Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Report for Student Portion of CARES Act Funds

Summary

Fullerton College has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and intends to use 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.

Fullerton College has received $4,850,367.00 and awarded funds over three semesters. Four weekly rounds of awarding were processed in the fall and summer since the funding was made available through the end of the spring semester.

• Spring 2020 – Fullerton College awarded $1,413,000 in HEERF funds to 2,871 students
• Summer 2020 – Fullerton College awarded $762,500 in HEERF  funds to 1,538 students
• Fall 2020 – Fullerton College awarded $3,191,500 in HEERF funds to 6,397 students
• Spring 2021 – Fullerton College awarded $831,000 in HEERF funds to 1,622 students

A note about Fall 2020 –  HEERF funds were exhausted before the demand was met. Therefore Fullerton College allocated $668,000 in other institutional funds to 1,337 to create equity for students who would have been eligible to receive a HEERF grant had the funds not been exhausted.

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 is about 50% of our Total Student Population.

The methodology used for student selection was structured using eligibility determined by the Department of Education. This used student data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as enrollment data to determine student eligibility for the first round of awards. Eligible students must be enrolled for spring, enrolled in an on-campus program, and eligible for the FAFSA, completing all eligibility requirements (U.S. citizens, HS graduates or GED, males registered with Selective Service, meeting SAP or in Probation status, and completing verification requirements.). These student populations are sent an electronic link to an Emergency Grant request form to be completed and submitted for evaluation and awarding. Instructions and guidance are provided on the form.

Four weekly rounds of awarding were processed since the funding was made available, through the end of the spring semester. Weekly grants were also awarded in summer, as well as fall.

For fall, students were offered an awarded if they completed their financial aid file. Students received an email informing them to accept their award if they had incurred at least $500 in COVID related expenses, before the grant would disburse.

Policy for Determining Which Students Did, or Will Receive Emergency Financial Aid Grant and How Much Funding They Did or Will Receive

1. Student submits a “HEERF Request Form” between the spring application period, which began on May 5, 2020 and closed Friday, May 22, 2020. All applications received through the holiday weekend were considered.
2. The financial aid office staff reviews all requests on a first-come-first-serve basis.
   1. Review includes checking to see if the student has completed a FAFSA application and qualifies for federal Title IV aid.
3. Students who met all Title IV eligible requirements and who applied, and were enrolled in at least .5 units at the time of request, were awarded $500. Students who were awarded, received notification via email “Financial Aid Offer”, and was also made viewable in the myGateway student portal. Disbursement was made, and funds were sent to Bank Mobile, via our normal financial aid refund process. Any student not eligible for Bank Mobile account was sent a paper check.
4. Students who were not eligible were sent an email requesting they follow up with our office. Students who later completed their financial aid requirements were considered for awards in weeks 2, 3, and 4, until the end of the semester, and if eligible at that point, awarded as in number 2 above. During the subsequent weekly rounds, the Financial Aid Office also considered later applicants who had not applied by the date of the first round.

IRS Instructions for CARES Act funds for tax purposes

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-higher-education-emergency-relief-fund-and-emergency-financial-aid-grants-under-the-cares-act

Support Provided with Non-Federal Financial Aid

Fullerton College also awarded aid for AB540 and DACA students, who were not eligible for HEERF. These grants, using College funding sources, were also in the amount of $500 and were awarded to enrolled students who met that criteria. In total, 1,230 students were awarded a total of $540,000.

Quarterly Reporting

Sept. 30, 2020

Dec. 31, 2020

March 31, 2021

June 30, 2021

Sept. 30, 2021 (cumulative )

Sept. 30, 2021

Dec. 31, 2021

March 31, 2022

Updated August 23, 2022