Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting:
Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students
Trinity Health System School of Nursing 30-Day Fund Report
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 every 45 days thereafter.
Trinity Health System School of Nursing hereby addresses the required information for the “30-day Fund Report”:
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.
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.
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.
Validation: Trinity Health System School of Nursing received $49,961.00 in funding to be distributed among its eligible applicants.
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 45 days thereafter).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 $49,691 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
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
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.