Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting

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Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting

CARES Act Emergency Aid - Important Facts about HEERF

Certification & Approval

Cerritos College signed and submitted a Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education on April 14, 2020 which assures that our college will use no less than 50% of the funds received from the CARES Act (Section 18004(a)(1) to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

Cerritos College received approval for the following allocations for HEERF student portion:

HEERF I - $6,093,225 on April 24, 2020

HEERF II - $6,093,225 on February 16, 2021

HEERF III - $23,116,657 on May 12, 2021

Awarding/Disbursement

Awards

On May 1, 2020, Cerritos College first awarded $2,751,900 in CARES Act Emergency Grants to 7,329 students for spring 2020.

On September 14, 2020, we awarded $3,882,600 in HEERF Emergency Grants to 5,673 students for fall 2020.

On March 15, 2021, we awarded $4,554,300 in HEERF Emergency Grants to 6,961 students for spring 2021.

On August 27, 2021, we awarded the first distribution of $7,741,000 in HEERF Emergency Grants to 7,547 students for fall 2021.

On October 12, 2021, we awarded the second distribution of $7,869,750 in HEERF Emergency Grants to 8,057 students for fall 2021.

On January 24, 2022, we awarded the first distribution of $7,617,250 in HEERF Emergency Grants to 7,419 students for spring 2022.

On March 7, 2022, we awarded the second distribution of $7,055,750 in HEERF Emergency Grants to 7,327 students for spring 2022.

On May 31, 2022, we awarded the summer distribution of $1,475,250 in HEERF Emergency Grants to 2,896 students for summer 2022.

Disbursements

We have disbursed the following CARES Act Emergency Grants:

Spring 2020 - $2,354,132 to 6,047 students (HEERF I - student portion)

Summer 2020 - $36,347 to 89 students (HEERF I - student portion)

Fall 2020 - $3,578,671 to 5,147 students (HEERF I - student portion)

Spring 2021 - $4,230,923 to 6,424 students (see breakdown below)

$116,774 to 157 students (HEERF I - student portion)
$3,730,000 to 5644 students (HEERF I - institutional portion)
$50,849 to 116 students (HEERF II - student portion)
$333,300 to 506 students (HEERF II - institutional portion)

Summer 2021 - $41,301 to 52 students (HEERF I and III - student portion)

Fall 2021 - $13,796,098 to 7,817 students (see breakdown below)

$5,164,849 to 4,511 students (HEERF II - student portion)
$8,631,249 to 9,082 students (HEERF III - student portion)

Spring 2022 - $13,323,279 to 8,733 students (see breakdown below)

$74,277 to 1,919 students (HEERF II - student portion)
$12,449,002 to 11,302 students (HEERF III - student portion)

Summer 2022 - $1,221,441to 2,478 students (HEERF III - student portion)

Fall 2022 - $51,385 to 59 students (HEERF III - student portion)

Spring 2023 - $723,733 to 528 students (HEERF III - student portion) and $351,565 to 3,255 students (HEERF III - institution portion)

Summer 2023 - $9,097 to 10 students (HEERF III - student portion)

Total: $39,717,972 Disbursed as of June 30th, 2023

Method and Instructions

In awarding the HEERF Emergency Aid Grants for spring 2020 and fall 2020, a group of students were selected with a 0 to 5,000 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) based on a tiered enrollment method. Students who were disqualified for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) were excluded.

For spring 2021, in addition to the group of students selected with a 0 to 5,000 EFC, there was an additional group of those with a 5,001 - 10,000 EFC if they were in 9 or more units. Students who were disqualified for SAP were excluded.

For fall 2021 and spring 2022, students with a 0 - 10,000 EFC calculated by FAFSA and/or CA Dream Act Application were awarded based on a tiered enrollment method. There were 2 disbursements for fall 2021/spring 2022 and the amounts were increased from prior semesters. Enrollment fees/debt assistance was also offered from the institutional funding portion to students who met select criteria. There was only 1 disbursement for summer 2022.

For summer 2022 and fall 2022, there was no batch awarding. Disbursements were made via the emergency application process in coordination with Falcon's Nest. Spring 2023, there were some batch and some individual awards made.

The amounts distributed were calculated based on the following:

Enrollment Status	Amount
Full-time (12 or more units)	$500 for spring 2020 and $1,000 for fall 2020, spring 2021, and summer 2022 $3,000 for fall 2021 and spring 2022 ($1,500 first disbursement and $1,500 2nd disbursement)
Three-quarter time (9 – 11.5 units)	$400 for spring 2020 and $500 for fall 2020 & spring 2021, $2,000 for fall 2021 and spring 2022 ($1,000 for first disbursement and $1,000 for second disbursement), $750 for summer 2022
Half-time (6-8.5 units)	$300 for spring 2020, fall 2020, & spring 2021, $1,000 for fall 2021 and spring 2022 ($500 for first disbursement and $500 for second disbursement), $500 for summer 2022
Less than half-time (3-5.5 units)	$200 for spring 2020, fall 2020, & spring 2021, $500 for fall 2021 and spring 2022 ($250 for first disbursement and $250 for second disbursement), $250 for summer 2022

In addition, funds have also been distributed using the Cerritos College Emergency Aid application to students as they document their expenses on an individual basis.

Students that were awarded were notified via e-mail and provided with instructions on how to accept their award on MyCerritos portal acknowledging that they incurred expenses related to the disruption of the campus due to COVID-19.