of HEERF II funding and has established the HEERF II CRRSAA Emergency Relief Fund to distribute grants ranging from $200 to $900 to eligible students to help cover expenses related to the cost of attendance (i.e., food, housing and utilities, health insurance including mental health care, transportation, or childcare) or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus. 

Funds from the HEERF II CRRSAA Emergency Relief Fund are not considered financial aid and do not affect a student's financial aid eligibility. Per guidance from the federal government, these grants will be distributed to our students with exceptional need, which will be identified by an application that the students will submit.  

 

Please note that undocumented, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and international students are not eligible for HEERF II funds under 8 USC 1611(a) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, which prohibits certain noncitizens from receiving federal public benefits. 

 

If you intend to apply for these grants, here is the application. The deadline to submit completed applications is Monday the 8th of March 2021, by 5 pm. 

 

Please reach out to me if you have any questions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GTU HEERF Quarterly Student Report

Graduate Theological Union Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) October 30, 2020 Quarterly Report Reporting Period: March 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020 Federal Financial Aid Grants - Institutional Share

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), which establishes and funds the Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF), directs institutions of higher education to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act allows the recipient to use up to 50 percent of the funds received to cover any costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus so long as such costs do not include payment to contractors for the provision of pre-enrollment recruitment activities, including marketing and advertising; endowments; or capitaloutlays associated with facilities related to athletics, sectarian instruction, or religious worship (collectively referred to as “Recipient’s Institutional Costs”). Section 18004(c) also requires Recipient to use no less than fifty percent of the funds received to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). This Certification and Agreement solely concerns the Recipient’s Institutional Costs, as defined above.

To address a Recipient’s Institutional Costs, The Secretary will provide funds for the Recipient’s Institutional Costs as authorized under Sections 18004(a)(1) and 18004(c) of the CARES Act.

As a condition for receiving funds for Recipient’s Institutional Costs, the recipient must have entered into the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES Act. Recipients may, but is not required to, use funds designated for the Recipient’s Institutional Costs to provide additional emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. If Recipient chooses to use funds designated for Recipient’s Institutional Costs to provide such emergency financial aid grants to students, then the funds are subject to the requirements in the Funding Certification and Agreement for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES Act, entered into between Recipient and the Secretary.

On April 21, 2020, the Department of Education (ED) published a letter from the Secretary of Education announcing how to access the second half of formula grants to institutions of higher education authorized by Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, also known as the funds for “Recipient’s Institutional Costs.” Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act allows an institution to use up to one-half of the total funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) to cover any costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus. The funding for Recipient’s Institutional Costs is separate from the funding previously made available for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. An institution must have entered into the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students before submitting the second Certification and Agreement for Recipient’s Institutional Costs.

The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) applied for the CARES Act Emergency Institutional Funds opportunity number ED-GRANTS-042120-004. Using the prescribed grants.gov website, the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment completed the SF-424 form and uploaded and submitted the signed Certification and Agreement for approval.

The GTU received notification of approval on May 12, 2020 and was awarded an allocation of $29,534 pursuant to the Certification and Agreement.

By signing the Agreement, the GTU agreed to comply with the Department of Education’s May 6, 2020 Electronic Announcement. The announcement stipulates that an institution that has applied and has been approved to receive its allocation, is required to submit a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds and how they were distributed, as defined in section 18004(e) of the CARES Act. The GTU must make accessible to the public a report within 30 days from the date the institution received its allocation and must be updated every 45 days thereafter.

The regulation states that only students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV (TIV) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) may receive emergency financial aid grants. The only practicable way for the GTU to determine that a student is eligible to participate in a TIV program is by requiring the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal eligibility (34 CFR 668.32) requirements include:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Have a valid SSN number
  • Be registered for selective service (if born male)
  • Be enrolled or accepted as a regular student in an eligible degree program
  • Be enrolled at least half-time
  • Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  • Must not be in default on a Title IV loan
  • Must not owe an overpayment on Title IV grants or loans

The Associate Dean of Students, the Director of Student Life and Liaison for International Students and Scholars, the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment, and the Assistant Director of Financial Aid were tasked to establish distribution criteria.

The Financial Aid Office first identified all doctoral and master’s degree students actively enrolled for the fall 2020 term using the GTU’s Student Information System (SIS). The next step was to review the active student list to identify Title IV eligibility by determining which students successfully completed the 20-21 FAFSA. It was determined that there are 60 students that are eligible to participate.

The priority was to provide the most HEERF emergency financial aid grants to students who exhibited the highest financial need as determined using federal methodology. To that end, this group of students was categorized by highest need, those enrolled full-time versus part-time, and their year in program.

The Director of Student Life and Liaison for International Students and Scholars notified students to apply online by completing an Emergency Request that asked students to document their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus and the amount needed. Students were given the option to upload any supporting documentation and share additional information in support of their circumstances. Once the online request was finalized, an email was sent to the group of 60 students inviting them to apply, which included an information list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Of the sixty students who were sent the email, 6 students submitted their request.

The Associate Dean of Students, the Director of Student Life and Liaison for International Students and Scholars, the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment, and the Assistant Director of Financial Aid met to review, discuss and deliberate these requests on a case-by-case basis. Each request was first reviewed to ensure that all claimed expenses were eligible as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to distribute the funds in a fair and equitable manner, the group worked collaboratively to determine the amount of grant each student would receive by carefully taking into consideration their level of need, the amounts of their claimed expenses, and other factors such as the number of family members in their household, if the student is employed, and if the student is the sole or primary provider.

Grant amounts ranged between $300 and $5,300 and the GTU has distributed $21,600 of HEERF to students and the remaining $7,934 was used to purchase PPP equipment and Zoom licenses for the GTU campus as of October 30, 2020.

The full amount of the grants awarded were disbursed directly to the student regardless of whether they owe a balance to the GTU. Emergency grant funds were issued to students either by direct deposit or in the form of a paper check and mailed through the U.S. Postal Services to student billing addresses.

 

GTU HEERF Quarterly Student Report

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Quarterly Report October 30, 2020 Reporting Period: March 1, 2020-September 30, 2020 Emergency Federal Financial Aid Grants - Institutional Share

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), which establishes and funds the Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF), directs institutions of higher education to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act allows the recipient to use up to 50 percent of the funds received to cover any costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus so long as such costs do not include payment to contractors for the provision of pre-enrollment recruitment activities, including marketing and advertising; endowments; or capitaloutlays associated with facilities related to athletics, sectarian instruction, or religious worship (collectively referred to as “Recipient’s Institutional Costs”). Section 18004(c) also requires Recipient to use no less than fifty percent of the funds received to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). This Certification and Agreement solely concerns the Recipient’s Institutional Costs, as defined above.

To address a Recipient’s Institutional Costs, The Secretary will provide funds for the Recipient’s Institutional Costs as authorized under Sections 18004(a)(1) and 18004(c) of the CARES Act.

As a condition for receiving funds for Recipient’s Institutional Costs, the recipient must have entered into the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES Act. Recipients may, but is not required to, use funds designated for the Recipient’s Institutional Costs to provide additional emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. If Recipient chooses to use funds designated for Recipient’s Institutional Costs to provide such emergency financial aid grants to students, then the funds are subject to the requirements in the Funding Certification and Agreement for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES Act, entered into between Recipient and the Secretary.

On April 21, 2020, the Department of Education (ED) published a letter from the Secretary of Education announcing how to access the second half of formula grants to institutions of higher education authorized by Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, also known as the funds for “Recipient’s Institutional Costs.” Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act allows an institution to use up to one-half of the total funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) to cover any costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus. The funding for Recipient’s Institutional Costs is separate from the funding previously made available for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. An institution must have entered into the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students before submitting the second Certification and Agreement for Recipient’s Institutional Costs.

The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) applied for the CARES Act Emergency Institutional Funds opportunity number ED-GRANTS-042120-004. Using the prescribed grants.gov website, the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment completed the SF-424 form and uploaded and submitted the signed Certification and Agreement for approval.

The GTU received notification of approval on May 11, 2020 and was awarded an allocation of $29,534 pursuant to the Certification and Agreement.

By signing the Agreement, the GTU agreed to comply with the Department of Education’s May 6, 2020 Electronic Announcement. The announcement stipulates that an institution that has applied and has been approved to receive its allocation, is required to submit a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds and how they were distributed, as defined in section 18004(e) of the CARES Act. The GTU must make accessible to the public a report within 30 days from the date the institution received its allocation and must be updated every 45 days thereafter.

The regulation states that only students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV (TIV) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) may receive emergency financial aid grants. The only practicable way for the GTU to determine that a student is eligible to participate in a TIV program is by requiring the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal eligibility (34 CFR 668.32) requirements include:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Have a valid SSN number
  • Be registered for selective service (if born male)
  • Be enrolled or accepted as a regular student in an eligible degree program
  • Be enrolled at least half-time
  • Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  • Must not be in default on a Title IV loan
  • Must not owe an overpayment on Title IV grants or loans

The Associate Dean of Students, the Director of Student Life and Liaison for International Students and Scholars, the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment, and the Assistant Director of Financial Aid were tasked to establish distribution criteria.

The Financial Aid Office first identified all doctoral and master’s degree students actively enrolled for the fall 2020 term using the GTU’s Student Information System (SIS). The next step was to review the active student list to identify Title IV eligibility by determining which students successfully completed the 20-21 FAFSA. It was determined that there are 60 students that are eligible to participate.

The priority was to provide the most HEERF emergency financial aid grants to students who exhibited the highest financial need as determined using federal methodology. To that end, this group of students was categorized by highest need, those enrolled full-time versus part-time, and their year in program.

The Director of Student Life and Liaison for International Students and Scholars notified students to apply online by completing an Emergency Request that asked students to document their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus and the amount needed. Students were given the option to upload any supporting documentation and share additional information in support of their circumstances. Once the online request was finalized, an email was sent to the group of 60 students inviting them to apply, which included an information list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Of the sixty students who were sent the email, 3 students submitted their request.

The Associate Dean of Students, the Director of Student Life and Liaison for International Students and Scholars, the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment, and the Assistant Director of Financial Aid met to review, discuss and deliberate these requests on a case-by-case basis. Each request was first reviewed to ensure that all claimed expenses were eligible as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As only three students applied for funds, the financial aid office in agreement with the Associate Dean of Students, and the Director of Student Life, re-evaluated students who received funds in the first tranche. Three students who received funds from the student share of HEERF were awarded an additional amount. In order to distribute the funds in a fair and equitable manner, the group worked collaboratively to determine the amount of grant each student would receive by carefully taking into consideration their level of need, the amounts of their claimed expenses, and other factors such as the number of family members in their household, if the student is employed, and if the student is the sole or primary provider.

Grant amounts ranged between $300 and $5,000 and the GTU has distributed $11,300 of HEERF to students $12,920 was remaining as of September 9, 2020.

The full amount of the grants awarded were disbursed directly to the student regardless of whether they owe a balance to the GTU. Emergency grant funds were issued to students either by direct deposit or in the form of a paper check and mailed through the U.S. Postal Services to student billing addresses.

GTU HEERF Quarterly Student Report

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) October 30, 2020 Quarterly Report Reporting Period: March 1, 2020-September 30, 2020 Emergency Federal Financial Aid Grants to Students

 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), which establishes and funds the Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF), directs institutions of higher education to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act directs institutions to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the act to provide emergency grants to students.

The purpose of this funding is to provide emergency relief to students who have additional expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, and childcare). Expenses must have occurred after March 13, 2020, the date the U.S. President declared a national emergency. The funds must be distributed directly to the student and cannot be applied towards tuition or fees that a student may owe to the institution or to replace loss of income.

On April 9, 2020, the Department of Education (ED) published a letter from the Secretary of Education announcing the HEERF student funding allocation which was distributed using a formula based on the institution’s enrollment. In order to access the grant, the institution must sign and return the Certification of Funding and Agreement acknowledging the terms and conditions. The HEERF Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students states that school’s must “promptly and to the greatest extent practicable” distribute HEERF emergency grants within one year from the date they signed the certification.

The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) applied for the CARES Act Emergency Student Funds opportunity number ED-GRANTS-041020-003 using the prescribed grants.gov website. The Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment completed the SF-424 form and uploaded and submitted the signed Certification and Agreement for approval.

The GTU received notification of approval on April 28, 2020 and was awarded an allocation of $29,534 pursuant to the Certification and Agreement.

By signing the Agreement, the GTU agreed to comply with the Department of Education’s May 6, 2020 Electronic Announcement. The announcement stipulates that an institution that has applied and has been approved to receive its allocation, is required to submit a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds and how they were distributed, as defined in section 18004(e) of the CARES Act. The GTU must make accessible to the public a report within 30 days from the date the institution received its allocation and must be updated every 45 days thereafter.

The regulation states that only students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV (TIV) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) may receive emergency financial aid grants. The only practicable way for the GTU to determine that a student is eligible to participate in a TIV program is by requiring the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal eligibility (34 CFR 668.32) requirements include:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Have a valid SSN number
  • Be registered for selective service (if born male)
  • Be enrolled or accepted as a regular student in an eligible degree program
  • Be enrolled at least half-time
  • Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  • Must not be in default on a Title IV loan
  • Must not owe an overpayment on Title IV grants or loans

The Associate Dean of Students, the Director of Student Life and Liaison for International Students and Scholars, the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment, and the Assistant Director of Financial Aid were tasked to establish distribution criteria.

The Financial Aid Office first identified all doctoral and master’s degree students actively enrolled for the spring 2020 term using the GTU’s Student Information System (SIS). The next step was to review the active student list to identify Title IV eligibility by determining which students successfully completed the 19-20 FAFSA and those who did not file but are eligible. It was determined that there are 116 students that are or could be eligible to participate.

Due the level of funding of the HEERF student share, it was not feasible to equally distribute funds to every eligible student. Therefore, of the 116 students that are or could be Title IV eligible, the Financial Aid Office identified only those who successfully completed their 2019-20 FAFSA, which pared the list down to 88 students.

The priority was to provide the most HEERF emergency financial aid grants to students who exhibited the highest financial need as determined using federal methodology. To that end, this group of students were categorized by highest need, those enrolled full-time versus part-time and their year in program.

The Director of Student Life and Liaison for International Students and Scholars created an online Emergency Request that asked students to document their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus and the amount needed. Students were given the option to upload any supporting documentation and share additional information in support of their circumstances. Once the online request was finalized, an email (see Appendix A) was sent to the group of 88 students inviting them to apply, which included an informational list of Frequently Asked Questions (see Appendix B).

Of the eighty-eight students who were sent the email, 12 students submitted their request.

The Associate Dean of Students, the Director of Student Life and Liaison for International Students and Scholars, the Senior Director for Financial Aid and Enrollment, and the Assistant Director of Financial Aid met to review, discuss and deliberate these requests on a case-by-case basis. Each request was first reviewed to ensure that all claimed expenses were eligible as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to distribute the funds in a fair and equitable manner, the group worked collaboratively to determine the amount of grant each student would receive by carefully taking into consideration their level of need, the amounts of their claimed expenses, and other factors such as the number of family members in their household, if the student is employed, and if the student is the sole or primary provider.

Grant amounts ranged between $600 and $3,500 and the GTU has distributed $29,534 of HEERF to students as of July 1, 2020.

The Director of Student Life and Liaison for International Students and Scholars notified the students of the emergency financial aid funds that were awarded to them via email (see Appendix C).

In accordance with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), the 26 CFR 1.6050S-1 reporting requirements for the 1098-T are still in effect and requires schools to report all “grant aid processed and administered by the institution.” In order to accurately report the emergency financial aid funds, the GTU’s Financial Aid and Business Offices made the unilateral decision to disburse HEERF grants to students using their Student Information and Financial Aid Management Systems (FAMS). Note: the IRS collects the 1098-T not to determine whether the student has taxable scholarships or grants, but to provide documentation allowing the IRS to ensure that students claiming the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credit(s) have not paid all of their tuition and fees costs with grants and scholarships. Questions on this topic should be directed to the IRS as tax rules and regulations are not within the GTU Financial Aid or Business Office's area of Title IV expertise.

The Financial Aid Office created a federal fund code for the purpose of auditing and tracking and so that the award could be disbursed through the FAMS. Additionally, a “COVID-19” budget expense item was created so that it could be added to a student’s spring 2020 cost of attendance in order to prevent an over-award as these funds should not count against a student’s estimated financial aid.

Once an identically matching award code was created in the SIS, the Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer linked the award with the T-code that was created specifically for this federal emergency fund to facilitate ease for tracking purposes. The CFO opened a new bank account in order to keep these funds separate from Title IV funds. She also set up a separate HEERF specific refund T-code to facilitate the ability to quickly post the aid to a student’s billing account and run immediate refunds. Grant funds were drawn down from ED’s G5 system by the Business Office.

The full amount of the grants awarded were disbursed directly to the student regardless of whether they owe a balance to the GTU. Emergency grant funds were issued to students either by direct deposit or in the form of a paper check and mailed through the U.S. Postal Services to student billing addresses.

Appendix A

As COVID-19 continues to evolve and impact various communities, the United States Congress has created the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to provide institutions of higher education with emergency federal funding to assist students whose lives were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  To help cover some of our students' unexpected expenses due to COVID-19 such as housing, food, transportation, medical expenses, childcare, etc., GTU has applied and procured some of that funding. Now, here's an invitation for you to apply for those emergency funds.

You can find the application here. The application is due by Thursday, May 14th, but funds are limited. Please apply as soon as possible.

Appendix B

CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the CARES Act/HEERF and how is it funded?
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. One component of the law reserves funds for the purpose of providing institutions of higher education with emergency federal funding to assist students whose lives were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is called the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).

Who is eligible to apply for HEERF?
GTU doctoral and Master of Arts students who have completed a FAFSA, are determined to be Title IV eligible, and are making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) are eligible. International, undocumented, non-degree and non-aid filers are not eligible.

Do I need to be enrolled during spring 2020 to be eligible?
Yes. Students who are enrolled at least half-time for the spring term are eligible.

How do I apply and what expenses does the grant cover?
Complete the online application, which available from the Director of Student Life.  The funds can be used to cover expenses incurred due to COVID-19 such as housing, food, transportation, medical expenses, childcare.

Do I need to submit receipts to apply?
No. However, we require applicants to attest, under penalty of the law, that the expenses detailed in their respective applications are true and accurate. Students must be able to produce documentation of expenses incurred, if requested.

How much will I receive?
Amounts will be determined on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration your unique circumstances, the amount of funding available and how many students apply.

Will I receive the emergency grant even if I owe the school money?
Yes. If you are eligible for these emergency grants, you will receive the money even if you have current financial holds or owe the campus fees or fines.

When will HEERF applicants be notified?
HEERF award notifications will be issued within 7-10 business days after the application period has closed.

How will I receive my money?
If you have not already done so, we recommend that you sign up for direct deposit with the Business Office to ensure that your funds reach you as quickly as possible. Otherwise, a paper check will be mailed to your student billing address.

I did not complete a FAFSA.  Is it too late to apply?
No. However, priority consideration will be given students who have already completed their 2019-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Due to limited funding, decisions will occur on a first come, first served basis, therefore it is critical that you apply as soon as possible.

Who do I contact with questions?
Email the GTU Financial Aid Office at finaid@gtu.edu.

Appendix C

Thank you for applying for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). This fund was created by the federal government to help students with unexpected expenses related to the COVID 19 pandemic.

Upon considering the circumstances surrounding the need for assistance mentioned in your application and the availability of funds, the HEERF Disbursement Committee decided to award you the following sum of money via direct deposit or check: $ _______.

We hope that this government assistance can help you during this difficult time. We will let you know if more funds become available.