Student Aid Distribution
The Department of Education determined the amount of funds that each college was eligible to receive by using a formula based on student enrollment. In addition, each college had to adhere to the Higher Education Act of 1965, Section 484. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund – Student Aid, provided Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004 (a)(1) of the CARES Act. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education (ED) has worked to assist students and institutions during this time of change, closure and transitioning to online learning. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that provides
more than $14 billion in emergency funding to higher education. Of those funds, more than $6 billion must go directly to students in the form of emergency financial aid grants (HEERF-student share) for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Mesalands Community College has received a total of $792,333 to be distributed to aid students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The awards are as followed;
Fund expenditures for Section 18004(a)(1)
Student Portion funds
HEERF I- CARES ACT
- As of May 2 nd , 2020, Mesalands Community College received a total of $99,489.00 for HEERF I- CARES Act.
- As of May 14th , 2020, a total of $99,489.00 has been spent on emergency funds to 109 students under the HEERF I- CARES Act.
HEERF II- CRRSAA
- As of January 29th , 2021, Mesalands Community College received a total of $99,489.00 for HEERF II- CRRSAA.
- As of December 1, 2021, a total of $99,506.00 has been spent on emergency funds to 120 students under the HEERF II- CRRSAA.
HEERF III- ARP
- As of May 13 th , 2021, Mesalands Community College received a total of $593,355 for HEERF III ARP to distribute for student aid.
- Mesalands Community College has not distributed ARP student aid funds yet but are working diligently in disbursing funds to students before the end of the 2023 fiscal year.
Grant Communication and Eligibility
HEERF I- CARES ACT
HEERF funds are not Title IV Aid, but Title IV Eligibility is Required
- While HEERF-student share dollars are not Title IV aid, ED’s April 21 guidance states that students must meet Title IV eligibility requirements in order to receive HEERF emergency grants. Students must have completed a FAFSA to determine eligibility and completed all verification requirements.
- Expense vs. Need
- HEERF-student share dollars are to aid students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus; this is different than a change in a student’s financial need due to COVID-19, which could be a result of a loss of income rather than new expenses.
- Direct to Students
- Institutions must pay HEERF-student share emergency grants directly to students and may not apply the grants toward outstanding institutional charges.
- Online Students
- Students who were enrolled exclusively in online courses on March 13 (the date of President Trump’s national emergency proclamation) are not eligible for HEERF-student share funds, per ED’s April 21 guidance.
- International and Undocumented Students
- ED’s April 21 guidance states that students must meet Title IV eligibility requirements in order to receive HEERF-student share funds. Therefore, international and undocumented students are not eligible to receive emergency grants.
To determine eligibility for Mesalands Community College students the following was reviewed:
- Students enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester prior to March 13th.
- Title IV eligible students
- Evaluation of student’s schedules, to determine who was enrolled in courses online only.
- Students attending full time (12 credit hours or more)
- Students attending half-time to three-quarter time (6-11 credit hours)
HEERF II- CRRSAA
- HEERF II- CRRSAA policies and procedures were followed in distributing HEERF II student aid.
- Students did not have to apply to receive student aid.
- Enrollment intensity is a factor that MCC prioritized in grant determination.
- The overall minimum award was $553.00.
- The overall maximum award was $1,531.00.
HEERF III- ARP
- Eligibility is still being determined and the award being calculated.
CARES HEERF Quarterly Report
Quarter Ending 09/30/2020 Report
Quarter Ending 12/21/2020 Report
Quarter Ending 03/31/2021 Report
Quarter Ending 06/30/2021 Report
Quarter Ending 09/30/2021 Report
Quarter Ending 12/31/2021 Report
Quarter Ending 03/31/2022 Report
Quarter Ending 06/30/2022 Report
Quarter Ending 09/30/2022 Report
Quarter Ending 12/31/2022 Report
