Southeast Tech CARES Act
Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Southeast Technical College has been authorized to distribute emergency cash grants to students as part of the funding allocated in the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).
Southeast Technical College is directed to use no less than 50% of the funds received under Sections 18004(a)(1) and 18004(c) to provide emergency grants to students who incurred additional food, housing, technology, healthcare or childcare expenses due to the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under Section 18004(a)(1), Southeast Tech will use up to 50% of the funds to cover the costs associated with significant changes to course delivery and instruction due to the coronavirus.
Section 18004(a)(1) Certification Section 18004(c) Certification
CARES Act Information
| Student CARES Emergency Grant Funds: | $885,229.00 |
|---|---|
| Institutional CARES Funds | $885,229.00 |
| Budget/Expenditure Report: September 2020 | View Report |
| Budget/Expenditure Report: December 2020 | View Report |
| Total CARES Funds: | $1,770,458.00 |
| Total Disbursed to Students as of June 30, 2020 | $0 |
| Total Disbursed to Students as of Sept. 30, 2020 | $0 |
| Total Disbursed to Students as of Dec. 31, 2020 | $774,188.35 |
| Estimated number of Title IV Eligible Students Taking Campus Courses: | 1,700 |
| Total number of students who have received an Emergency Finance Aid Grant as of Dec. 31, 2020: | 717 |
Awarding Considerations
- Must be a diploma or degree-seeking Southeast Tech student who enrolled in and completed the Spring 2020 semester.
- Students must be taking the majority of their classes on Southeast Tech's physical campus. This includes students who enrolled in on-campus classes that transitioned to an online format due to COVID-19.
- Must have incurred additional expenses for food, housing, technology, healthcare, or childcare due to the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Must be eligible for Title IV funding, in good academic standing, and maintains satisfactory academic progress at Southeast Tech.
- Completed the CARES Act Emergency Aid Grant Application and self-identified how they were impacted by COVID-19 and the disruption of campus operations.
- All Southeast Tech students were emailed a link to the online application along with the maximum anticipated grant award.
SAMPLE CARES APPLICATION - Phase 1 sample Cares Application - Phase 2
SAMPLE CARES APPLICATION SUMMARY
Disbursement Plan
Award an emergency grant up to a maximum of $500 to all eligible students that submits a CARES Fund application.
Increase emergency grant award amount due to the availability of excess funds.
Phase 1
- Award emergency grants based on the self-identified student impact statements for eligible students and eligible additional expenses incurred as a result of campus disruptions.
- Required students to submit a signed certification of eligibility.
- Revised emergency grant award amounts up to the maximum amount recommend by the United States Department of Education.
- Determine ineligible portions (e.g. lost/reduced wages) from student applications and obtain attestation statements from students verifying that reported expenses represent a true and accurate accounting of additional expenses incurred as a result of campus disruptions.
Phase 1 Distribution
| Estimated | Actual | |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | ^ | 310 |
| Number of Eligible Students | 115 | 116 |
| Number of Ineligible Students* | ^ | 194 |
| Grants Awarded Through Dec. 31, 2020 | N/A | 88 |
| Total Grant Amount Awarded | N/A | $117,188.35 |
| Average Grant Award | $1,357.00 | $1,330.89 |
| Range of Awards | $195-$6,000 | $150 - $6,000 |
| Potential Additional Awards | 28 | TBD |
| Total Potential Award Amount | $25,289.35 | TBD |
Phase 2
- Provide emergency aid in the form of block grants for remaining students that attest they have incurred additional eligible expenses as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.
- Student eligibility certifications were incorporated into the application process.
- Establish maximum grant amounts based upon need category as follows:
award amounts
| Initial | Revised | |
|---|---|---|
| Food | up to $300 | * |
| Housing | up to $400 | * |
| Technology | up to $300 | * |
| Healthcare | up to $200 | * |
| Childcare | up to $300 | * |
| Moving Home | up to $200 | * |
| Course Materials | up to $200 | * |
| MAXIMUM AWARD AMOUNT: | $500 | $1,000 |
*Maximum award amounts for specific categories were removed and a maximum award of $1,000 was established for any combination or number of selected categories.
Phase 2 Distribution
| Estimated | Actual | |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | ^^ | 796 |
| Estimated Number of Eligible Students | 1,585 | 712 |
| Estimated Number of Ineligible Students** | ^^ | 84 |
| Grants awarded through Dec. 31, 2020 | N/A | $657,000 |
| Total Grant Amount Awarded | N/A | $657,000 |
| Average Grant Award | $450.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Range of Awards | $200-$500 | $1,000.00 |
| Potential Additional Awards | 55 | TBD |
| Total Potential Award Amount | $55,000 | TBD |
Phase 3
- Reserve any funds not awarded for extraordinary or peerless circumstances arising from the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.
| Estimated number of eligible students: | <30 |
|---|---|
| Estimated average emergency grant: | $60,000 |
Subject: Today's Student Update: CARES Act Student Emergency Aid - Must Apply Soon
Dear Southeast Tech Students,
Due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Tech students may be eligible for Federal CARES Act Student Emergency Aid.
These funds are being made available to help students cover expenses related to the disruption of normal institutional operations due to COVID-19 and include expenses for food, housing, technology, healthcare, childcare.
If you are NOT in the following list of ineligible students, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY TODAY at https://stinet.southeasttech.edu/ICS/Student/CARES_Fund.jnz.
Students who are not eligible for CARES funding:
- Enrolled in a dual/concurrent enrollment course(s) OR
- Enrolled in an Online Program on or before March 20, 2020 OR
- Enrolled as a non-degree seeking student (not in a program of study) OR
- Not in good standing with Federal Financial Aid OR
- Did not incur additional expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Note: To qualify for CARES funds, you must have completed a 2019-2020 FAFSA. If you have not filed the 2019-2020 FAFSA, go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and complete the application by May 18, 2020 AND apply for CARES funds. (Southeast’s school code is 008285).
Once the application is received, Southeast Tech will verify your eligibility and how much aid you will receive.
Applications must be submitted by May 18, 2020.
Funds are limited and priority will be given to those who complete their application by the deadline. Qualifying students/families may receive up to a maximum grant of $500 per student.
E-mail correspondence on the CARES Act, Phase 1 was sent to students:
- Due to the financial impact of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a second round of Federal CARES Act Student Emergency Aid.
- These funds are being made available to help students cover expenses related to the disruption of normal institutional operations due to COVID-19, including expenses for food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare and childcare.
- If you were to receive CARES funds, you would not need to repay them.
- Read the guidelines listed below.
- Then, if you are eligible, complete the application immediately (the link is provided below in this email).
- The app is short and takes only a few minutes to complete.
- You must be enrolled as a Southeast Tech student and taking the majority of classes at the physical Southeast Tech campus (online-only students are not eligible).
- You must currently be enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester and on schedule to successfully complete the term.
- You must be enrolled in a qualifying diploma, associate, or certificate program.
- You must be eligible for federal Title IV financial aid.
- For the purpose of Title IV eligibility, you must be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress at Southeast Tech.
- To qualify for CARES funds, you must have completed a 2020-2021 FAFSA or otherwise be eligible to receive Title IV (Financial Aid) funding. If you have not filed the 2020-2021 FAFSA, go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and complete the CARES application by Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. (Southeast’s school code is 008285.)
- You must have additional expenses that have been incurred for food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, and childcare as a result of the disruption to Southeast Tech’s campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Students are ineligible if enrolled in a dual/concurrent enrollment course(s) OR
- Students are ineligible if enrolled in an online program during the Fall 2020 semester OR
- Students are ineligible if not in good standing with Federal Financial Aid OR
- Students are ineligible if they did not incur additional expenses as a result of the disruption to Southeast Tech’s campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HEERF Funding Reports
- 2020 - Third Quarter
- 2020 - Fourth Quarter
- 2021 - First Quarter
- 2021 - Second Quarter
- 2021 - Third Quarter
- 2021 - Fourth Quarter
- 2022 - First Quarter
- 2022 - Second Quarter
- 2022 - Third Quarter
- 2022 - Fourth Quarter
- 2023 - First Quarter
- 2023 - Second Quarter
- 2023 - Third Quarter
Questions?
Questions regarding this report or Southeast Technical College’s Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants can be directed to Rich Kluin, Vice President Finance/Operations at cares@southeasttech.edu.
