On March 27, 2020, the federal government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"). The CARES Act includes a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ("HEERF"). A portion of HEERF funds must go directly to eligible students in the form of emergency financial aid grants for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 crisis ("HEERF Student Share Grant Funds"). Since the CARES Act in March 2020, two additional relief packages were passed. The required reporting for both the student and the institutional share is found below.
HEERF quarterly reporting methods have changed over time, and this section includes the most recent template that encompasses both institution and student share spending. The revised template takes effective for Quarter 2 (4/1/2022 through 6/30/2022) reporting.
On September 30, 2021, the US Department of Education (ED) revised the quarterly reporting requirements. Effective with the 9/30/2021 quarterly reporting, the following reflects the most recent requirements outlined by ED. Below these figures are details about each funding source, total amounts to be received, and other information about the distribution of the student share grants.
Amounts Distributed to Date
7/1/2021 through 9/30/2021: $7,015,882.93
10/1/2021 through 12/31/2021: $898,181.41
1/1/2022 through 3/31/2022: $6,998,778.71
Number of Students Who have Received HEERF Student Grants
7/1/2021 through 9/30/2021: 7,066 unique students
10/1/2021 through 12/31/2021: 966 unique students
1/1/2022 through 3/31/2022: 6,600 unique students
Archived Reporting below (before September 30, 2021)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund I
The following information is provided by Sinclair Community College (the College) as required by the US Department of Education (ED) in order to comply with the reporting requirements under the CARES Act. Sinclair’s first 30-day progress report was provided on May 25, 2020. Information below will continue to be updated no later than 10 days after the end of each calendar quarter (September 30, December 31, March 31, June 30) thereafter. Since all HEERF I emergency grant funding has been spent, there will be no further updates to this report after October 7, 2020.
On April 27, 2020, the College signed and returned to ED the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the College 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.
Pursuant to the Certification and Agreement, the College is eligible to receive up to $3,717,102 in HEERF I Student Share Grant Funds. While the College has received confirmation of the availability of these funds, the College will draw down funds as they are spent.
As of the date of this submission, the College has distributed $1,524,250 in HEERF I Student Share Grant Funds to students through the online application for Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 semesters. In addition, $2,161,928 has been distributed for the Fall 2020 semester. Finally, $30,924 in HEERF I Student Share Grant Funds were used to reimburse Sinclair for COVID-19 emergency grant funds that were provided to students before the funding became available. In total, $3,717,102 has been distributed to students as of 10/7/2020.
As of September 2, 2020, the College has received 21,165 FAFSAs for the 2019-2020 award year, and 16,005 FAFSAs for the 2020-2021 award year. These totals reflect how many students may be eligible for the HEERF I Student Share Grant Funds since completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is one of the primary requirements in determining a student's eligibility.
2,879 students received HEERF I Student Share Grants through the online application.
The College decided to launch a new CARES Act Emergency Grant Application for enrolled students to request emergency funds. To receive these grants, students must apply through the CARES Act Emergency Grant Application, be Federal financial aid eligible (FAFSA on file), be enrolled at Sinclair Community College, and if enrolled during Spring 2020, have been attending at least one in person course when courses were changed to remote delivery.
The application initially captured the amount of the student's request, and the eligible expenses for which the funds are requested with a maximum award set at $250 per student, per semester. In mid-June 2020 the College adjusted the award maximum to $1,000 per student, per semester and launched revised applications for (1) Spring 2020/Summer 2020 and (2) Fall 2020. All previous recipients had their award(s) automatically increased to $1,000.
Future award maximums will depend on the actual number of applications received, and the funds requested by students.
Emails have been sent to enrolled students directing them to apply for the emergency grant funds.
Instructions have also been given to grant recipients to select their refund preference through BankMobile if they not have previously completed this step to expedite the delivery of funds.
Additionally, in the eligibility notification students are reminded that these funds are to be used to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus including food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
Finally, students are instructed that if they require further assistance with campus and community resources to contact the Ombudsman Assistance Center.
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA)
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $81.88 billion in support for education, in addition to the $30.75 billion expeditiously provided last spring through the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136. The following information is provided by Sinclair Community College (the College) as required by the US Department of Education (ED) in order to comply with the reporting requirements under CRRSAA. Sinclair’s is required to provide quarterly reports with the first two reports being due July 10, 2021 (January-March and April-June). Information below will continue to be updated no later than 10 days after the end of each calendar quarter (September 30, December 31, March 31, June 30) thereafter. Since all HEERF II emergency grant funding has been spent, there will be no further updates to this report after October 5, 2021.
On April 27, 2020, the College signed and returned to ED the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the College 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. The CRRSAA authorized supplemental awards to the existing Student Aid Portion and Sinclair was not required to submit or revise its application with the Department to receive these new funds.
Pursuant to the Grant Award Notice, the College is eligible to receive up to $3,717,102 in HEERF II Student Share Grant Funds. While the College has received confirmation of the availability of these funds, the College will draw down funds as they are spent.
3/31/2021: The College has distributed $1,880,000 in HEERF II Student Share Grant Funds to students.
6/29/2021: The College has distributed $3,609,266.83 in HEERF II Student Share Grant Funds to students.
10/5/2021: The College has distributed $3,708,036.57 in HEERF II Student Share Grant Funds to students.
As of March 16, 2021, Spring 2021 enrollment at the College was 18,207. These totals reflect how many students may be eligible for the HEERF II Student Share Grant Funds.
3/31/2021: 3,760 students received HEERF II Student Share Grants; $500 per Federal Pell Grant eligible student enrolled in the Spring 2021 semester.
6/29/2021: 5,575 students received HEERF II Student Share Grants.
10/5/2021: 5,739 students received HEERF II Student Share Grants.
3/31/2021: All awards from HEERF II had gone to students enrolled in the Spring 2021 semester with disbursed Federal Pell Grant funds. This met ED’s requirement that CRRSAA funds be spent with a priority of helping students with exception need.
6/26/2021: HEERF II funds have been used to assist students enrolled on or after March 13, 2020 with an outstanding balance. Additionally, all students with a FASFA and a completed financial aid file, even those that are not Pell eligible, were awarded $500 in the Summer 2021 semester.
10/5/2021: The College continued its use of HEERF II funds to assist students enrolled on or after March 13, 2020 with an outstanding balance. Spending breakdown:
Emails have been sent to enrolled students with Federal Pell Grant disbursements informing them they were provided with $500 in emergency grant funds.
Instructions have also been given to grant recipients to select their refund preference through BankMobile if they not have previously completed this step to expedite the delivery of funds.
Additionally, in the eligibility notification students are reminded that these funds are to be used to help cover expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic including food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
Finally, students are instructed that if they require further assistance with campus and community resources to contact the Ombudsman Assistance Center.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP)
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021. In total, the ARP authorizes $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following information is provided by Sinclair Community College (the College) as required by the US Department of Education (ED) in order to comply with the reporting requirements under the ARP Act. Sinclair’s is required to provide quarterly reports with the first two reports being due July 10, 2021 (January-March and April-June). Information below will continue to be updated no later than 10 days after the end of each calendar quarter (September 30, December 31, March 31, June 30) thereafter.
On April 27, 2020, the College signed and returned to ED the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the College 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. The ARP authorized supplemental awards to the existing Student Aid Portion and Sinclair was not required to submit or revise its application with the Department to receive these new funds.
Pursuant to the Grant Award Notice, the College is eligible to receive up to $16,300,367 in HEERF III Student Share Grant Funds. While the College has received confirmation of the availability of these funds, the College will draw down funds as they are spent.
5/18/2021: $0.00 has been distributed in HEERF III dollars.
10/5/2021: $7,062,924.10 has been distributed in HEERF III dollars.
As of 9/6/2021, there were 15,715 total students enrolled at Sinclair per the 14th day of Fall 2021 enrollment report.
10/5/2021: 7,162 students received HEERF III Student Share Grants.
10/5/2021: HEERF III funds have been used to assist students enrolled on or after March 13, 2020 with an outstanding balance. Additionally, all students with a FASFA and a completed financial aid file were awarded $1,000 (Pell eligible) or $750 (not Pell eligible) in the Fall 2021 semester. Further, the College has an Emergency Grant Program through the Office of the Ombudsman and funds were allocated towards that program. Spending breakdown:
Emails have been sent to enrolled students eligible for a block grant disbursements informing them they were provided with and emergency grant fund.
Instructions have also been given to grant recipients to select their refund preference through BankMobile if they have not previously completed this step to expedite the delivery of funds.
Additionally, in the eligibility notification students are reminded that these funds are to be used to help cover expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic including food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
The Office of the Bursar identified students with an outstanding past-due balance between Spring 2020 and Summer 2021 and completed an outreach campaign to those students (email, letter, phone call) providing them a link to an application where they can request funding and (a) allow Sinclair to apply the funds directly to their bill or (b) request the funds sent to them so they can use them towards the balance or other expenses related to COVID-19.
Finally, students are instructed that if they require further assistance with campus and community resources to contact the Ombudsman Assistance Center.
The following information is provided by Sinclair Community College (the College) as required by the US Department of Education (ED) in order to comply with the reporting requirements under the CARES Act, CRRSAA and ARP for Section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion, (a)(2), and (a)(3). The first progress report was required by October 30, 2020 covering the period from first award through September 30, 2020. Additional reports will continue to be posted no later than 10 days after the end of each calendar quarter (December 31, March 31, June 30, September 30) thereafter until all funds have been expended.