Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

Feather River College has signed and returned an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education and will use at least 50% of the student portion of their Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) allocation to emergency grants directly to students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund provides funding for emergency financial aid grants to students, specifically for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. These funds may cover expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. Feather River College received $299,577 under the CARES Act for emergency financial aid grants to students.

Distribution of CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF)

FRC has distributed 576 HEERF grants to 477 eligible students for a grand total of $299,577. The first wave of HEERF grants consisted of 443 eligible students, totaling $266,100. The second wave of HEERF grants consisted of 111 eligible students living in campus housing, totaling $22,200. These students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 and were enrolled at FRC on or before March 23, 2020.  The third wave of HEERF grants (22 students, totaling $11,277) were spent in accordance with the allowable uses of the HEERF II Funds.  

Eligibility

Guidance released by the U.S. Department of Education indicated only students who are, or could be, eligible for Title IV aid (i.e. the Pell Grant and/or Federal Direct Loans) under Section 484 of the HEA may receive emergency grants. This definition includes but is not limited to:

• U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens
• Students with valid SSN
• Students registered with the selective service
• Students with a high school diploma or GED
• Programs leading to a degree or certificate

Original eligibility guidance from the U.S. Department of Education has been challenged in Federal court.  At this time, FRC has not made any changes to the existing allocation formula.  DACA students at FRC who were not included in the original eligibility guidance have already received a similar emergency grant aid from the FRC Foundation and other support programs.

Several factors were considered in determining the amount of emergency financial aid to students including eligibility criteria for on-campus enrollment, number of units enrolled, and FAFSA-determined Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The amount funded was based upon the following factors:

	efc $0 - $4,000	efc $4,001 - $10,000	efc $10,000 +
Part Time 3.0 - 5.5 units enrolled	$200	$100	$100
part time 6.0 - 11.5 units enrolled	$600	$400	$200
full time 12 + units enrolled	$800	$600	$400

CARES Act Student Notifications

Students have been notified by email that FRC has received funding from the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to be distributed in the form of emergency grants to help students affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Please refer to the below attachments to view the emails sent to eligible students. Students have also been instructed to make sure that FRC has an up-to-date mailing address for them and to be on the lookout for an emergency grant check in the near future.

CARES Act HEERF Letter to Eligible Students

FRC Student Housing Move-Out CARES Act HEERF Notification

FRC Student Housing Check-Out Procedure Notificaiton

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSAA) Act and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Higher Education Emergency Relief II and III Funds (HEERF)

Feather River College has signed and returned an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education and will use at least 50% of the student portion of their Higher Education Emergency Relief II and III Funds (HEERF) allocation to emergency grants directly to students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CRRSAA Act and ARP Higher Education Emergency Relief II and II Funds provide funding for emergency financial aid grants to students for any component of the student’s cost of attendance and any emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus such as tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care (including mental health), and child care. Feather River College received $299,577 under the CRRSAA Act and $1,343,184 under the ARP for emergency financial aid grants to students.

Distribution of CRRSAA Act and ARP Higher Education Emergency Relief II and III Funds (HEERF)

1st Quarter (2022): $704,818 total awards ($394,550 in HEERF grants, $77,100 in Student Housing Incentives, and $233,168 in Student Vaccine Incentives) were distributed to 424 eligible students.

4th Quarter (2021): $192,686 total awards ($188,086 in HEERF grants and $4,600 in Student Housing Incentives) were distributed to 198 eligible students. 

Eligibility

There are no student eligibility requirements for HEERF II and III funds. Students applied for HEERF II and III funds by completing an online application.  During fall 2021, the distribution of awards was determined by enrollment level (.5 – 5.5 units, $500; 6 – 11.5 units, $750; 12+ units, $1,000), with priority being given to students with exceptional need (as determined by the students expected family contribution (EFC)).

During spring 2022, in addition to the formula above, Estimated Family Contribution was added as a criteria for award determinations: $0-6,000 EFC, $600; $6,000-10,000 EFC, $400; $10,000+ EFC $200. Students who did not complete a FAFSA did not receive an additional amount on top of the enrollment criteria.  

Student Notifications

Students were notified by email that FRC received funding from the CRRSAA Act and ARP Higher Education Emergency Relief II and III Funds to be distributed in the form of emergency grants to help students affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Students were instructed to make sure that FRC has an up-to-date mailing address for them and to be on the lookout for an emergency grant check in the near future.