Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting:
Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students
Trinity Health System School of Nursing 1st Quarter Fund Report 10/5/2020
Background:
Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act” or the “Act”), Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (March 27, 2020), directs institutions receiving funds under Section 18004 of the Act to submit (in a time and manner required by the Secretary) a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”).
On May 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education posted their reporting requirements for HEERF participating institutions. Each HEERF participating institution is responsible for providing this information in report format (the “30-day Fund Report”) to the Secretary 30-days from the date of the institution’s Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education. All participating institutions are required to post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website. Accordingly, the following information must appear in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation under 18004(a)(1) and updated quarterly thereafter.
Trinity Health System School of Nursing hereby addresses the required information for the initial “30-day Fund Report” and the “1st Quarter Report”, as of 10/5/2020:
1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or 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.
30-Day Validation: Trinity Health System School of Nursing completed and submitted the Funding Certification Agreement on Tuesday, July 28, 2020. A Trinity Health System School of Nursing Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for Student Emergency Relief Application was developed. The institution 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.
1st Quarter Validation 10/5/2020: Trinity Health System School of Nursing has disbursed a total of $57,232.00. $49,961.00 of that total was from the HEERF Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students (Student Portion) and $7,271.00 from the Institutional Portion for a grand total of $57,232.00. Trinity Health System School of Nursing has used more than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
30-Day Validation: Trinity Health System School of Nursing received $49,961.00 in funding to be distributed among its eligible applicants.
1st Quarter Validation 10/5/2020: Trinity Health System School of Nursing has received a total of $99,922.00: $49,961.00 for the Student Portion and $49,961.00 for the Institutional Portion. As of September 30, 2020. Trinity Health System School of Nursing has disbursed a grand total of $57,232.00 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students: $49,961.00 from the Student Portion and $7,271.00 from the Institutional Portion.
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every quarter thereafter).
30-Day Validation: As of August 26, 2020, $0.00 has been distributed to eligible applicants.
On September 2, 2020, $34,024.00 in emergency financial aid grants are scheduled to be disbursed. The remaining $15,937.00 will be made available in emergency grant funds to any of the remaining eligible students plus any of the 32 students who demonstrate eligibility and entered the program on August 17, 2020 due to ongoing disruption in campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
1st Quarter Validation 10/5/2020: Trinity Health System School of Nursing disbursed a total of $57,232.00 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to 54 students. On September 2, 2020 $34,024.00 was distributed to 33 eligible students. On September 30, 2020 an additional $15, 937.00 from the Student Portion plus $7,271.00 from the Institutional Portion of the HEERF monies was disbursed to an additional 21 eligible students. The majority of this group entered the Program on August 17, 2020.
4. The estimated total number of students at the institution 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 to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
30-Day Validation: Trinity Health System School of Nursing had a total of 47 students during Spring and Summer 2020 eligible to participate in the program with an additional 15 students pending Title IV eligibility.
1st Quarter Validation 10/5/2020: A total of 77 students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Fifty-four (54) of those eligible students submitted an application and incurred costs related to a disruption of Campus Operations due to COVID-19, and therefore were eligible to receive the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to
students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
30-Day Validation: At this time, Zero (0) Trinity Health System School of Nursing students have been awarded an emergency Financial Aid Grant from the CARES Act. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for Student Emergency Relief Applications were mailed out to students on August 10, 2020 with an August 24, 2020 return deadline. On September 2, 2020, $34,024.00 in emergency financial aid grants are scheduled to be disbursed to 33 students who are currently meeting the eligibility requirements.
1st Quarter Validation 10/5/2020: As of September 30, 2020 Fifty-four (54) students have received Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency
Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the
CARES Act.
30-Day Validation: Students who meet all the criteria below are eligible to apply:
1. Students of Trinity Health System School of Nursing who were enrolled in the 2020 Spring Semester in at least one in-seat course that was moved to online.
2. Students must have completed a 19-20 FAFSA that demonstrates eligibility for Title IV aid (federal financial aid).
3. For students that continued to be enrolled for the 2020 Summer Session, a completed
20-21 FAFSA demonstrating eligibility for Title IV financial aid can be used in place of the 19-20 FAFSA.
The goal is to distribute the entire $49,961 to all eligible students who return the completed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for Student Emergency Relief Application.
The methodology employed for the distribution of the student portion of the HEERF Funds was based upon the responses to the four questions on the Trinity Health System School of Nursing Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for Student Emergency Relief Application. Thirty-five applications were received by the August 24, 2020 deadline. Thirty-three applications were eligible for receipt of emergency financial aid grants in the first round of disbursements scheduled for September 2, 2020. Grants range from $192 to $1240 based upon the responses on the Grant applications. The School of Nursing Dean and Coordinator of Student Affairs serve as the Emergency Financial Aid Grant Committee.
The Grant allocations are as follows:
Laptop/Computer Purchase: $848.00
Printer Purchase: $192.00
Laptop/Computer and Printer Purchase: $1,040.00
Laptop/Computer, Printer and Other Purchases: $1,240.00
Laptop/Computer and Other Purchases: $1,048.00
Printer and Other Purchases: $392.00
1st Quarter Validation 10/5/2020: The eligibility requirements were expanded for the Class that entered the Program on August 17, 2020:
Students who meet all the criteria below are eligible to apply:
1. First-year students enrolled in the 2020 Fall Semester who are experiencing limitations in Campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. The first-year student must also have completed a 20-21 FAFSA demonstrating eligibility for Title IV aid (Federal Financial Aid).
The methodology employed for the distribution of the student portion of the HEERF Funds was based upon the responses to the four questions on the Trinity Health System School of Nursing Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for Student Emergency Relief Application. Grants range from $192 to $1240 based upon the responses on the Grant applications. The School of Nursing Dean and Coordinator of Student Affairs serve as the Emergency Financial Aid Grant Committee.
The Grant allocations are as follows:
Laptop/Computer Purchase: $848.00
Printer Purchase: $192.00
Laptop/Computer and Printer Purchase: $1,040.00
Laptop/Computer, Printer and Other Purchases: $1,240.00
Laptop/Computer and Other Purchases: $1,048.00
Printer and Other Purchases: $392.00
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
30-Day Validation: On August 10, 2020 Trinity Health System School of Nursing mailed out 62 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for Student Emergency Relief Applications along with cover letters. Faculty members were each assigned a group of students to call to give information about CARES Act funding, inform them of the anticipating mailing, and reinforce the need to return the application by the August 24, 2020 deadline, if they were eligible and if they had expenses related to disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. The Dean and Coordinator of Student Affairs reached out to the 15 students with pending Title IV eligibility. Students were told that they could still complete a 2020-2021 FAFSA, if they had not already submitted a FAFSA. Follow-up phone calls were made on August 19, 2020 to students who had not yet submitted their application.
1st Quarter Validation 10/5/2020: On August 31, 2020, Cover letters along with The Trinity Health System School of Nursing Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for Student Emergency Relief Applications – Round 2 were distributed to 31 members of the Class of 2022. The deadline for submission was September 11, 2020. The Dean of the School of Nursing distributed the cover letters and applications to the Class of 2022 in the Lecture Hall. A verbal overview of the CARES Act/HERRF Program was offered to the students at that time. Twenty-one students submitted applications prior to the deadline. On September 9, 2020 the Dean once again addressed students in the clinical lab reminding them of the September 11, 2020 application submission deadline.