6/30/2022
American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act HEERF III Disclosure
Geneva College has received funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) established under the American Rescue Plan (ARP). As required, Geneva College discloses as follows:
- Certification. Geneva College signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education on April 15, 2020 for the HEERF I funds. This signed agreement remains in effect for all additional HEERF fund allocations. Acceptance of the HEERF allocations indicates Geneva College agrees to abide by all requirements of the funds and assures the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than the required amount of funds to provide HEERF grants to students. The Certification and Agreement form is accessible on the Department’s website.
- Total Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students Funding. The total amount of funds that the College will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to its Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $1,743,425.
- Total Distribution Amounts. As of June 30, 2022, the College had distributed $1,743,425 of the $1,743,425 discussed in paragraph 2 above to students.
- Eligible Students. Students who are or were enrolled in an institution of higher education during the COVID-19 national emergency are eligible for emergency financial aid grants from the HEERF, regardless of whether they completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or are eligible for Title IV funds. As under the CRRSAA, institutions are directed with the ARP funds to prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants or are undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances in awarding emergency financial aid grants to students.
In the initial distribution (August 2021), the College awarded funds to students who were known to the College as having exceptional need. Our Student Accounts staff identified 17 individuals with bona fide reasons for need of the funds (parent lost employment, terminal illness of a parent, and other general reasons for need). All of the students in the initial distribution were PELL eligible.
In the second distribution (October 2021), the College estimates that 1,321 students were eligible to receive HEERF funds during this distribution. Pell eligibility and low Expected Family Contribution (EFC) were prioritized. The College’s methodology for the second distribution (including eligibility) is explained in paragraph 6 below.
In the third distribution (January 2022), the College estimates that 1,142 students were eligible to receive HEERF funds during this distribution. Pell eligibility and low Expected Family Contribution (EFC) were prioritized. In addition, 2 additional students were identified by our Student Financial Services staff as having exceptional need. Both students were Pell eligible and had a $0 EFC. The College’s methodology for the third distribution (including eligibility) is explained in paragraph 6 below.
- Total Distribution Recipients. 17 students received HEERF III funds in the initial August 2021 distribution. In the October 2021 distribution, 790 students received HEERF III funds. In the January 2022 distribution, 694 students received HEERF III funds.
- Distribution Methodology. The College reviewed eligible students for exceptional need based on Pell eligibility, low EFC, and requests for additional financial assistance. The College distributed a small portion of the funds in early August 2021.
The methodology used by the College for the second round of Emergency Financial Grants under ARP is described in the HEERF III Grant Criteria (Fall '21).
The methodology used by the College for the third round of Emergency Financial Aid Grants under ARP is described in the HEERF III Grant Criteria (Spring ‘22).
- Instructions for Emergency Financial Aid Grant Recipients. Students were provided a letter with respect to the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. View the initial distribution sample letter as well as the second distribution sample letter and the third distribution sample letter.
Additional Documents
