Cashier Office

CARES Act Awards

HEERF I / Cares Act

HEERF I / Cares Act

Overview

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that provides more than $14 billion in emergency funding to higher education. Of those funds, more than $6 billion must go directly to students in the form of emergency financial aid grants (HEERF-student share) for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Allowable Uses

Students must meet Title IV eligibility requirements in order to receive HEERF emergency funds. After confirming the Title IV eligibility requirements, the institution retains discretion over which students will receive HEERF-student share funds. According to the certification agreement, institutions are required to comply with “all applicable laws including non-discrimination laws” when determining who will receive the emergency grants. Beyond that stipulation, there are no further prohibitions of specific students in the certification agreement. Therefore, any Title IV-eligible student may receive HEERF-student share funds, unless prohibited by another law, which would include DACA students, undocumented students and international students.

There have been many questions about awarding HEERF-student share funds to international students, online students, and undocumented students.

International and Undocumented Students: Guidance states that students must meet Title IV eligibility requirements in order to receive HEERF-student share funds. Therefore, international and undocumented students are not eligible to receive emergency grants.

Online Students: Students who were enrolled exclusively in online programs on March 13 (the date of President Trump’s national emergency proclamation) are not eligible for HEERF-student share funds.

Payment Distribution

On July 24th, Solano will issue assistance payments (from the CARES Act) to all students who completed Spring 2020 classes. These payments should be received by direct deposit or paper check within 5-7 days of the date of issue, July 24th, 2020.These funds are intended to be used for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses. The award amounts of the CARES Act awards were allocated as follows:

Spring 2020 - 202010
Earned Unit Groups
Students with Pell Awarded and Paid
Students without Pell Award or Paid
0.5 to 6 Units Completed
$230.00
$115.00
Over 6 Units Completed
$460.00
$230.00
HEERF I
Number of Students
Award Totals
1,443
$331,890.00
3,177
$365,355.00
918
$422,280.00
1,442
$331,660.00
Grand Total
$1,451,185.00

HEERF II / Cares Act

HEERF II / Cares Act

Overview

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 included additional COVID-19 relief through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act. This new COVID stimulus bill included $23 billion for higher education institutions and students, using the same Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) model established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Allowable Uses

Similar to HEERF I, the CRRSAA includes no student eligibility requirements, however, institutions are required to prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial need, such as those who receive Pell Grants. The HEERF II funds can be awarded to online students as well. Unlike HEERF I, the CRRSAA does not require that 50% of an institution’s funds be spent on student grants. It does, however, require that institutions spend at least the same dollar amount on student grants as they were required to spend under the CARES Act. Additionally, any unused CARES Act funds that an institution did not spend prior to December 27, 2020 may be spent in accordance with the allowable uses of the HEERF II Funds. However, institutions are still required to adhere to the 50/50 institutional/student share split for CARES Act funds spent after December 27, 2020.

Student Fund – Institutions may award student grants for:

  • any component of their cost of attendance
    • students must be enrolled in classes in the term for which the funds are allocated
    • students must complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
    • students must have an “expected family contribution” (EFC) below $5,712
  • emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as:
    • tuition
    • food
    • housing
    • health care (including mental)
    • child care

Institutional Fund – Institutions may use the funds to defray expenses associated with coronavirus, including:

  • lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred
  • technology costs associated with a transition to distance education
  • faculty and staff trainings
  • payroll (associated w/COVID, cost incurred on or after March 13, 2020)
  • carry out student support activities authorized by the HEA that address needs related to coronavirus
  • make additional financial aid grants to students

Payment Distribution

Cash is On Its Way to Solano Students!

Solano College will be sending additional payments from $250 or up to a maximum of $850 to students who are completing Spring 2021 classes and receiving fee waivers or Pell grants. The amount of the payment will be based on the number of units completed (example: no. of units x $ = total Cares award) and whether the student is receiving a fee waiver or Pell grant. If you are eligible and meet the requirements, please ensure your address on file is current and have an active account with BankMobile (866-663-2228) to avoid any delays in receiving this assistance.

Payments will be made by the second week of May. This payment is from the Federal CARES funds. We expect to make similar payments for the next several semesters, so register for Fall classes and keep pursuing your dream! There are many more students who can qualify for this and future payments. Even if you think you don’t qualify, or were previously denied, this is a perfect time to apply. To start, please go to http://www.solano.edu/financial_aid/howto.php to apply.

Spring 2021 – 202110
Earned Unit Groups
Students with Pell Awarded and Paid
Students without Pell Award or Paid
0.5 to 6 Units Completed
$425.00
$250.00
Over 6 Units Completed
$850.00
$500.00
HEERF II
Number of Students
Award Totals
286
$121,550.00
667
$166,750.00
1,009
$857,650.00
1,003
$501,500.00
Grand Total
$1,647,450.00

HEERF III / Cares Act

HEERF III / Cares Act Overview The American Rescue Plan (ARP) included additional COVID-19 relief for institutions of higher education. This new COVID stimulus bill included $40 billion, available through September 30, 2023, for higher education institutions and students, using the same Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) model established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Allowable Uses The ARP HEERF III funds require that 50% of an institution’s funds be spent on student grants, with the exception of for-profit institutions, which must spend 100% of their funds on student grants. In addition, the allowable uses of funds are nearly identical to the CRRSA HEERF II funding as illustrated below. Student Portion – Institutions may award student grants for:

  • Any component of their cost of attendance
  • Emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as: tuition; food; housing; health care (including mental); child care

Institutional Portion – Institutions may use the grants to defray expenses associated with coronavirus including:

  • Lost revenue
  • Reimbursement for expenses already incurred
  • Technology costs associated with a transition to distance education
  • Faculty and staff trainings
  • Payroll (associated w/COVID, cost incurred on or after March 13, 2020)
  • Make additional financial aid grants to students

Institutions must use a portion of their allocation for:

  • Implementing evidence-based practices to monitor and suppress coronavirus in accordance with public health guidelines; and
  • Conduct direct outreach to financial aid applicants about the opportunity to receive a financial aid adjustment due to the recent unemployment of a family member or independent student, or other circumstances

First Payment Distribution

Fall 2021 – 202180
Earned Unit Groups
Students with Pell Awarded and Paid
Students without Pell Award or Paid
0.5 to 6 Units Completed
$550.00
$300.00
Over 6 Units Completed
$1,100.00
$600.00
HEERF III
Number of Students
Award Totals
778
$427,900.00
487
$146,100.00
1,066
$1,172,600.00
324
$194,400.00
Grand Total
$1,941,000.00

Second Payment Distribution

Fall 2021 – 202180
Earned Unit Groups
Students with Pell Awarded and Paid
Students without Pell Award or Paid
0.5 to 6 Units Completed
$275.00
$225.00
Over 6 Units Completed
$575.00
$425.00
HEERF III
Number of Students
Award Totals
720
$198,000.00
423
$95,175.00
973
$559,475.00
238
$101,150.00
Grand Total
$953,800.00
Earned Unit Groups
Students with Pell Awarded and Paid
Students without Pell Award or Paid
Number of Students
Award Totals
0.5 to 6 Units Completed
$230.00
1,443
$331,890.00
$115.00
3,177
$365,355.00
Over 6 Units Completed
$460.00
918
$422,280.00
$230.00
1,442
$331,660.00
Grand Totals
$1,451,185.00

Third Payment Distribution

Spring 2022 - 202210
Earned Unit Groups
Students with Pell Awarded and Paid
Students without Pell Award or Paid
0.5 to 6 Units Completed
$900.00
$675.00
Over 6 Units Completed
$1,800.00
$1,350.00
HEERF III
Number of Students
Award Totals
854
$768,600.00
487
$328,725.00
1,031
$1,855,800.00
228
$307,800.00
Grand Total
$3,260,925.00
Spring 2023
Earned Unit Groups
Students with Pell Awarded and Paid & Award Amount
Number of Students
Award Totals
0.5 to 6 Units Completed
$370.00
379
$140,230.00
$452.00
771
$348,492.00
Over 6 Units Completed
$670.00
908
$608,360.00
Grand Totals
$1,097,082.00

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