CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT STUDENT EMERGENCY GRANTS

The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020, is intended to provide economic relief for individuals impacted by the pandemic.

Under CARES, the U. S. Department of Education was authorized to provide funding to institutions of higher education in the form of emergency financial aid grants. Martin Methodist College signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement that assures that no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act will be provided as Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. UTS (formerly MMC) has received $481,731 for these emergency financial aid grants and is available to eligible students as emergency grants for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

Approximately 979 students at UTS (formerly MMC) are 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 under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. As of December 31, 2020, 414 students have received a total of $431,714 in emergency grants. As of March 31, 2021, the remaining $50,017 was added to the CRRSAA funds signed into law on December 27, 2020 and was expended.

Eligible Residential Students who moved off campus received a check for $1100 to assist with related expenses due to this disruption caused by coronavirus. These students along with the remaining eligible students are encouraged to apply for these emergency grants. Applications will be reviewed by a committee to confirm Title IV eligibility and to determine that the need for the funds (as stated by the student) are eligible expenses under the student’s cost of attendance. The amount awarded will be based on enrollment status according to the following schedule:

12+ hours, up to $500/, 9 – 11 hours, up to $375/4 – 8 hours, up to $250/3 hours or less, up to $125/MBA with 10 hours, up to $500/ MBA with 6 hours, up to $375/MBA with 4 hours, up to $250.

The University of Tennessee Southern wants to make these funds available to all Title IV eligible students (those eligible to file a FAFSA-regardless of type of aid received, if any).

An application was emailed to UTS (formerly MMC) Students with specific information regarding applying for these funds and is included here. Students who have questions may contact:

Jim Greene
- jgree146@utsouthern.edu

APPLICATION FOR CARES ACT STUDENT EMERGENCY FUNDS – Click Here

CARES ACT-INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS REPORTING

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HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND (HEERF III)

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, by President Biden providing support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ARP funds (HEERF III) are in addition to funds authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA/HEERF II), Public Law 116-260 and the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES/HEERF I) Act, Public Law 116-136.

Student portion of the funds must be used to provide financial aid grants to students (including students exclusively enrolled in distance education) 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 child care. In making financial aid grants to students, an institution of higher education must prioritize grants to students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants.

UTS (formerly MMC)/UT Southern signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution will use the applicable amount of funds to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. UTS (formerly MMC)/UT Southern received HEERF III funding of $1,411,433 and is in the process of establishing an award called the “Higher Ed Emergency Grant (HEERF III)” to distribute grants to eligible students to help cover expenses related to 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 child care.

As of October 10, 2021, UTS (formerly MMC)/UT Southern is in the process of determining the number of students eligible, the amount to be awarded, and the method used to determine that amount. Students will be award Emergency Grants during the 4^thquarter reporting period. This website will be updated immediately upon the determination of these factors.

Funds from the HEERF III Emergency Relief Fund are not considered financial aid and do not affect a student’s current or future financial aid eligibility.

UPDATED information as of January 8, 2022

During the Fall Semester 762 students were eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants. As of December 31, 2021, a total of $1,036,700 was disbursed to 758 students. The remaining 4 eligible students will receive disbursements totaling $5,600 in January 2022. All full-time, part-time, flex, TATL, online, and graduate students were eligible based on their enrollment status. Full-time: $1,400/Three quarter time: $1,050/Half-time: $700/One-quarter time: $350. Dual enrollment students were excluded. Disbursements were prioritized based on the student’s EFC (or lack of one) as follows: Disbursement #1 – 0-9999/Disbursement #2 – 10,000 and above including those with no FAFSA completed and International/DACA students. Students were not required to complete an application to receive. However, they were required to sign an acceptance letter when the checks were disbursed which can be viewed here.

UPDATED information as of April 6, 2022

During the Spring 2022 Semester, 701 students were eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants totaling $379,260. Four students were eligible to receive disbursements of $1400 each, totaling $5600, which related to the Fall 2021 Semester. The Fall additional disbursement was made in March instead of January as was stated on the January 8, 2022 update. All full-time, part-time, flex, TATL, online, and graduate students were eligible based on their enrollment status. Full-time: $560/Three-quarter time: $420/Half-time: $280/One-quarter time: $140. Dual enrollment students were excluded. Disbursements were prioritize based on the student’s EFC (or lack of one) as follows. Disbursement #1 – 0-9999/ Disbursement #2 – 10,000 and above including those with no FAFSA completed and International/DACA students. Students were not required to complete an application to receive. However, they were required to sign an acceptance letter when the checks were disbursed which can be viewed here.

This disbursement expended all of the HEERF III Emergency Financial Aid Grant awarded to UTS (formerly MMC) of $1,411,433. A total of $1,421,560 was disbursed, and the additional $10,127 will be funded through the Institutional share of HEERF funds.

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HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND (HEERF II)

On December 27, 2020, the President signed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) (P.L. 116-260). The CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need.

Under section 314(c)(3) of the CRRSAA, institutions must make financial aid grants to students (including students exclusively enrolled in distance education), 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 child care which will be identified by using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at UTS (formerly MMC) as of February 8, 2021.

UTS (formerly MMC) received HEERF II funding of $481,731 and established an award called the “Higher Ed Emergency Grant (HEERF II)” to distribute grants ranging from $125-$1,230 to 601 eligible students to help cover expenses related to 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 child care. $50,017 was remaining from the $481,731 CARES Act Student Emergency Funds that was signed into law on March 27, 2020, and was added to the HEERF II funding to make these awards, thereby expending the total awards of $481,731 from March 27, 2020, and $481,731 from December 27, 2020.

Funds from the HEERF II CRRSAA Emergency Relief Fund are not considered financial aid and do not affect a student’s current or future financial aid eligibility.

ELIGIBILITY AND AWARDING

Eligible students will meet the following requirements:

You must be an enrolled graduate or undergraduate student for Spring 2021.
You must be a U.S. citizen.
You must demonstrate need, which is measured by the 2020-2021 FAFSA that UTS (formerly MMC) has on record as of February 8, 2021.
Grants will be distributed in the following manner and will appear on your student account as a credit and will be immediately disbursed from your account by a check which will be available in the Business Office once notified via email.

Residential Full-Time Students:

EFC 0 – 9,999 – $1,230
EFC 10,000 + – $955

Non-Residential Full-Time Students:

EFC 0 – 9,999 – $1,000
EFC 10,000 + – $500

Part-Time and Graduate Students:

9 – 11 Credit Hours – 75% of Non-Residential rate (based on EFC)
6 – 8 Credit Hours – 50% of Non-Residential rate (based on EFC)
1 – 5 Credit Hours – 25% of Non-Residential rate (based on EFC)

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