Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

CARES Act: Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students

45 Day Report – As of August 21, 2020

 

Bay Mills Community College received $222,497 from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) under the CARES Act, of which $111,249 is designated to provide emergency financial aid grants to students who were impacted by the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. Eligible expenses may include those under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. BMCC used most of the remaining funds to pay for laptops for the Student Success Center to lend to students.

The U.S. Department of Education requires a report thirty days (30) from the date of the Grant Award Notification and every forty-five (45) days thereafter. Bay Mills Community College issued the 30-Day Report on May 24, 2020, and 45-Day Report on July 8, 2020.

The following information is being provided to comply with the U.S. Department of Education’s reporting requirements:

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.

Bay Mills Community College signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education on April 14, 2020, and acknowledges that the College intends to use no less than 50% of the funds 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.

On April 24, 2020, Bay Mills Community College was awarded $111,249 to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. On June 1, 2020, $77,500 of these funds were requested and deposited in the College’s bank account on June 2, 2020. The first check distribution totaling $77,500 was issued to students on June 1, 2020.   

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).

As of August 21, 2020, $77,500 was distributed directly to students.

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.

For the spring 2020 semester, Bay Mills Community College determined that 87 students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and met the other eligibility requirements, as determined by the U.S. Department of Education, to receive an emergency financial aid grant. There were potentially 40 additional students who may have been eligible if they completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or supplied other missing documentation, by June 30, 2020. None of these students completed the FAFSA or supplied the missing documentation.

We followed the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance and excluded students who were enrolled exclusively in online courses. Unfortunately, this eliminated many students who were Title IV eligible from receiving an emergency financial aid grant. Other students were excluded because they did not meet satisfactory academic progress requirements or were not enrolled in an eligible program.

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.

As of August 21, 2020, 87 students have received an emergency financial aid grant. 

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.

Bay Mills Community College followed the U.S. Department of Education’s regulations and guidance provided in their Frequently Asked Questions to determine the eligibility requirements, which are detailed here. The Financial Aid Director identified the students who met these eligibility requirements for the spring, 2020 semester.

The award amount for the spring 2020 semester was based on the enrollment status as of March 13, 2020. The following amounts were awarded:

• Full-Time (12 credits or more) – $1,000
• Three-Quarter Time (9-11 credits) – $750
• Half-Time or Less than Half-Time (1-8 credits) – $500 ​

7.   Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

To distribute the funds more quickly and ensure that all eligible students receive funding, the College identified the eligible students and sent them an email notifying them of the funding, award amount, check distribution date, and how the funds may be used. A letter was also mailed to the students with the emergency financial aid grant check.

Students who meet the other eligibility requirements but had not completed a 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), were sent an email encouraging them to apply before June 30, 2020. The College determined that this was the only practicable way to determine whether these students met the Title IV eligibility requirements. Emails were also sent to students who were missing other types of information. The email templates about potential eligibility are located here.

The emails and letter included a link to the website with detailed information about the CARES Act Student Emergency Grants, which can be found here.