HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND REPORTING CARES ACT EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANTS TO STUDENTS REPORT # 2


Until the U. S. Department of Education determines the process by which institutions may directly report the required data for CARES Act Grant expenditures, institutions have been directed to provide the information in an easily accessible format to the public on the institution’s website.

An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or 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.

McLennan Community College signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement on May 5, 2020.

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

McLennan Community College has received $2,449,015. 

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

As of June 25, 2020, McLennan Community College distributed $2,449,015 to students.

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the 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.

We estimate that there are 2,932 students eligible to participate in this programming (this excludes students enrolled in all online courses, students suspended due to SAP issues, students enrolled in dual credit programs, consortium agreements, and non-degree seeking students.)

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

As of June 25, 2020, 2,195 students have received funding.

The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

A group consisting of the Vice President Student Success, Director of Financial Aid, Associate Director of Financial Aid, and Financial Aid Specialist reviewed the guidance and developed the plan that was presented to Campus Leadership and the Board of Trustees.  The plan included the following.

Method for determining eligibility:

  • Students would complete a simple application for the federal CARES Act grant that specifies that the students incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the Coronavirus including moving all courses to the online format.  The application asks the student to indicate the expenses incurred under the cost of attendance such as food, housing. Course materials, technology, and childcare.
  • Students must have been enrolled on March 13, 2020.
  • Students must be considered Title IV eligible, whether or not they were receiving financial aid and be making satisfactory academic progress.
  • Approximately 75% of funding would be provided to Pell eligible students.
  • Students enrolled in only online courses will not be eligible.
  • Students will be grouped by those receiving Pell Grants and those with eligible FAFSA results on file not receiving Pell Grants.  Additionally, enrollment status (enrolled in 9 or more hours, and 1 through 8 hours) will be considered.
  • Some funding was reserved for the students who may still complete the appropriate FAFSA form and become eligible.
  • Beginning June 8, 2020, we started a reallocation process to distribute the funds that we were unable to disburse due to a lack of applications and to distribute the funding set aside for those students who had not completed the FAFSA.  The reallocation was distributed to all students who received the initial allocation. 

The following table provides the amounts for each group of students after June reallocation:

                                                            1ST PAYMENT  REALLOCATION                       TOTAL

PELL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

            Enrolled 9 or more hours        $942                $408                            $1,350

            Enrolled 1 through 8 hours     $472                $203                            $675

 

FAFSA ON FILE NOT PELL ELIGIBLE

            Enrolled 9 or more hours        $380                $370                            $750

            Enrolled 1 through 8 hours     $200                $171                            $371

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. 

Each student considered eligible was sent an e-mail explaining that the student may qualify for a grant from the CARES Act.  Included in the e-mail was a link to the College’s application and a link to the information page on the College website found here and copied below:

https://www.mclennan.edu/crisis-management/coronavirus-updates/student-resources/Cares%20Act%20Information/index.html 

CARES Act Grant Information

MCC received CARES Act funding to support students who have been financially impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). These funds are a part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, a new federal grant funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Federal Emergency Relief Fund for MCC Students

CARES Act funds are federal grants that can be used to help cover expenses, so you can focus on your education and meet your academic goals. You will not be asked to pay the funds back.

Steps to apply:

  1. Eligible students will receive an email or other electronic communication with a link to our online application. We have predetermined eligibility based on the criteria listed below.
  2. *Complete and submit a Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have already submitted a FAFSA for 2019-2020 or 2020-2021, this step is not required.
  3. You will be contacted by MCC via email or other electronic communication. (Due to an expected high volume of applications, please allow for up to five business days.)

*For CARES Act grants, you do not need to submit documentation or verification to the Department of Education (ED) after completing your FAFSA. However, you will receive communication from the ED if documents are needed or if you are missing anything in your FAFSA application. Following instructions and completing these verification steps may also make you eligible for Financial Aid.

Eligibility & Requirements

Federal guidelines for CARES Act grants require that you must be eligible for Federal Financial Aid and meet the following criteria.

  1. Be enrolled in an approved degree or credential;
  2. Not owe any federal financial aid repayment or have defaulted on any financial aid loan, or not have been involved in any fraudulent receipt, distribution, or overpayment of financial aid funds;
  3. Be a U.S. citizen or national, a permanent resident, or an eligible noncitizen, and have a social security number;
  4. Be registered for the selective service (if male);
  5. Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations; and
  6. Be in good Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standing.

You will not be eligible for CARES Act Student Aid if:

  • You were enrolled in all online coursework as of March 13th, 2020, when the proclamation was issued declaring a national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • You are co-enrolled in another college or university where you could also be receiving CARES Act funds (consortium agreement).
  • If you are not eligible, or unsure if you meet eligibility requirements, please send an e-mail to us at financial_aid@mclennan.edufrom your MCC student e-mail address and explain your circumstances. There may be additional resources we may be able to provide. Submitting the e-mail authorizes MCC to research those opportunities on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Current and newly enrolled students who qualify for Federal Financial Aid and have been impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for CARES Act grants. Eligible students will receive an email or other electronic message indicating that we believe they might be eligible. Funding is limited so not all students completing the application will receive the funds.

HOW DO I APPLY?

  1. Complete the application linked in your student email.
  2. Fill out and submit a FAFSA. If you already have a FAFSA, this step is not required.
  3. You will be contacted by MCC. (Due to a high volume of applications, please allow up to five business days to receive a response.)

WHAT IF I DON'T QUALIFY FOR THE CARES ACT STUDENT AID?

If you are not eligible, or unsure if you meet eligibility requirements, please send an e-mail to us at financial_aid@mclennan.edu from your MCC student e-mail address and explain your circumstances. There may be additional resources we may be able to provide. Submitting the e-mail authorizes MCC to research those opportunities on your behalf.

DOES THIS IMPACT MY FINANCIAL AID?

No. Eligible students may receive both Financial Aid and CARES Act grants.

CAN I APPLY FOR CARES GRANTS WHILE ATTENDING ANOTHER COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY?

No. Federal guidelines specify that students are not eligible for CARES Act grants at MCC if they are co-enrolled in another college or university where you could also receive CARES Act grant funds (consortium agreement).

HOW DO I RECEIVE THE FUNDS?

Once your application is approved, you will receive funds by electronic deposit or check. Be sure to set up your Highlander One Card (through BankMobile) preferences and make sure your mailing address is up to date. For information on the Highlander One Card visit this site: https://www.mclennan.edu/stuacnt/highlandercard.html.