Coastal Carolina Community College’s CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief

Change to the Distribution Process of the Student Portion of the CARES Act Notification

Effective November 6, 2020, the College modified the process for the distribution of the Student Portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and a notification was published on the College’s website.

Purpose of CARES Emergency Relief Funding

The purpose of this emergency assistance is to provide aid to eligible students, as defined under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, who incurred expenses because of the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. All emergency assistance provided to eligible students, per guidelines set forth within the CARES Act and eligibility rules established by the U.S. Department of Education, must be expenses incurred because of the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.

Eligibility for CARES Emergency Relief Funding

The U.S. Department of Education, in accordance with the CARES Act, has established eligibility requirements for individuals enrolled in higher education institutions.

According to U.S. Department of Education rules:

  • Students must be currently enrolled at the College in programs of study that lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate (Continuing Education programs leading to a credential are not eligible);
  • Students must have a high school diploma, GED, or recognized alternative credential by the U.S. Department of Education (CCP (Career & College Promise) students are not eligible);
  • Students must be Title IV eligible, as defined under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended;
  • Students could not be enrolled in entirely online programs or taking classes entirely online prior to March 13, 2020;
  • Eligible expenses must have been incurred after March 13, 2020;
  • Students cannot currently be enrolled in programs that are only offered solely online (e.g., Emergency Management and Fire Protection Technology Program);
  • Students must be U.S. citizens, or eligible U.S. non-citizens; and
  • Male students must be registered with Selective Service.

Please note: Students—if they met all U.S. Department of Education rules and were enrolled as of November 6, 2020, who submitted applications for CARES emergency relief funds, prior to November 6, 2020, and received emergency relief funds—will receive an additional one-time financial award only if their previous financial award was less than the financial award maximum specified in the aforementioned groups (i.e., Group 1, 2, 3, and 4). Students who submitted applications for CARES emergency relief funds, prior to November 6, 2020, and received emergency refunds that exceeded their group financial award maximum are not eligible to receive an additional financial award. Students, to be eligible for any financial award, had to be enrolled and Title IV eligible as of November 6, 2020.

Who Will Receive CARES Emergency Relief Funds

Based upon rules established by the U.S. Department of Education and guidelines outlined within the CARES Act, all eligible students, as outlined below, will receive CARES emergency relief funds:

Group 1

Students who meet all U.S. Department of Education rules (see the “Eligibility for CARES Emergency Relief Funding” section) and were enrolled in Spring 2020, Summer 2020, and Fall 2020, as of November 6, 2020, will receive a maximum one-time financial award totaling $1,350.00 OR the difference between a previous award and the new maximum.

Group 2

Students who meet all U.S. Department of Education rules (see the “Eligibility for CARES Emergency Relief Funding” section) and were enrolled in Spring 2020 and Fall 2020, as of November 6, 2020, will receive a maximum one-time financial award totaling $1,100.00 OR the difference between a previous award and the new maximum.

Group 3

Students who meet all U.S. Department of Education rules (see the “Eligibility for CARES Emergency Relief Funding” section) and were enrolled in Summer 2020 and Fall 2020, as of November 6, 2020, will receive a maximum one-time financial award totaling $850.00 OR the difference between a previous award and the new maximum.

Group 4

Students who meet all U.S. Department of Education rules (see the “Eligibility for CARES Emergency Relief Funding” section) and were enrolled in Fall 2020, as of November 6, 2020, will receive a maximum one-time financial award totaling $600.00 OR the difference between a previous award and the new maximum.

Please note: Students, to be eligible for any financial award, had to be enrolled and Title IV eligible as of November 6, 2020. Eligible students will be assigned only to one group categorization. The distribution process and award amount cannot be appealed.

Award Examples

Example 1

If a student, who met the definition of being a Group 1 student, applied for emergency relief funds, prior to November 6, 2020, and received a $1,000.00 financial award, an additional, one-time financial award totaling $350.00 would be distributed to the student.

Example 2

If a student, who met the definition of being a Group 3 student, applied for emergency relief funds, prior to November 6, 2020, and received a $250.00 financial award, an additional, one-time financial award totaling $600.00 would be distributed to the student.

Example 3

A student, who met the definition of being a Group 4 student, applied for emergency relief funds, prior to November 6, 2020, and received a $1,000.00 financial award, would not receive an additional financial award, since the previous financial award amount exceeded the maximum Group 4 students are eligible to receive under the established guidelines.

Timeframe for the Distribution of CARES Emergency Relief Funds

Eligible students will have their financial award electronically deposited, if they have an active Bank Mobile account or direct deposit information on-file, no later than December 4, 2020. Please ensure, if you have a Bank Mobile account, that all information is current.

Eligible students who have not created a Bank Mobile Account, or the College is unable to electronically deposit funds into a Bank Mobile account, should receive a check, which will be sent by mail to the address on-file with the College, no later than December 11, 2020.

The College reserves the right, if any check is either not deposited or not cashed by February 12, 2021, to invalidate the check and re-distribute emergency relief funds to other eligible students. The College also reserves the right to invalidate any check returned to the College for any reason.

Are CARES Emergency Relief Funds Taxable Income and Part of My Gross Income?

According to the IRS:

“No.  Emergency financial aid grants under the CARES Act for unexpected expenses, unmet financial need, or expenses related to the disruption of campus operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as unexpected expenses for food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, or childcare, are qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code.  This grant is not includible in your gross income.”

For more information, please visit the IRS website.

Questions

Please contact Student Services at (910) 938-6332. You may also e-mail sabinc@coastalcarolina.edu.

Certification and Agreement Reporting Information

The College has signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Certification and Agreement assuring that the College has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent (50%) of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The total amount of funds that the College will receive from the DOE pursuant to the Certification and Agreement is $3,371,351.00.

Per DOE requirements, the Certification and Agreement directs each institution applying for Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) funds to comply with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act and submit an initial report (the “30-day Fund Report”) to the Secretary thirty (30) days from the date of the institution’s Certification and Agreement to the DOE. The DOE will provide instructions for providing the required information to the Secretary in the near future. In the meantime, each HEERF participating institution must post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website. Accordingly, the following information must appear in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation under 18004(a)(1) and updated every 45 days thereafter:

  1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the DOE the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to 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.
  2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the DOE pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
  3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).
  4. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
  5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
  6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
  7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

June 2, 2020

DATE ESTIMATED # OF
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS		 # OF STUDENTS WHO
HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS		 TOTAL AMOUNT OF
GRANTS DISTRIBUTED
June 2, 2020 2,967 0 $0

30-day Fund Report

DATE ESTIMATED # OF
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS		 # OF STUDENTS WHO
HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS		 TOTAL AMOUNT OF
GRANTS DISTRIBUTED
June 30, 2020 2,967 21 $15,800

July 31, 2020 Update

DATE ESTIMATED # OF
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS		 # OF STUDENTS WHO
HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS		 TOTAL AMOUNT OF
GRANTS DISTRIBUTED
July 31, 2020 2,967 191 $141,100

45-day Fund Report

DATE ESTIMATED # OF
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS		 # OF STUDENTS WHO
HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS		 TOTAL AMOUNT OF
GRANTS DISTRIBUTED
August 13, 2020 2,967 297 $220,550
September 23, 2020 2,967 433 $326,100

Quarterly Public Reports for the Student Portion

In accordance with US Department of Education Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund guidelines for quarterly reporting for funds received under the CARES Act, the following information is being published for public review:

QUARTER ESTIMATED # OF
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS		 # OF STUDENTS WHO
HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS		 TOTAL AMOUNT OF
GRANTS DISTRIBUTED
June 4, 2020 – September 30, 2020 2,967 471 $356,750
October 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 2,967 1,605 $1,537,400

The College was awarded $1,685,676.00 for the Student Portion.

Quarterly Public Reports for the Institutional Portion

In accordance with US Department of Education Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund guidelines for quarterly reporting for funds received under the CARES Act, the following information is being published for public review:

July 29, 2020 – September 30, 2020 Institutional Portion Quarterly Report

October 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 Institutional Portion Quarterly Report

January 1, 2021 – March 31, 2021 Institutional Portion Quarterly Report

The College was awarded $1,685,675.00 for the Institutional Portion.