CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT STUDENT EMERGENCY GRANTS
The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020, is intended to provide economic relief for individuals impacted by the pandemic.
Under CARES, the U. S. Department of Education was authorized to provide funding to institutions of higher education in the form of emergency financial aid grants. Martin Methodist College signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement that assures that no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act will be provided as Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. MMC has received $481,731 for these emergency financial aid grants and is available to eligible students as emergency grants for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
Approximately 979 students at MMC are 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 under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. As of December 31, 2020, 414 students have received a total of $431,714 in emergency grants. As of March 31, 2021, the remaining $50,017 was added to the CRRSAA funds signed into law on December 27, 2020 and was expended.
Eligible Residential Students who moved off campus received a check for $1100 to assist with related expenses due to this disruption caused by coronavirus. These students along with the remaining eligible students are encouraged to apply for these emergency grants. Applications will be reviewed by a committee to confirm Title IV eligibility and to determine that the need for the funds (as stated by the student) are eligible expenses under the student’s cost of attendance. The amount awarded will be based on enrollment status according to the following schedule:
12+ hours, up to $500/, 9 – 11 hours, up to $375/4 – 8 hours, up to $250/3 hours or less, up to $125/MBA with 10 hours, up to $500/ MBA with 6 hours, up to $375/MBA with 4 hours, up to $250.
Martin Methodist College wants to make these funds available to all Title IV eligible students (those eligible to file a FAFSA-regardless of type of aid received, if any).
An application was emailed to MMC Students with specific information regarding applying for these funds and is included here. Students who have questions may contact:
- Robby Shelton
APPLICATION FOR CARES ACT STUDENT EMERGENCY FUNDS – Click Here
CARES ACT-INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS REPORTING
- Covering Quarter Ending 03/31/2021 – Final Report
- Heerf-quarterly Click Here
- Covering Quarter Ending 12/31/2020 Click Here
- Covering Quarter Ending 09/30/2020 Click Here
HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND (HEERF II)
On December 27, 2020, the President signed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) (P.L. 116-260). The CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need.
Under section 314(c)(3) of the CRRSAA, institutions must make 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, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care which will be identified by using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at MMC as of February 8, 2021.
MMC received HEERF II funding of $481,731 and established an award called the “Higher Ed Emergency Grant (HEERF II)” to distribute grants ranging from $125-$1,230 to 601 eligible students to help cover expenses related to any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care. $50,017 was remaining from the $481,731 CARES Act Student Emergency Funds that was signed into law on March 27, 2020, and was added to the HEERF II funding to make these awards, thereby expending the total awards of $481,731 from March 27, 2020, and $481,731 from December 27, 2020.
Funds from the HEERF II CRRSAA Emergency Relief Fund are not considered financial aid and do not affect a student’s current or future financial aid eligibility.
ELIGIBILITY AND AWARDING
Eligible students will meet the following requirements:
- You must be an enrolled graduate or undergraduate student for Spring 2021.
- You must be a U.S. citizen.
- You must demonstrate need, which is measured by the 2020-2021 FAFSA that MMC has on record as of February 8, 2021.
- Grants will be distributed in the following manner and will appear on your student account as a credit and will be immediately disbursed from your account by a check which will be available in the Business Office once notified via email.
Residential Full-Time Students:
- EFC 0 – 9,999 – $1,230
- EFC 10,000 + – $955
Non-Residential Full-Time Students:
- EFC 0 – 9,999 – $1,000
- EFC 10,000 + – $500
Part-Time and Graduate Students:
- 9 – 11 Credit Hours – 75% of Non-Residential rate (based on EFC)
- 6 – 8 Credit Hours – 50% of Non-Residential rate (based on EFC)
- 1 – 5 Credit Hours – 25% of Non-Residential rate (based on EFC)