
COVID-19 - CARES Act of 2020
HEERF
grant funding FAQs
What is the CARES Act of 2020 and what are HEERF grant Funds?
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)
Act of 2020 was passed by Congress and signed into law in March 2020. As part
of the CARES Act, emergency funds were set aside in different programs. One such program is the Higher Education
Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) which provides higher education institutions
funds to, among other things, distribute HEERF grant funds to their eligible
students whose lives have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, the U.S. Department of
Education (ED) has stated that HEERF grant funds must be used by students to
assist with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to
coronavirus, including eligible expenses under a student’s indirect cost of
attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care,
and child care.
How much HEERF funding did my school
receive?
ED formulated HEERF fund allocations based on a historical number
of Federal Pell Grant eligible students enrolled and the overall enrollment
based on a weighted scale. ED has asked
schools to award HEERF grants to as many students as possible in a manner that
provides the most funding to the neediest students.
To view the HEERF Grant funding allocation amounts for your campus, including the methodology used to calculate student eligibility and amounts, please go to the Consumer Information Website under your specific campus location and click on the link labeled: CARES Act Fund Allocation Communication and Summary.
am I eligible for a HEERF Grant?
There are several factors for eligibility:
1. Students must be in one of the following categories of
attendance: Active category, Leave of
Absence category, or in a SPN status
as of the census date[1].
2. Students must meet Federal Student Aid (FSA) eligibility
under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
(HEA). In other words, the student must have an eligible Student Aid Report on
file.
3. Students must be enrolled in a Title IV eligible program; however, students who were enrolled in a
fully online program as of March 13, 2020 and forward are not eligible for the
program.
Do I have to pay the HEERF grant back?
No. The HEERF funds
are a GRANT and do not have to be paid back.
are the HEERF grant funds taxable?
NEW INFORMATION RELEASED 05/15/2020 – The IRS
and ED clarified two points related to HEERF Grant funds:
1. HEERF grant funds are not included in your gross income.
2. You cannot claim any deduction or credit for expenses paid
with the grant including the tuition and fees deduction, the American
Opportunity Credit, or the Lifetime Learning Credit since the HEERF Grant funds
are not included in your income.
For more details, visit https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-higher-education-emergency-relief-fund-and-emergency-financial-aid-grants-under-the-cares-act
If I currently owe a balance to the
school, will I still receive a HEERF grant?
Yes, if you meet the eligibility requirements listed
above. The HEERF grant funds are
completely separate from any obligation you may owe the school.
iS THERE AN APPLICATION PROCESS?
No. The school is
distributing funds to all eligible students; therefore, a separate application
is not needed.
However, students will be asked to attest that funds will be
used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to
coronavirus. If students incurred no
such expenses or do not need the funds, they should not accept the funds. Any funds not accepted will be allocated to
another student with need.
How will I receive my HEERF grant?
Once the final HEERF Grant fund amounts are determined, students
will be issued payment via Wisely® Pay Card
and Wisely® Check. The campus will update the
progress of HEERF awards and the Wisely® process at
http://www.edaff.com/cares-act-information.php. The school
will also email you directly, as needed.
Will accepting the HEERF grant make me
lose my federal Pell grant or direct loans?
No. HEERF grant
funding is not included in your Title IV FSA Award Package. It will not impact your ability to receive
any of your Title IV funds; including the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct
Loans, or Federal Work Study employment.
How can I use the money?
ED has stated that HEERF grant funds must be used by students
to assist with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to
coronavirus, including eligible expenses under a student’s indirect cost of
attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care,
and child care. When you receive your
Wisely packet, activating your Wisely® Pay Card or Wisely® Check would mean
that you are accepting the funds and can attest that you incurred such expenses
and will spend the funds in that manner.
If you cannot attest to incurring such expenses or using the funds in
that manner, you will be directed to contact us to cancel the HEERF funds. If you cancel the HEERF funds, they will be
made available to other students in need.
how will i know if i am a recipient of
the HEERF grant and when will the HEERF grant funds be distributed?
Emails to all recipients will be sent from Education Affiliates
beginning May 27, 2020. Wisely Pay® packets will begin
distribution May 28, 2020.
Campus |
HEERF Grant
Notification Emailed |
Wisely
Packets Mailed |
Campus |
HEERF Grant
Notification Emailed |
Wisely
Packets Mailed |
|
All-State Career - Baltimore |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
College - Norfolk |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
All-State
Career – Essington |
5/29/20 |
6/1/20 |
Fortis
College - Orange Park |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
All-State Career - Pittsburgh |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis
College - Richmond |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Denver College
of Nursing |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
College - Salt Lake City |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis College - Baton Rouge |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
College - Smyrna |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis
College - Centerville |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
Institute - Birmingham |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis College - Cincinnati |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
Institute - Cookeville |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis
College - Columbia |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
Institute - Forty Fort |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis College - Columbus |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
Institute - Houston North |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis
College - Cutler Bay |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
Institute - Lawrenceville |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis College - Cuyahoga Falls |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
Institute - Nashville |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis
College - Dothan |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
Institute - Pensacola |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis College - Foley |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
Institute - Port Saint Lucie |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis
College - Houston South |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
Institute - Scranton |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis College - Indianapolis |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
Institute - Towson |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis
College - Landover |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
Fortis
Institute - Wayne |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis College - Mobile |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
St.
Paul's SON - Queens |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
|
Fortis
College - Montgomery |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
St.
Paul's SON - Staten Island |
5/27/20 |
5/28/20 |
What is Wisely® Pay?
Please
visit https://drive.google.com/open?id=10WwsQ7BBVUjdhPHJma9vQfAM_FcVI7Df for more
information about Wisely® Pay. You can
learn more about the features and benefits of your Wisely® Card at https://info.mywisely.com/pay/
Who do I contact if I have questions?
Visit http://www.edaff.com/cares-act-information.php where new
information will be added as we finalize the process and add more details about
funding dates and the Wisely® payment
process. If you have other unanswered
questions, please contact us at HEERFinfo@edaff.com.
[1] The census dates are currently set at the 24th of each month, from May 2020 through October 2020,