Walters State Community College disbursed emergency student assistance provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act beginning the June 1, 2020. The college began disbursing emergency student assistance provided by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) on May 5, 2021.
The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEERF) funding to higher education institutions is meant to assist students with unmet expenses as a result of COVID-19. Funds must be used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as:
Students exclusively enrolled in online courses prior to March 13, 2020 were not originally eligible. In accordance with the HEERF Certification and Agreement signed and returned to the USDOE, the institution will use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Our institution determined funds would be allocated to the largest number of students possible due to impacts of COVID-19 related events. Following Secretary of Education DeVos's guidance, Pell eligible students received priority funding. However, based on our institution's determined criteria, certain non-Pell eligible students were also considered eligible for funding.
Criteria for eligibility include:
Any disbursed emergency grant funds will be released to students by either refund check or direct deposit, depending on if the student has an e-refund profile set up with the college. A payment is not necessarily a reflection of a student's current student account balance, as these funds are disbursed directly to a student no matter if a current balance is owed to the institution.
| HEERF Payment Allocation Information | |
| Number of eligible students who may qualify for HEERF payments: | 3,373 |
| Total amount of HEERF aid available for payments to students: | $1,844,059.00 |
| Total amount of HEERF aid paid to eligible students: | $1,659,645.00 |
| Total number of eligible students paid: | 3,373 |
Students determined eligible for HEERF payments will receive a confirmation email from the institution. A copy of the email template may be reviewed here.
Funds awarded under section 314(a) of the CRRSAA must be reserved to provide students with financial aid grants, which may be used for any component of the student's 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.
If an institution obtains a student's written (or electronic), affirmative consent, an institution is permitted to apply these grants directly to the student's institutional account; however, students must be informed that they retain the option to receive a direct disbursement of the financial aid grant and that an institution may not require that the grant be applied to the student's account.
Unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students. However, students do not need to be Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants to be identified as having exceptional need. In addition, the CRRSAA explicitly provides that financial aid grants to students may be provided to students exclusively enrolled in distance education.
Our institution determined funds would be allocated to the largest number of students possible due to impacts of COVID-19 related events. Following USDOE's guidance, Pell eligible students received priority funding. However, based on our institution's determined criteria, certain non-Pell eligible students were also considered eligible for funding.
Criteria for eligibility include:
Any disbursed emergency grant funds will be released to students by either refund check or direct deposit, depending on if the student has an e-refund profile set up with the college. A payment is not necessarily a reflection of a student's current student account balance, as these funds are disbursed directly to a student no matter if a current balance is owed to the institution.
| HEERF II Payment Allocation Information | |
| Number of eligible students who may qualify for HEERF II payments: | 3,323 |
| Total amount of HEERF II aid available for payments to students: | $1,946,312.00 |
| Total amount of HEERF II aid paid to eligible students: | $1,942,405.37 |
| Total number of eligible students paid: | 3,323 |
All student funds have been fully disbursed as of Q2 2022. No additional activity will be completed within this portion of grant funds.
Students determined eligible for HEERF II payments will receive a confirmation email from the institution. A copy of the email template may be reviewed here.
Funds awarded under American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) must be reserved to provide students with financial aid grants, which may be used for any component of the student's 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.
Like CRRSAA, ARP requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students. However, students do not need to be Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants to be identified as having exceptional need. In addition, the ARP explicitly provides that financial aid grants to students may be provided to students exclusively enrolled in distance education or students who are undocumented.
Our institution determined the amount of allocation to retain for special payments would be made to the students in need who were enrolled at the institution in the fall 2021 and had outstanding fall 2021 tuition balances. Following USDOE's guidance, students could complete a survey to give authorization for emergency funds to be applied towards their fall 2021 balance.
Criteria for eligibility include:
Our institution determined funds would be allocated to the largest number of students possible due to the impacts of COVID-19 related events. Following USDOE's guidance, Pell eligible students received priority funding. However, based on our institution's determined criteria, eligible non-Pell students were also considered eligible for funding.
Criteria for eligibility include:
Special Payments
Funds were disbursed directly to student accounts to pay off fall 2021 & spring 2022 balances.
| HEERF III Special Payment Allocation Information Fall 2021 | |
| Number of students who received special payments: | 1,620 |
| Total amount of HEERF III paid to students: | $1,297,227.31 |
| HEERF III Special Payment Allocation Information Spring 2022 | |
| Number of students who received special payments: | 2,195 |
| Total amount of HEERF III paid to students: | $2,226,410.31 |
Emergency Grants
Funds were disbursed to students who completed a student emergency application. Funds were based on the amount requested, need indicated, and Student Emergency Fund committee approval.
| HEERF III Emergency Payment Allocation Information | |
| Number of students who received emergency payments: | 130 |
| Total amount of HEERF III paid to students: | $82,221.80 |
Direct Payments
Any disbursed emergency grant funds will be released to students by either refund check or direct deposit, depending on if the student has an e-refund profile set up with the college. A payment is not necessarily a reflection of a student's current student account balance, as these funds are disbursed directly to a student no matter if a current balance is owed to the institution.
| HEERF III Payment Allocation Information | |
| Number of eligible students who may qualify for HEERF III payments | 3,294 |
| Total amount of HEERF III aid available for payments to students: | $4,399,646.83 |
| Total ammount of HEERF III paid to eligible students: | $4,399,646.83 |
| Total number of eligible students paid: | 3,294 |
Students determined eligible for HEERF III payments will receive a confirmation email from the institution. A copy of the email template may be reviewed here.
Student questions can be submitted by emailling CARESFREEWS. Our CARES Act Team will typically respond within two business days.
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, and III (a)(1) Institutional Portion, (a)(2), and (a)(3) Funds.
| Date Institution Submitted HEERF Certification and Agreement to USDOE: | 04/14/20 |
| Date Information Originally Published Online: | 05/21/20 |
| Website Updated (1st requirement date 07/07/20): | 07/07/20 |
| Website Updated (2nd requirement date 08/21/20): | 08/21/20 |
| Website Updated (3rd requirement date 10/30/20): | 10/30/20 |
| Website Updated (4th requirement date 01/10/21): | 01/05/21 |
| Website Updated (5th requirement date 04/10/21): | 04/07/21 |
| Includes HEERF II Expenditures: | 06/01/21 |
| Website Updated (7th requirement date 07/10/21): | 07/08/21 |
| Website Updated (8th requirement date 10/10/21): | 10/08/21 |
| Website Updated (9th requirement date 1/10/22): | 1/6/2022 |
| Website Updated (10th requirement date 04/10/2022): | 04/05/2022 |
| Website Updated (11th requirement date 07/11/2022): | 07/11/2022 |
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Website Updated (12th requirement date 10/10/2022) All student funds have been fully disbursed as of Q2 2022. No additional activity will be completed within this portion of grant funds: |
10/05/2022 |
| Website Updated (13th requirement date 01/10/2023): | 01/10/2023 |
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Website Updated (14th requirement date 04/10/2023): All student funds have been fully disbursed as of Q1 2023. No additional activity will be completed within this portion of grant funds: |
04/11/2023 |
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Website Updated (15th requirement date 10/11/2023): The final HEERF-CARE reports have been submitted with no revisions for either the Institutional Funds or Student Funds as of September 30, 2023. All records will be maintained in accordance with established policies. |
10/11/2023 |
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for Quarter Ending 9/30/2020
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for Quarter Ending 12/31/2020
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for Quarter Ending 3/31/2021
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for Quarter Ending 3/31/2021 HEERF II Expenditures
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for Quarter Ending 6/30/2021 HEERF II Expenditures
Updated HEERF Quarterly Report June 30, 2021 as of August 2021
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure for HEERF I, II, and III for Quarter ending September 20, 2021
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, III for quarter ending March 30, 2022.
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, III for quarter ending June 30, 2022.
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, III for quarter ending March 31, 2023.
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, III for quarter ending June 30, 2023.
Year 2 (FY 2021) revision report and Year 3 (FY 2022) report can be found at this link: