CARES Act

Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding

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.

HEERF I CARES

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:

course materials
technology
food
housing
health care
childcare
or other cost of attendance related item

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.

Payment Methodology

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:

An individual must have been a student as of March 13, 2020.
Students must have been enrolled in at least one on-ground course as of March 13, 2020.
Students must have been Title IV eligible unless during a period of time in which USDOE guidance did not require Title IV eligibility for awarding.
Per USDOE guidance, eligible students must meet citizenship requirements.
Students cannot be enrolled as dual enrollment, non-degree seeking, or transient.

Disbursement Process

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

Email Communications

Students determined eligible for HEERF payments will receive a confirmation email from the institution. A copy of the email template may be reviewed here.

HEERF II CRRSAA

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.

Payment Methodology

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:

An individual must have been enrolled as of May 4, 2021.
Students did not have to be title IV eligible. However, per USDOE guidance, eligible students had to meet citizenship requirements.
Students cannot be enrolled as dual enrollment, non-degree seeking, or transient.

Disbursement Process

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.

Email Communications

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.

HEERF III American Rescue Plan (ARP)

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.

Payment Methodology

Special Payments

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:

An individual must have been enrolled in the fall 2021 semester and have an outstanding balance.
Student must complete a three-question survey to (1) confirm enrollment, (2) confirm need, (3) give authorization to apply funds to their outstanding balance.

Direct Payments

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:

An individual must have been enrolled as of September 23, 2021.
Students must complete survey to confirm a financial need by October 18, 2021
Students did not have to be title IV eligible or meet citizenship requirements.
Dual enrollment, non-degree seeking, or transient students are eligible in this round.

Disbursement Process

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

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

Email Communications

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.

Contact and Questions

Student questions can be submitted by emailling CARESFREEWS. Our CARES Act Team will typically respond within two business days.

HEERF Quarterly Report

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
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
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
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
Website Updated (15th requirement date 06/25/2024): The fourth and final HEERF-CARE reports have been submitted with no revisions for either the Institutional Funds or Student Funds as of June 25, 2024. All records will be maintained in accordance with established policies.	06/25/2024