The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III), authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues 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 ARP 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.
Normandale has received notification of a supplemental HEERF III award through the American Rescue Plan Act, but as a recipient of HEERF I - CARES Act funding, was not required to submit a certification agreement for the HEERF III award. Normandale intends to use the applicable amount of funds designated under the ARP 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 ARP program.
On May 13, 2021, Normandale was notified of a supplemental HEERF III award from the American Rescue Plan Act in the amount of $9,359,048.00 for emergency financial aid grants to students.
Normandale has also committed to spending $571,952 of the institutional portion of the funding, to provide a total of over $9.9 million in funds for student financial assistance.
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the ARP 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 ARP program.
Based on the expanded use of funds authority under the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA), the pool of eligible students expanded to include all enrolled students who are not in a fully online program As of the fall 2021 term, Normandale identified 9,273 eligible students. For spring term, Normandale identified 6964 eligible students were enrolled and met the conditions outlined in #6.
5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the ARP 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 ARP program.
Normandale Community College defined students with exceptional need as having an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on their 2021-22 FAFSA that would make them eligible for a Federal Pell Grant or Minnesota State Grant, or an income level that is less than two times the federal poverty guidelines. 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 and Minnesota Dream Act 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 and met this qualification were given a direct payment of $1,300. Fall 2021 enrolled students were disbursed on November 3, for Spring 2022 the disbursement was on March 2. This direct payment was 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.
International students with an F1 VISA status in SEVIS are not eligible for the direct payment awards. However, they may apply for 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 $1300 from all ARP funds.
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
We sent distinct messages to four groups:
9700 France Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55431
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