CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump on March 27^th, 2020.  This authorized funding under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”) to Institutions of Higher Learning to provide economic aid for those students negatively impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. These funds are required to be provided as Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

• Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture (PIHMA) acknowledges that the institution signed and returned 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 Grant.
• PIHMA received a total of $18,623 from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
• PIHMA has distributed $18,623 to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of 09/30/20.
• The estimated total number of students at PIHMA 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 is 74 students.
• The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

• The method(s) used by PIHMA to determine which students received Emergency Financial Grants.
• The President of PIHMA sent an email to all students announcing the availability to apply for the Emergency Financial Grants. The directions on how to apply along with the applications needed were attached in the email. Several reminder emails were also sent out by the President.
• All students who had completed a current year FAFSA were eligible to apply for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
  • Each student that was requesting funds needed to submit two applications to demonstrate how they have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • CARES Grant PIHMA Student Request Attestation Form
  • Income and Expense Worksheet.
• These documents assisted PIHMA in determining the neediest and the most impacted by COVID-19. Students that demonstrated they a shortfall in their expenses and had a direct impact due from COVID-19 were deemed eligible.  Due to the limited amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grant Funds and the number of student applicants, the method used to determine the amount of the award was calculated by dividing the total amount the institution was awarded by the number of student applicants. Each student’s Emergency Financial Aid Grant award was $931.15.
• Each student received an award notification with specifics on how the grant funds were to be used. It contained guidance on the eligible expenses, which included items covered under the school’s Cost of Attendance components such as room and board, personal miscellaneous, transportation expenses as well as medical expenses not covered by insurance and child care expenses.
  • Each student was given a check for their award.

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund HEERF II Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA)

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, and was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $81.88 billion in support for education. The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), provides an additional $22.7 billion for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). Of this amount, $681 million is available to students attending for-profit institutions.

• PIHMA received a total of $47,035 from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] the Emergency Education Relief Fund II (HEERF II).

• The method(s) used by PIHMA to determine which students received Emergency Financial Grants.
• The students were sent an email to all students announcing the availability to apply for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) The directions on how to apply along with the applications needed were attached in the email. Several reminder emails were also sent out by the Financial Aid Administrator.
• All students who had completed a current year FAFSA were eligible to apply for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II)
  • Each student requesting assistance needed to submit three applications to demonstrate how they have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and to demonstrate their financial need.

• • • • Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students Under the Coronavirus AID, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act HEERF II – form
      • CARES Grant PIHMA Student Request Attestation Form
      • Income and Expense Worksheet.
• These documents assisted PIHMA in determining the neediest and the most impacted by COVID-19. Students that demonstrated they a shortfall in their expenses and had a direct impact due from COVID-19 were deemed eligible.  Due to the limited amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grant Funds and the number of student applicants, the method used to determine the amount of the award was calculated by dividing the total amount the institution was awarded by the number of eligible student applicants. Each eligible student’s Emergency Financial Aid Grant award was $2939.65.  That award would be divided over 4 quarters. If a student was scheduled to graduate prior to the next quarter, the student would receive the remaining award in the last quarter prior to graduation.
• Each student received an award notification with specifics on how the grant funds were to be used. It contained guidance on the eligible expenses, which included items covered under the school’s Cost of Attendance components such as room and board, personal miscellaneous, transportation expenses as well as medical expenses not covered by insurance and childcare expenses.
• Each student was given a check for each of their HEERF II grant disbursement(s).