ARP Act 2021: HEERF III Emergency Grants for Students

Background and Details

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2). The ARP appropriated approximately $39.6 billion for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and represents the third stream of funding appropriated for HEERF to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Taken together, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (Pub. L. 116–136), the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) (Pub. L. 116-260), and the ARP represent HEERF I, HEERF II, and HEERF III, respectively. (CMC signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, the funds received under HEERF to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.)

Colorado Mountain College received $6,637,794 from the ARP Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III), of which $3,353,712 is designated to be paid directly to students, as emergency financial aid grants to support students who need to cover any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus. Students determine how they may use their emergency financial aid grant within the allowable uses. The grants may not fully cover the emergency expenses a student has incurred due to the pandemic.

The remaining institutional funds are designated for defraying 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, and payroll). The college’s required budget and expenditure reporting of its institutional portion is posted at:  CMC Cares Act for Students.

The ARP law has some similarities—as well as important differences—from the CARES Act that was enacted on March 27, 2020 and the CRRSAA that was enacted on December 27, 2020.  Unlike the CARES Act, but like the CRRSA Act, ARP requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding the emergency financial aid grants to students. A major difference from both the CARES Act and CRRSAA, is that CMC is now allowed to expand access to all students, not just Title IV eligible students.  As with CRRSAA, the ARP also explicitly provides that the emergency financial aid grants to students may be provided to students exclusively enrolled in distance education.

CMC will utilize the criteria and schedule below for selection and distribution of funds, based on the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as a result of their 2022-2023 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), 2022-2023 CASFA (Colorado Application for State Financial Aid), or their separate form for demonstration of exceptional financial need. The college selected this tiered approach to remain consistent with HEERF I and II, while most suitably supporting our students who demonstrated exceptional financial need.

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND III GRANT AWARDING MODEL - Fall 2022

175% OF PELL ELIGIBILITY (EFC = $0 – $10,860) or OTHER DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL NEED

The Department of Education suggests that exceptional need can be based on students who receive Pell Grants or are undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances.  For those students not eligible to apply for Title IV financial aid, the exceptional need category can also include students who may be eligible for other federal or state need-based aid.

To qualify for the HEERF III emergency financial aid grant at CMC during Fall 2022, students must meet the following criteria:

• CMC received an official 2022-2023 FAFSA or CASFA from the student and the corresponding Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is between $0-$10,860

- OR -

• CMC confirmed need via a valid Demonstration of Exceptional Need Form*

- AND -

• Enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours or 1 ESL course or GED preparation course for the Fall semester.

CMC will determine student eligibility on October 14, 2022 based on the requirements above. Students should only submit a form once for the 2022-2023 Academic Year (unless submitting a correction). Awards will be disbursed approximately ten days following these determination dates. Credit students should meet with their Academic Advisor to enroll in a degree or certificate program.

CMC will be awarding the HEERF grants directly to students through a unique student type account and then refunding in the form of a direct payment to the student. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in direct deposit by October 14 so that they will have access to the funds directly through their enrolled bank account. For those not enrolled in direct deposit, the Student Accounts office will issue a check and mail it to the preferred mailing address on CMC record.

CMC estimates that 7,742 students were eligible in the fall 2022 semester to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the ARP. As of September 30, 2021, CMC had transmitted $15,150 from HEERF III to 44 eligible students based on their prior Ayuda Fund Application. Three students received $3,900 from the HEERF-MSI grant through June 30. By June 30, 2022, CMC had transmitted $2,370,750 from HEERF III to 1,303 eligible students based on their FAFSA or CASFA EFC, prior Ayuda Fund Application, or Demonstration of Exceptional Need Form. No student awards were disbursed between July 1 and September 30, 2022. By December 31, 2022, the final $982,962 of HEERF III was distributed to 771 students and the final $326,587 of HEERF-MSI was distributed to 292 students. The total amount of funds received by CMC students from all rounds of HEERF now equals $5,048,380.

By retaining HEERF funds, you as the student are acknowledging you will use funds toward your cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare.

STUDENT APPEAL PROCESS

CMC used information from the 2022-2023 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the 2022-2023 CASFA (Colorado Application for State Financial Aid) already on file for students to determine eligibility and to award the student portion of the ARP/HEERF III Grant. If you did not receive an e-mail notification from Financial Aid and feel you qualify based on the eligibility criteria below, please request an appeal.

• Have you completed a 2022-2023 FAFSA or CASFA and listed Colorado Mountain College’s school code 004506? If you have not, please complete this step first to begin determining your EFC.
• If you are not eligible to complete a 2022-2023 FAFSA or CASFA, then have you completed the Demonstration of Exceptional Need Form?
• Are you enrolled in at least 6 credit hours, 1 ESL course, or 1 GED preparation course in the current term?

If you meet the above criteria, please email finaid@coloradomtn.edu to request the appeal. Please include your full name and CMC student ID number in the email. Please note we can only communicate with you through your CMC assigned email.