CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund :: Mayville State University

MAYVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

On March 27, 2020 the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law. This act included funding to institutions of higher education, referred to as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), providing students with grants to offset the unexpected expenses they may have incurred as campus operations were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. MSU will use at least 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Grants to students.

Last Updated: 7/10/2023

EMERGENCY GRANTS TO STUDENTS
Total Funds Available: $156,360

Date Application Submitted: 5/11/2020

Date Application Approved: 5/15/2020

Date Funds Drawn Down: 6/22/2020

The MSU CARES Act Distribution Report was first published on 6/23/2020 and is updated every 45 days per Department of Education guidelines.

Initial guidance indicated that recipients needed to be Title IV eligible students. MSU then determined which students met this requirement and were enrolled at least half-time. The CARES Act Grant funding does exclude students who are not a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible non-citizen. It also excludes students enrolled in strictly on-line academic programs. Eligible students were notified on May 18, 2020 to complete and submit the CARES Act Grant Application to apply for funds to cover expenses related to COVID-19. The maximum grant award is $500.

The CARES Act Grant Application became available May 18, 2020. MSU determined that at least 377 students were eligible to participate. Distributions began May 29, 2020. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Grant funds as of June 23, 2020 is 71. Funds disbursed under initial guidance (through June 23, 2020) totaled $35,500.

Students who submitted applications and were approved, were disbursed funds via direct deposit. Students who did not have direct deposit established, were mailed checks to their home address (indicated in Campus Connection).

Last Updated: 06/23/2020

Beginning August 31, 2020, the reporting will be updated quarterly due to U.S. Department of Education's updated guidelines.

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Grant funds as of September 30, 2020 is 115. Funds disbursed under initial guidance (through September 30, 2020) totaled $57,500.

Last Updated: 10/09/2020

Due to low enrollment of some classes, $4,290 of the CARES Act funding was awarded to eligible students enrolled in Fall Term 2020 Independent Study courses that were impacted by COVID-19. In order to assist them with the amount of cost incurred for the course based on credits enrolled, eligible students were awarded funds in a block award process.

Due to additional available funds, the CARES committee waived the application beginning 11/1/2020. Recognizing that the COVID-19 situation had significantly affected students who lived in our residence halls Spring 2020, MSU determined that $87,400 would be awarded to eligible students to defray any expenses experienced due to residence halls being closed. These students were considered eligible based on at least current, half-time enrollment for both Spring & Fall 2020 and TITLE IV eligible. This was awarded through a block award process in the amount of $600 for those who had not previously received CARES funds and an additional $100 for students who had previously received CARES funding through the application process.

With funds remaining, the committee recognized that the Resident Assistants who volunteered to stay on campus through Spring 2020 to assist students who were leaving due to COVID-19 incurred unexpected costs, as well. These students did not get a housing refund. A block awarding was issued in the amount of $1,194 for those students who had not previously received any CARES funds and $594 for those students who had. This totaled $4,170.

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Grant funds through December 31, 2020 is 253. The total funds disbursed under initial guidance (through December 31, 2020) totaled $156,360. This is the final quarterly posting report as all student portion funds have been spent.

Last Updated: 1/8/2021