US Department of Education Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF)

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Student Aid 

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) has received $11,810,099 and disbursed $11,881,058 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants from the US Department of Education, providing direct relief to NWTC students who have been impacted by the coronavirus.

Below is the FINAL report of the College’s usage of HEERF I (CARES Act) and HEERF II (CRRSAA), and HEERF III (ARP) Funding.  

  1. On April 13, 2020, NWTC signed and returned to the US Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
  2. NWTC used no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.  
  3. NWTC has received $11,810,099 from the Department to award Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. This amount includes $1,868,129 in HEERF I (CARES Act), $1,868,129 in HEERF II (CRRSAA), and $8,073,841 HEERF III (ARP) Funding.
  4. As of July 1, 2023, $11,881,099 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants have been distributed to NWTC students per the Terms and Conditions outlined in the Grant Award Notification. $270,041 was distributed during this reporting period (April 1 - June 30, 2023).
    • Previous Report Info:
      • April - June 30, 2020: $1,298,650 in funding was awarded.
      • July 1 - September 30, 2020: $569,479 in funding was awarded.
      • October 1 – December 31, 2020: $1,868,129 in funding was awarded (All HEERF I Funds were distributed).
      • January 1 – March 31, 2021: $1,868,129 in funding was awarded (All HEERF II Funds were distributed).
      • April 1 – June 30, 2021: no new funds were awarded
      • July 1 - September 30, 2021: $2,203,900 in funding was awarded.
      • October 1 - December 31, 2021: $332,500 in funding was awarded.
      • January 1 - March 31, 2022: $2,166,200 in funding was awarded. 
      • April 1 - June 30, 2022: $693,200 in funding was awarded.
      • July 1 – September 30, 2022: $1,441,800 in funding was awarded.
      • October 1 – December 31, 2022: $416,600 in funding was awarded.
      • January 1 - March 31, 2023 $910,400 in funding was awarded.
  5. The estimated total number of NWTC students 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 was 6,781 under the CARES Act (HEERF I) and 3,481 under CRRSAA (HEERF II) and 25,090 students under ARP (HEERF III).
  6. As of July 1, 2023, a total of 19,298 NWTC students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant with HEERF I, II and III funding. 260 awards were made this quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2023).   
    • Previous Report Info:
      • April - June 30, 2020: 1,844 students received an award.
      • July 1 - September 30, 2020: 848 students received an award.
      • October 1 – December 31, 2020: 2,692 students received an award under HEERF I (CARES Act).
      • January 1 – March 31, 2021: 2,964 students received an award under HEERF II (CRRSAA).
      • April 1 – June 30, 2021: no new awards were made
      • July 1 - September 30, 2021: 2,986 students received an award under HEERF III (ARP). 
      • October 1 - December 2021: 522 students received an award under HEERF III (ARP). 
      • January 1 - March 31, 2022: 2,875 students received an award under HEERF III (ARP). 
      • April 1 – June 30, 2022:  1,246 students received an award under HEERF III (ARP). 
      • July 1 – September 2022: 1,534 students received an award under HEERF III (ARP).
      • October 1 – December 31, 2022: 450 students received an award under HEERF III (ARP).
      • January 1 - March 31, 2023: 1,07 students received an award under HEERF III (ARP).
  7. The College used the following process to determine which students received Emergency Financial Aid Grants and the amount based on the Terms and Conditions of the Grant Award Notification.

Instructions, directions, or guidance provided by NWTC to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants by funding stream:

HEERF I (CARES Act)

A. Eligibility

  1. Students eligible to apply for COVID-19 Emergency Financial Aid Grant
    • Must have completed the FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Aid) and meet all financial aid eligibility requirements for the Fall 2020 semester.
    • Must be admitted to a financial aid eligible program and be enrolled in at least one credit during the time of the award. Credits of W, F, NS are not included in total amount of credits for semester.
    • Must have been financially impacted by the closure of campus due to Covid-19
  2. Students not eligible for COVID-19 Emergency Financial Aid Grant
    • Enrolled in 100% online programs (i.e., Business Analyst Associate Degree, Business Requirements Technical Diploma, and Medical Coding Technical Diploma)
    • Not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) or Timeframe, according to Financial Aid Guidelines
    • In Default of previous student loans
    • DACA student
    • Undocumented or unknown citizenship
    • Non legal residents
    • International students utilizing F-1 and J-1 Visas

B. Application Process

  1. Eligible NWTC students completed the COVID-19 Emergency Financial Aid Grant application found in the Student’s Portal to be considered for funding.
  2. Funding categories for COVID-19 Emergency Financial Aid Grant are defined in the Federal Act as follows: Food; Housing, Course Materials; Technology; Health Care; and Childcare.
  3. Applications were reviewed daily to: 1) verify eligibility and 2) determine the amount of the award based on an established funding rubric (e.g., number of credits and funding category) and available funding.
  4. Within one day, applications were reviewed, determinations were made, and applicants were notified as to whether or not they would receive an award, and if applicable the amount.

HEERF II (CRRSAA)

A. Eligibility

  1. FAFSA on file
  2. Title IV eligible program
  3. Meets citizenship requirement on FAFSA
  4. Enrolled in 3 or more financial aid eligible credits
  5. Can award to those not meeting other Title IV eligibility requirements.

B. Funding Amount

  • $300 for 3-6 credits
  • $600 for 7-11 credits
  • $900 for 12+ credits

C. How Funds are Prioritized - Looking at each student’s Expected Family Contribution, students with an EFC of $0-$15,000 will be determined students with highest need. These eligible students would be given priority to funds. Any funds remaining after these students are awarded will be awarded based on next lowest EFC and continue to award based on lowest EFC to highest EFC until all funds are depleted.

D. Application Process - There will be no application process for awarding the HEERF II funds. The Financial Aid Office will determine those eligible and award to students based on eligibility requirements and prioritized based on our above defined neediest students.

E. Awarding Process - Awarding will begin the week of March 8. Awarding will be done by pulling query: NWTC_CARES_FEB_2021_CRRSAA. This list will then be sorted by EFC to award those with $0-$15,000 EFC first. Once those students have been awarded, the remaining eligible students will be awarded based on lowest EFC to highest until all CRRSAA funds have been depleted. The funds will be added to the financial aid award and disbursed through financial aid. All funds will be refunded directly to students regardless of whether they have a balance at NWTC for current or prior semester.

HEERF III (ARP)

Prior to Fall 2022

  1. Eligibility
  • Enrolled in 1 or more credits
  • Be Pell Grant eligible for automatic awarding of funds
  • Have a high school diploma or HSED/GED
  • Complete the application process indicating financial need for those with no FAFSA or those who are not Pell eligible. 
  1. Funding Amount
  • 1-2 credits: $100
  • 3-5 credits: $300
  • 6-8 credits: $500
  • 9-11 credits: $700
  • 12+ credits: $900
  1.  How Funds are Prioritized - Students who are Pell eligible have been determined as having the highest need. These eligible students will be given priority and the funds will automatically be applied to their account each semester they are enrolled until all funds have been depleted. Students who are not Pell eligible or do not have a FAFSA on file will need to complete the American Rescue Plan application and indicate they have financial need based on the impact of COVID.  Students may receive funds in multiple semesters based on need and remaining funds. 
  2. Application Process - There will be an application process for students with no FAFSA on file or for those who are not Pell eligible. Students will need to reapply each semester they are enrolled to be considered for these funds. There will be a separate application for each semester until funds have all been depleted. 
  3. Awarding Process - Students NWTC deems as the neediest (i.e., those eligible for Pell) will be awarded the funds automatically. All other students who apply will be awarded based on need indicated on the application on a first come, first serve basis.  

    The posting of funds will begin on Thursday, September 1. The funds will be mass posted through the Student Finance Office with a new Item Type for the American Rescue Plan Funds.  All funds will be refunded directly to students regardless of whether they have a balance at NWTC for current or prior semesters.

    Referral process:  Students who indicate they have been impacted by COVID-19 and have further need for funding can be referred for additional money above and beyond what they might have already received from the application or mass awarding of the American Rescue Plan funds. Students must have need in one of the following areas: loss of employment, reduced income, food insecurity, housing insecurity, health care/medical expenses, or childcare expenses. Staff working with these students in need will log onto Starfish to do the referral request form. Students who are eligible will be awarded $600, regardless of enrollment status or category selected.

Effective Fall 2022 and forward

  1. Eligibility
  • Enrolled in 1 or more credits
  • Be Pell zero EFC income limit Grant eligible for automatic awarding of funds
  • Have a high school diploma or HSED/GED
  1. Funding Amounts
  • 1-2 credits: $100
  • 3-5 credits: $300
  • 6-8 credits: $500
  • 9-11 credits: $700
  • 12+ credits: $900
  1. How Funds are Prioritized – Students who are Pell zero EFC income limit eligible have been determined as having the highest need. These students will be given priority and the funds will automatically be applied to their account each semester they are enrolled until all funds have been depleted. Students who are not Pell zero EFC income limit eligible or do not have a FAFSA on file will need to follow the Referral process.
  1. Awarding Process – Students NWTC deems as the neediest (i.e., those eligible for Pell zero EFC income limit) will be awarded the funds automatically. All other students with referral request will be awarded based on need indicated on the referral request on a first come, first served basis.

    The posting of funds will begin on Thursday, September 1. The funds will be mass posted through the Student Finance Office with the Item Type for the American Rescue Plan Funds. All funds will be refunded directly to students regardless of whether they have a balance at NWTC for current or prior semesters.
  1. Referral Process – Students who indicate they have been impacted by COVID-19 and have further need for funding can be referred for additional money above and beyond what they might have already received from mass awarding of the American Rescue Plan funds. Students must have need in one of the following areas: loss of employment, reduce income, food insecurity, housing insecurity, health care/medical expenses, or childcare expenses. Staff working with these students in need will log onto Starfish to do the referral request form. Students who are eligible will be awarded $600, regardless of enrollment credit level or category selected.

Institutional Portion and Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP)

NWTC received $16,803,770 in Institution Relief funds to help cover institutional expenses incurred as a direct result of the disruption of campus operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as a $566,215 Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant to address pandemic-related needs from the US Department of Education’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). These funds were made available as part of the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. Per the terms of the grant awards, NWTC is required to publicly post quarterly reports, starting October 30, 2020. Note: The June 2022 report utilizes the new form and reflects ALL HEERF award funding to date to the College.