Final Quarterly Report
In accordance with Section 314(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (“HEERF II”) and the guidance issued by the United States Department of Education, including Office of Postsecondary Education’s guidance dated May 6, 2020, Allegheny College submits this report concerning the award Allegheny College received under HEERF II consisting of funds for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
1. Acknowledgement of Funding and Certification
Allegheny College reviewed, signed and returned the U.S. Department of Education’s Certification and Agreement for HEERF I (CARES Act) funds on April 14, 2020, and we received a grant award notification for CRRSAA funds on January 19, 2021. We reviewed and sent confirmation of receipt of the CRRSAA funds on January 29, 2021. As required by the certification, Allegheny College provided the same amount in financial aid grants to students from Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA funds that it was required to provide under its original CARES Act Student Aid Portion award.
2. Funds Awarded for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students
Allegheny College received $871,541 under Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA designated for distribution to students with exceptional financial need.
3. Emergency Financial Aid Grants Distributed to Students to Date Under Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA
Of the $871,541 Allegheny College received under Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA designated for distribution to students with exceptional financial need, Allegheny College has distributed $871,541 as of the date of this report.
4. Eligible Students
Allegheny College identified 789 high-need students as of the date of this report and who, thus, were eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA.
5. Eligible Students Receiving CRRSAA Aid
As of the date of this report, Allegheny College has distributed funds it received under Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA designated for distribution to students with exceptional financial need to 789 students.
6. Distribution Method
Funds Already Distributed
In order to qualify for Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA, Allegheny College students must have demonstrated financial need either through their Expected Family Contribution as calculated by their 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or their cumulative 2020-2021 student loan debt.
Of those students who qualified, Allegheny College chose to provide $1,300 to 408 of the highest-need students who qualified for a Federal Pell Grant. Students who did not qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, but still demonstrated a significant level of financial need as determined by their 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), received $1,000 each. This consisted of 222 students. The remaining 159 students accumulated a higher-than-average student loan debt for the 2020-2021 academic year, and therefore were awarded $750 each. In order to award an equitable amount to each qualified student, Allegheny contributed an additional $109, which brought the grand total of distributed funds to $871,650, with CRRSAA funds covering $871,541.
7. Communication to Students Concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants
In order to distribute this grant according to the student’s wishes, on April 5, 2021, Allegheny College emailed all 789 students designated to receive HEERF II funds requesting that each student complete the Student HEERF Award Option to Receive Funds agreement by April 7, 2021. On this agreement, students indicated if they wished to have their HEERF II funds pay down their Allegheny student bill or if the funds should be issued directly to them. If a student did not complete the Student HEERF Award Option to Receive Funds agreement by April 7, 2021, his or her HEERF II funds were issued directly to the student.