The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. This legislation provided supplemental funding to the HEERF I CARES Act awards to colleges and universities in the United States to ensure learning continued for students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following information is provided by Normandale Community College in response to the 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 the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA program to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
Normandale Community College signed and submitted the Certificate and Agreement for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the HEERF I - Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on April 13, 2020 which included assurances to use at least 50% of the total CARES Act allocation for student emergency funds.
On February 1, 2021,Normandale received notification of a supplemental HEERF II award through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, but as a recipient of HEERF I - CARES Act funding, was not required to submit a certification agreement for the HEERF II award. Normandale intends to use the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA program 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 under the CRRSAA program.
Normandale received $2,401,288 in funding for emergency financial assistance for students with exceptional need.
Normandale has also committed to spending $2,653,062 of the institutional portion of the funding, to provide a total of $5 million in funds for student financial assistance.
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA and program as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter).
4. The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA program.
Based on the expanded use of funds authority under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental ACT (CRRSAA), the pool of eligible students expanded to include all enrolled students except DACA/DREAM Act student and International Students with an FYI VISA status in SEVIS. As of the spring 2021 term, Normandale identified 9,058 eligible students. As of June 30, 4534 students are enrolled for the summer 2021 term and could be grant eligible.
Based on the expanded use of funds authority under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the pool of eligible students has been expanded to include any student who was enrolled on or after March 13, 2020. Normandale will continue to award to students who are enrolled for the current term. As of October 1, 2021, there are 8,446 students who could be considered eligible. As of the fall 2021 term, Normandale identified 9,273 eligible students and for spring term, first quarter 2022, Normandale identified 6964 eligible students.
5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA program.
6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA program.
Normandale will distribute these funds through two awarding methods:
Normandale Community College defined students with exceptional need as having an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on their 2020-21 FAFSA that would make them eligible for a Federal Pell Grant or Minnesota State Grant. Pell Grant recipients were identified by the U.S. Department of Education as a priority group for exceptional need. We are also including Minnesota State Grant recipients, as they are students from low- and moderate- income families determined through criteria by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. Approval of the spending plan was given both by student leaders and the Minnesota State Chancellor's Office.
Students who were enrolled for the Spring 2021 term and met this qualification were given a direct payment of $1300 on Tuesday, April 6. This direct payment is to cover the cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. All payments were sent directly to students by check or direct deposit. For students whose emergency expenses include an unpaid tuition or fees balance, they were given instruction on how to make payment to Normandale.
Based on regulatory direction from the federal Department of Education, students who are either on DACA or Dream Act eligible, as well as International students with an F1 VISA status in SEVIS are not eligible for CRRSAA funding. However, they may apply for institutional emergency grant funding through the Normandale Cares Emergency Grant application.
Concurrent high school students and students enrolled entirely non-credit courses (continuing education) are not eligible for emergency funding. If students were attending more than one Minnesota State college or university, the direct payment amount may be adjusted to receive a total of $1,300 from all CRRSAA funds.
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Differing lists of students who were eligible for the emergency funds listed above, received email communications about the funds on March 30 - April 6.
For students who were not eligible based on the 2020-21 FAFSA results but have had a change of income, they were encouraged to complete the COVID-19 special circumstance form. This allows consideration for financial aid based on 2020 income/unemployment, rather than the 2018 information entered on the 2020-21 FAFSA. This was one portion of our effort to meet the requirements of the American Rescue Plan requirement that we conduct outreach to students who may have had a change of income.
9700 France Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55431
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