HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND II (HEERF II) REPORT FOR STUDENT PORTION OF Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260, signed into law on December 27, 2020 (CRRSAA) ACT FUNDS

Summary

Fullerton College has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement for CRRSAA and intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds that were received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, for HEERF II, under CRRSAA. The same methodology was used for CRRSAA Act funds.

Fullerton College will award funds over the spring 2021 semester, beginning April 13th, 2021.

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 2021, and eligible for the FAFSA, completing all eligibility requirements (U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, males registered with Selective Service, be a high school graduate or GED, or otherwise meet ATB (Ability to Benefit) requirements.

Unlike HEERF I, HEERF II greatly expanded eligibility. Students do not need to meet SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) or in Probation status, and completing verification requirements. Additionally, the requirement was removed where a student needed to apply or opt-in to certify that they had COVID related expenses for HEERF II, so this requirement was removed. Students are also now allowed to be in an on-line program, which was not allowed for HEERF 1.

Students needed only to: 1. Complete a FAFSA and have a valid processed record with EFC (Expected Family Contribution) listing Fullerton College, 2. Be currently enrolled in at least .5 units or more at Fullerton College at the time of awarding, and 3. Be considered a Fullerton College student.

Priority is first given to any student awarded a Pell Grant as of April 9, 2021. Subject to available funding, the second category to be awarded will be students who may not be awarded Pell Grant, but based in order of EFC from lowest EFC to highest. Finally, as funding permits, we will award students who have a valid FAFSA record (ISIR) and are currently enrolled, irrespective of their EFC. Funding will continue until all funds are exhausted.

School Acknowledgement

Fullerton College has signed and returned the certification and agreement form, and intends to use the funds to provide emergency financial aid grants to students, in an amount equal to the student portion of HEERF I.

Funds Available to Students

The total amount of HEERF funds available to students = $4,850,367.00

Funds Disbursed/Approved to Students

Amount distributed to students as of date of report, $4,714,750.00 as of April 11th, 2021

Total Number of Students Eligible for Title IV Federal Aid, and Therefore Eligible for HEERF 2 Emergency Funds Total students who met criteria: 9,433 students as of April 11th, 2021

Total students disbursed funds: 9,433

Amount of Grant: Eligible students were awarded $500 in emergency aid.

18 students were awarded a Summer 2022 HEERF Grant in the amount of $705. These were recycled HEERF II funds and followed all requirements for the Summer HEERF III grants.

18 students were awarded $705, for a total of $12,690.00.

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

  1. The Fullerton College Financial Aid Office reviewed all students as of Friday, April 9th, 2021, to verify the student has completed a FAFSA application, with a valid output record (ISIR) with EFC, listing Fullerton College, and is currently as of Friday, April 9th, 2021 a Fullerton College student, enrolled in .5 units or more. Priority is first given to any student awarded a Pell Grant as of April 9, 2021. Subject to available funding, the second category to be awarded will be students who may not be awarded Pell Grant, but based in order of EFC from lowest EFC to highest. Finally, as funding permits, we will award students who have a valid FAFSA record (ISIR) and are currently enrolled, irrespective of their EFC. Funding will continue until all funds are exhausted.
  2. Students who met these requirements will be awarded $500, as funding permits. Students who are awarded, receive a notification via email “Financial Aid Offer”, and which is also made viewable in the myGateway student portal. Disbursement is made, and funds were sent to Bank Mobile, via our normal financial aid refund process. Any student not eligible for Bank Mobile account will be sent a paper check, beginning April 15th, 2021, until funds are exhausted.
  3. If funding permits, During the subsequent weekly rounds, the Financial Aid Office will also consider later applicants who had not applied by the date of the first round.

The Fullerton College Financial Aid Office reviewed all students as of Thursday, July 15th, 2021, to verify the student has completed a FAFSA application, with a valid output record (ISIR) with EFC, listing Fullerton College, and is currently as of Thursday, July 15th, 2021 a Fullerton College student, enrolled in .5 units or more. Priority is first given to any student awarded a Pell Grant as of July 15th, 2021. Subject to available funding, the second category to be awarded will be students who may not be awarded Pell Grant, but based in order of EFC from lowest EFC to highest. Finally, as funding permits, we will award students who have a valid FAFSA record (ISIR) and are currently enrolled, irrespective of their EFC. Funding will continue until all funds are exhausted.

Students who met these requirements will be awarded $500, as funding permits. Students who are awarded, receive a notification via email “Financial Aid Offer”, and which is also made viewable in the myGateway student portal. Disbursement is made, and funds were sent to Bank Mobile, via our normal financial aid refund process. Any student not eligible for Bank Mobile account will be sent a paper check, beginning July 21st, 2021, until funds are exhausted.

Instructions/Announcements for Students

  • Due to the later date in the spring 2021 semester, and the relaxed requirements for the grant, with no application, there is no advertisement of the grant offering other than this page on the COVID 19 homepage for Fullerton College.
  • This is also the process that was used for Summer 2021 grants.

IRS Instructions for CARES Act funds for tax purposes

Click here for more information on the IRS website

Support Provided with Non-Federal Financial Aid

Fullerton College will also award aid for AB540 and DACA students, who were not eligible for HEERF II. These grants, using State funding sources, will also be in the amount of $500 and will be awarded to enrolled students who met that criteria. More information will follow once those funds are received by the State. It is anticipated there will also be no application process.

Updated August 23, 2022