COVID-19 HEERF Funds Policy
Quarterly and Final Reporting for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) Amercian Rescue Plan Act (2021) as of 9.30.21
Hastings College received our notification and allocation on May 18, 2021 in the amount of $1,280,797 for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III-student portion under the American Rescue Plan Act (2021). Drawing down the funds from G5 was Hastings College’s acknowledgement that we agreed to the terms and conditions.
In accordance with guidance provided for the American Rescue Plan Act and the US Department of Education that was available to Hastings College at the time of awarding, Hastings College considered the following criteria to determine eligibility with emphasis on prioritizing financial need:
- Be an enrolled, degree seeking graduate student as of August 6, 2021 or add by September 10, 2021
- Be an enrolled, degree seeking undergraduate student September 10, 2021
- To determine need, have FAFSA received on or before September 10, 2021
No separate or additional application was required to be submitted by students.
19 Graduate students were eligible**
925 undergraduate students were eligible
16 Graduate students were notified of their award on August 13, 2021, with the additional 3 students on September 23. These were processed as immediate direct refunds to students.
Undergraduate students were notified of their award on September 15, 2021. These funds were applied to their student account on September 24, 2021.
Additional communication to undergraduates was sent from HC Student Accounts giving students the option to complete a student authorization if they wanted the funds applied to their student account. The deadline to complete the student authorization form was September 22, 2021. 152 students completed the student authorization to apply the Federal Covid dollars to their outstanding balance.
If no student authorization was provided, students were refunded the Federal COVID grant directly via direct deposit. If no direct deposit was on file, a paper check was mailed to their permanent address.
Awarding criteria and amounts:
4 groups of students=total eligible
- Undergraduates, pell eligible=270 students, award amount $2,140/each
- Undergraduates, not pell eligible=483 students, award amount $1,225/each.
- Undergraduates did not file FAFSA as of Sept 10th, 2021=172 students, award amount of $600/each.
Total Undergraduate students=$1,272,675
- Graduate students as of August 6, 2021= 16 students, award amount $480
- After census-3 additional students were awarded $480 each
Total to Graduate students=$9,120
Total American Rescue Plan Act (2021) HEERF III Awarded: $1,281,795
Quarterly Report – June 30, 2023 (.pdf)
Quarterly Report – March 31, 2023 (.pdf)
Quarterly Report – December 31, 2022 (.pdf)
Quarterly Report – September 30, 2022 (.pdf)
Quarterly Report – June 30, 2022 (.pdf)
Quarterly Report – March 31, 2022 (.pdf)
Emergency Student Grant Relief provided by CRRSAA-Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021
Enacted on December 27, 2020-also referred to as HEERF II
And Hastings College’s Broncos Together Institutional Fund
Federal CRRSAA (HEERF II awards)
Hastings College received our notification of our federal allocation on January 17, 2021 in the amount of $525,975 for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II-student portion, under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). We used the student portion to provide direct emergency aid to enrolled students at Hastings College.
A committee made up of Traci Boeve, Director of Financial Aid, Lynn Feeken Controller and Colleen Ferguson Director of HC Student Accounts was formed to develop awarding options. Below is the final plan that was approved by the Cabinet.
In accordance with guidance provided through CRRSAA and the US Department of Education that was available to Hastings College at the time of awarding, Hastings College considered the following criteria to determine eligibility with emphasis on prioritizing financial need:
- File a 2020-2021 FAFSA to confirm US citizenship by March 1, 2021
- Be an enrolled, degree seeking undergraduate or graduate student as of March 1, 2021
No separate or additional application was required to be submitted by students.
Approximately 750 students were eligible.
Students were notified of their award on March 25, 2021 and that the award amount could be viewed in their financial aid self-service. The award notification communicated a March 31, 2021 disbursement to their student account.
CRRSAA emergency grants could be used to cover any component of a student’s cost of attendance or emergency costs, such as but not limited to tuition, food, housing, health care, mental health care or child care.
Additional communication was sent from HC Student Accounts giving students the option to complete a student authorization if they wanted the funds applied to their student account. The deadline to complete the student authorization form was March 30, 2021.
If no student authorization was provided, students would be refunded the HEERF II directly via direct deposit. If no direct deposit was on file, a paper check was mailed to their permanent address.
Awarding criteria and amounts:
6 groups of students = total eligible 747
- Full time UG pell eligible = 264 students, award amount $980/each
- Full time UG not pell eligible = 470 students, award amount $570/each
- Part time UG pell eligible = 4, award amount $490/each
- Part time UG not pell eligible = 4, award amount $285/each
- Full time Grad = 1, award amount $240
- Part time Grad = 4, award amount $160
Institutional Broncos Together Awards
Thanks to generous donors, Hastings College also has funding to use for students that do not meet the CRRSAA and Hastings College criteria. All Hastings College students have had their lives and educations disrupted by COVID 19 outbreak and HC was fortunate to have both federal and institutional funding to help EVERY enrolled student with a direct emergency grant in the Spring 2021 semester.
Over 130 students were granted direct emergency relief in over $30,000 from the Broncos Together Fund. Award amounts were based on academic degree and enrollment status.
Institutional awards applied to any outstanding balance on their student account.
Institutional Portion Public Reporting – Final Report
Student Portion Public Reporting – Final Report
Hastings College signed the Certification and Agreement and applied for the Federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) on April 30, 2020 and we received our allocation on May 8, 2020. Hastings College acknowledges and assures that we have used no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Total Amount of Funds
Hastings College has applied for and received a total amount of $525,975 for the student portion of HEERF.
Total Amount Distributed
Hastings College has distributed $525,975 (100%) of the student portion of HEERF as of 06/30/20.
Total Number of Students Eligible to Receive HEERF
Hastings College estimates that approximately 768 students are eligible to participate 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.
Total Number of Students Who Have Received HEERF
Of the 768 students eligible to receive funds, 502 (65%) of students have applied and received funds through the student portion of HEERF.
Methods Used to Determine Recipients and Fund Amounts & Guidance Provided to Students Regarding these Funds
Hastings College required the completion of an online application to apply for funding. All enrolled students were sent an initial email communication on May 4, 2020 that informed all students of the availability of funds and invited all students to apply for these funds. Over the course of several weeks, additional emails directly to students along with other forms of communication were used to ensure the entire student population was informed of the process and funding available. For example, an email to all faculty and staff was sent requesting Hastings College employees to help identify students and notify any students who may be in need of support through these funds. In addition, a banner announcement was posted on the college’s Learning Management System (LMS) CANVAS so that all students would immediately see the announcement each time they logged into the system for coursework. Text messages were sent out to students to remind them of the availability of funds and application process. Finally, information about the funds were also posted to the college’s social media accounts, posted on the public website under COVID-19 resources, and also posted on the intranet portal (OurHC).
Hastings College established a maximum funding threshold for each student to ensure that these federal funds were distributed as widely as possible. The maximum award was estimated to be $3,000, unless documentation was provided or on a case by case basis approved by the COVID grant committee. Students were eligible to apply a second time.
An internal committee was formed to review and approve all student applications for HEERF. At least two committee members reviewed each application to ensure the requested funds were for eligible expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, which can include eligible expenses, such as food, housing, course materials, technology (wi-fi), health care, child care, etc. Applications reviewed on a weekly basis
Title IV eligibility was confirmed with a current year submission of the FAFSA. If a FAFSA was completed in a previous year of attendance, to confirm Title IV eligibility, NSLDS information was confirmed to ensure there was no default or overpayment. Satisfactory academic progress was also required and confirmed.
Non-Title IV eligible students were awarded funding from the Broncos Together Grant fund. This was an institutional funding opportunity in order to help all students experiencing need from the COVID-19 crisis.
Institutional Portion Public Reporting – Final Report
