CARES Act/HEERF

The following information is provided here in accordance with The Department of Education directive that each institution receiving Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) post this information in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public. Quarterly reporting will conclude when a final report is posted.

1. An acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned to the Department 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.

• Gaston College signed and submitted the Certification and Agreement for CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students to the U.S. Department of Education April 13, 2020. Per this agreement, Gaston College is required to spend no less than 50 percent of the total funds received on direct emergency grant aid to students.

2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

• Gaston College has received a total of $7,121,354 from the U.S. Department of Education for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students (Award #P425E200519) through the CARES Act.

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).

• As of December 31, 2021, Gaston College has distributed a total of $1,260,424 in CARES Act emergency financial aid grants to students.
• As of December 31, 2021, Gaston College has distributed a total of $978,215 in HEERF II emergency financial aid grants to students. 
• As of March 31, 2022, Gaston College has distributed a total of $7,116,428.79 in HEERF III emergency financial aid grants to students.

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.

• An estimated total of 3,122 Gaston College students were eligible to receive CARES Act grant funds.
• An estimated total of 2,569 Gaston College students are eligible to receive HEERF II grant funds. 
• An estimated total of 5,208 Gaston College students may be eligible to receive HEERF III grant funds. 

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.

• As of December 31, 2021, Gaston College has awarded an emergency financial aid grant to 1,002 students.
• As of December 31, 2021, Gaston College has awarded a HEERF II emergency financial aid grant to 2,544 students.
• As of March 31, 2022, Gaston College has awarded a HEERF III emergency financial aid grant to 4,746 students. 

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.

• HEERF I – Students taking classes could apply for funding by submitting the 2019/20 or 2020/21 FAFSA application, if they had not already done so, and complete a short online CARES Grant application stating that s/he was affected by the campus disruption due to the coronavirus.  Amounts awarded were based on a tiered hybrid method using the range of student’s estimated family contribution (EFC) to direct funds to students with the greatest needs listed below:
  • Students with a 0 EFC (greatest financial need) – $650 
    Students with a 1 – 3000 EFC (mid-Pell eligible need range) – $550 
    Students with a 3001 – 5576 EFC (lowest Pell eligible range) – $300 
    Students with a 5577 or higher EFC – $200 After the College had disbursed grants to applicants, the College reached out again to eligible applicants who had not applied and/or completed the short CARES grant application for another opportunity to apply. The new applicants were awarded, and the remaining funds were equally divided among the eligible applicants giving each person an additional $724.83.

• HEERF II – Students who had the greatest financial need were identified and awarded based on the breakdown below, no application was required.  Awards were prorated based on enrollment status (full-time, part-time, three-quarter time, and less-than half-time). Amounts awarded were based on a tiered hybrid method using the range of student’s estimated family contribution (EFC) to direct funds to students with the greatest need as listed below: 
  • Students with a 0 EFC (greatest financial need) – $650 
    Students with a 1–3000 EFC (mid-Pell eligible need range) – $550 
    Students with a 3001–5711 EFC (lowest Pell eligible range) – $300 
    Students with a 5712–8500 EFC (state eligible range) – $200 
  • All Tiers were increased for summer aid distribution: Students with a 0 EFC (greatest financial need) – $750 
    Students with a 1–3000 EFC (mid-Pell eligible need range) – $650 
    Students with a 3001–5711 EFC (lowest Pell eligible range) – $450
    Students with a 5712–8500 EFC (state eligible range) – $350
    Students with a 8501- or higher (not aid eligible) – $250

• HEERF III – All enrolled students may be eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants (curriculum, ConEd, and CCP). Students who had the greatest financial need were identified and awarded based on the breakdown below, no application was required. Awards were prorated based on enrollment status (full-time, part-time, three-quarter time, and less than half-time). Amounts awarded were based on a tiered hybrid method using the range of student’s estimated family contribution (EFC) to direct funds to students with the greatest need as listed below: 
  • Students with a 0 EFC (greatest financial need) – $1300 
    Students with a 1–3000 EFC (mid-Pell eligible need range) – $1100 
    Students with a 3001–5846 EFC (lowest Pell eligible range) – $900 
    Students with a 5847–15000 EFC (state eligible range) – $700 
    Students with a 15001 EFC or higher/No FAFSA on file – $500 
    Eligible ConEd students in eligible programs were awarded $500 

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

• HEERF I – All students enrolled (apart from ineligible groups) as of March 18, 2020, were sent an email encouraging them to apply for CARES Act Emergency Grant funds if they had incurred expenses related to the disruption in Gaston College campus operations related to COVID-19. Group One students were instructed to complete the online GC CARES Act Emergency Fund Application. As a requirement to verify student eligibility under Section 484 of the HEA, Group Two students were directed to complete the online GC CARES Act Emergency Fund Application and a FAFSA application for the current academic year. All students were informed that funds must be used to cover expenses related to the disruption in Gaston College campus operations related to COVID-19, such as childcare, healthcare, technology, course materials, food, and housing. Students were also asked to verify their banking information and mailing address was correct with the College to expedite the award process.
• HEERF II – Eligible students were sent an email directing them to use the funds for any component of their cost of attendance at Gaston College or for any emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. 
• HEERF III – Eligible students were sent an email directing them to use the funds for any component of their cost of attendance at Gaston College or for any emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. 

CARES Act Institutional Reporting

Quarter ending 6/30/2023 – HEERF I, II & III
Quarter ending 3/31/2023 – HEERF I, II & III
Quarter ending 12/31/2022 – HEERF I, II & III
Quarter ending 9/30/2022 – HEERF I, II & III
Quarter ending 6/30/2022 – HEERF I, II & III
Quarter ending 3/31/2022 – HEERF I, II & III
Quarter ending 12/31/2021 – HEERF I, II & III
Quarter ending 9/30/2021 – HEERF I, II & III
Quarter ending 6/30/2021 – HEERF II CRRSAA
Quarter ending 3/31/2021 – HEERF II CRRSAA
Quarter ending 03/31/2021 – HEERF I CARES
Quarter ending 12/31/2020
Quarter ending 9/30/2020