Ppr Int 6737538Fbe483034 Overview Of Heerf Funds In The American Rescue Plan For Public An - Ppr Int 6737538Fbe483034 Overview Of Heerf.

Summary

Slide presentation from the Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education, dated May 2021, giving an overview of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. It calls the ARP a $40 billion investment in higher education, part of a total $76 billion, with more than $10 billion for community colleges, more than $2.6 billion for HBCUs, approximately $190 million for tribally controlled colleges and more than $6 billion for minority-serving institutions. The slides set out two new required uses of funds and say colleges must not condition emergency grants on enrollment or apply them to a student’s balance without consent. Campus examples include Delaware State University earmarking $730,000 to cancel the debts of more than 200 recent graduates, and the next quarterly reporting deadline is July 10.

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OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION (OPE)
OVERVIEW ON THE HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021

                                          MAY 2021
AGENDA
     Introductions
     About the American Rescue Plan Funding
     Eligibility – Students with Exceptional Needs
     Equitable Recovery
        –   Emergency Financial Aid
        –   Retention
        –   Re-engagement
        –   Prevention and Mitigation
     Transparency & Accountability
     Tools & Resources
     Discussion (Q&A)




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DISCLAIMER

    This document is being used in support of a live
    discussion. As such, it does not necessarily express
    the entirety of that discussion nor the relative
    emphasis of topics therein.
    Institutions are encouraged to carefully review the
    Department’s full guidance at the end of this
    presentation and on the ARP HEERF III website.




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AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP)
The ARP is a $40 billion investment in America’s institutions of higher
education – double the first two COVID recovery packages combined.
The total $76 billion investment helps:
 Mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on students’ educational
   attainment
 Target resources to students with greatest need
 Support students’ ability to meet basic needs
 Support for staffing, teaching, student support services, and
   educational programs/courses
 Support campus safety measures and protocols
 Comply with guidelines on allowable expenses and reporting
   requirements


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AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP)

ARP is also one of the largest, single, investments ever made in
American higher education--for both students and institutions. It
provides resources for many of our nation's most under-resourced
institutions that educate the students most impacted by the
pandemic. These investments include:
 More than $10 billion to Community Colleges,
 More than $2.6 billion to Historically Black Colleges and Universities
  (HBCUs),
 Approximately $190 million to Tribally Controlled Colleges and
  Universities (TCCUs), and
 More than $6 billion to minority-serving institutions (MSIs), such as
  Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) and Asian American and Native
  American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs)

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OBLIGATING FUNDS

 We will supplement your existing awards: The Department will make
  supplemental awards to your existing Student Aid Portion and
  Institutional Portion grants if you already received HEERF funding.
  Proprietary colleges must first submit the HEERF Proprietary institution
  certification form.
 More funding coming: The Department will make further allocations
  to MSIs (a2) and other institutions with the greatest need (a3) funding
  streams in the next few weeks.
 More than a year to spend: Once obligations are made, your college
  will have a full year to spend both your existing HEERF funds and new
  ARP funds within a particular funding stream. Colleges can also
  request a no-cost extension for an additional year. (FAQ questions
  #39, 40, and 41)


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NEW USES OF FUNDS
     The ARP has two new required uses of HEERF III
        – Implement evidence-based practices to monitor and suppress
          coronavirus in accordance with public health guidelines; and
        – Conduct direct outreach to financial aid applicants about the
          opportunity to receive a financial aid adjustment due to the
          recent unemployment of a family member or independent
          student
     For more information on these new required uses see FAQ
      #28-35.




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PRIORITIZING EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS
 All students, regardless of citizenship, qualify (our new eligibility rule
  can be found here)
 Colleges can use various ways to identify exceptional need, including:
     – Pell grant recipients
     – Information on the FAFSA (FAFSA is not required for HEERF funds)
     – Alternative information, such as significant unexpected expenses either
       for themselves or their families, including the loss of employment, reduced
       income, or food or housing insecurity.
 Colleges are expected to establish a transparent process for assessing
  need.
 The Department strongly encourages colleges to use their institutional
  funds to make additional emergency financial aid grants to their
  students.
 See FAQ questions #7-9 for more information on eligibility and
  greatest need.

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EQUITABLE RECOVERY – EMERGENCY AID
     When making HEERF emergency financial grants to student's
      colleges must not:
        – Condition the receipt of emergency financial aid grants
           to students on continued or future enrollment in the
           institution,
        – Use the emergency financial aid grants to satisfy a
           student’s outstanding account balance, unless it has
           obtained the student’s written (or electronic), affirmative
           consent, or
        – Require such consent as a condition of receipt of or
           eligibility for the emergency financial aid grant.
     See FAQ questions #7-19 for more information on
      emergency financial aid grants to students

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EQUITABLE RECOVERY – EMERGENCY AID

  The Department may determine an institution has failed to
   prioritize students with exceptional need if the institution
   established preconditions for students to receive emergency
   financial aid grants, such as:
     – Establishing a minimum GPA,
     – Imposing other academic, athletic performance, or good standing
       requirements,
     – Requiring continued enrollment in the institution, or
     – Requiring the student to first pay any outstanding debt or balance.
  See FAQ questions #7-19 for more information on
   emergency financial aid grants to students.



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INSTITUTIONAL EXAMPLES – EMERGENCY
FINANCIAL AID
 San Joaquin Delta College (HSI in Stockton, California) has already
  earmarked $6.2 million of their ARP allocation to provide direct grants to
  over 4,100 students that have shown the highest need for financial
  support.
 Fisk University (HBCU in Nashville, Tennessee) distributed over $500,000
  to 100% of their students eligible for emergency aid from previous relief
  packages.
 Diné College (TCCU in Tsaile, Arizona) distributed more than $600,000 in
  emergency funding to students from previous relief packages.
 Northern Virginia Community College (Annandale, Virginia) used 25%
  of CARES Institutional funds for emergency grants to students.
 Austin Community College (HSI in Austin, Texas) clearly communicated to
  their students they do not need to receive federal aid to receive a HEERF
  emergency grant.

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EQUITABLE RECOVERY - RETENTION
 Institutions may use grant funds for additional student, academic,
  financial, and mental health support systems that will help
  students persist.
     – Student supports services, such as childcare, food, housing, and health
       care.
     – Academic supports, such as technology needs, academic supplies,
       mentoring and tutoring.
     – Financial supports, including additional emergency grants and tuition
       subsidies.
     – Mental health counseling, such as peer support groups and supporting
       coping and resilience for students.


 See FAQ questions including #9-18, 22, 26, 27, and 28.


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INSTITUTIONAL EXAMPLES - RETENTION
 Foothills-De Anza Community College (Los Altos Hills, California) used
  previous funding to establish a Mental Wellness Ambassador program
  aimed at promoting mental health services, reducing stigma surrounding
  mental health disorders, creating community, and fostering an inclusive
  and non-judgmental campus culture.
 Grand Rapids Community College (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
  purchased laptops and hot spots, and extended Wi-Fi signals to public
  library parking lots to reach students in rural areas. Additionally, they
  directed $3.4 million in CARES Act funds for childcare, housing, and
  food.
 Blackfeet Community College (TCCU in Browning, Montana) purchased
  500 laptops, using previous relief funding to create a loaner program to
  allow students to remain enrolled and engaged with their academic
  studies.
 Alcorn State University (HBCU in Alcorn, Mississippi) used relief funds to
  provide enhanced virtual academic support services.
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INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS - REENGAGEMENT

 Institutions can use their (a)(1) Institutional Portion funds
  to discharge the complete balance of a student’s
  institutional debt so students can reenroll, continue their
  education, or obtain their official transcript to transfer
  to another institution and/or secure employment.
 The Department strongly encourages institutions to use
  their institutional HEERF portion to discharge such debt.
 However, direct “marketing and recruitment” activities
  are an impermissible use of HEERF funds.
 See FAQ questions #22, 26, and 27

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INSTITUTIONAL EXAMPLES

  Delaware State University (HBCU in Dover, DE)
   earmarked $730,000 of their ARP allocation to
   cancel the debts of more than 200 recent graduates
   who were financially impacted by the coronavirus
   pandemic. These graduates will have on average
   $3,200 in debt discharged.
  Elizabeth City State University (HBCU in Elizabeth
   City, NC) cleared unpaid balances for all student
   accounts from Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters
   due to COVID-19 hardships totaling $286,500 so
   students can re-enroll.

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INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS - PREVENT AND
MITIGATE COVID
Institutions may use their (a)(1) Institutional Portion funds for COVID
detection, prevention, and more:
 Detection: Diagnostic or screening testing strategy, setting up testing
   sites, purchasing tests, and hiring additional personnel to administer
   tests.
 Prevention: Spreading awareness and build confidence in getting
   vaccinated, and to set up vaccination sites on or off campus, including
   costs of bringing sites to rural and satellite locations.
 Reducing barriers to vaccination: Paid time off and sick leave for
   staff.
 Forthcoming guidance from CDC and Department of Education will
   highlight additional ways to prevent the spread and mitigate COVID.
 See FAQ #28 and 29

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INSTITUTIONAL EXAMPLES - PREVENT AND
MITIGATE COVID
 Alabama State University (HBCU in Montgomery, Alabama) used
  relief funds to prioritize the health and safety of its students, faculty,
  and staff through the purchase of personal protective equipment
  (PPE).
 Mountain View College (HSI in Dallas, Texas) has used relief funds for
  PPE masks and enhanced weekly cleanings.
 On May 11th, President Biden announced the opportunity for
  community colleges to partner with federal pharmacy programs to
  serve as vaccination sites.




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INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOB LOSS
 Minor remodeling (FAQ #23, 24):
      – Installation or renovation of HVAC systems to improve air
        filtration.
      – Purchase or lease of temporary trailer classrooms.
      – Installation of room dividers and other interventions to
        prevent the spread of COVID-19.
 Staff support (FAQ #25):
      – Paid student internships and job training experiences that
        support local coronavirus-related recovery.
      – Salaries for staff who were unable to work during a period
        of any full or partial campus closures due to the pandemic.
      – Any additional/overtime work any staff incurred from
        March 13, 2020 onward associated with coronavirus.
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TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
 Reporting: Grantees receiving ARP funds must continue to adhere to
  the two quarterly reporting requirements originally implemented
  through the CARES Act. Next deadline is July 10. (FAQ #36, 37)
 Voluntary Decline of HEERF Grant Funds: Any institution may
  voluntarily decline its full award or a portion of its award in the next
  three months so those funds can be redistributed by formula to
  institutions with greater need. (FAQ #6)
 Proprietary college certification form: To assist with management and
  oversight of HEERF funds, proprietary colleges must complete a new
  proprietary college certification form signed by the institution’s
  President or CEO and any owners with at least 25% ownership in the
  institution. (FAQ #4, 5)
 Audits (FAQ #38)
 Also see FAQ questions #49 and 50
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RESOURCES
 HEERF Customer Care Center
   – Email: HEERF@ed.gov and Phone: 202-377-3711
 ARP home page
    – https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/arp.html
 ARP FAQs (issued on May 11, 2021):
    – https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/arpfaq.pdf
 Lost Revenue FAQs (issued on March 19, 2021)
    – https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/heerflostrevenuefa
       qs.pdf
 HEERF Grant Auditing Requirements (issued March 8, 2021)
    – https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/heerfauditletter.pdf



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RESOURCES

 Email addresses for HEERF documentation:
      – HEERF Quarterly Reports: HEERFReporting@ed.gov
      – Voluntary Decline of HEERF Grant Funds: HEERFRefund@ed.gov
      – HEERF Proprietary college certification form: HEERFARP4@ed.gov
 Maintenance of Effort Requirements and Waiver Requests
      – https://oese.ed.gov/files/2021/04/MOE-Chart_with-waiver-
        FAQs_FINAL_4.19.21_12pm.pdf
 Voluntary Decline Form
    – https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/arpheerfiiivol
      untarydecline.pdf




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