The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSSA), was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. This legislation provided supplemental funding to the HEERF I CARES Act awards to colleges and universities in the United States to ensure learning continued for students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following information is provided by Anoka-Ramsey Community College in response to the Department of Education's reporting requirements.
1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSSA program to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
Anoka-Ramsey signed and submitted the Certificate and Agreement for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the HEERF I - Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on April 13, 2020 which included assurances to use at least 50% of the total CARES Act allocation for student emergency funds.
On February 1, 2021, Anoka-Ramsey received notification of a supplemental HEERF II award through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, but as a recipient of HEERF I - CARES Act funding, was not required to submit a certification agreement for the HEERF II award. Anoka-Ramsey intends to use the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSSA program to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants 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 under the CRRSAA program.
Anoka-Ramsey received $1,790,488 in funding for emergency financial assistance for students with exceptional need.
Anoka-Ramsey has also committed to spending $1,300,000 of the institutional portion of the funding, to provide a total of $3,090,488 million in funds for student financial assistance.
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSSA and program as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter).
$1,581,020 as of June 30, 2021 ($1,581,020 student portion and $0 institutional portion)
$2,491,581 as of Sept. 20, 2021 ($1,581,020 student portion and $868,295 institutional portion)
$2,633,081 as of Dec. 31, 2021 ($1,764,786 student portion and $868,295 institutional portion)
4. The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSSA program.
Anoka-Ramsey identified eligible students. As of June 30, 1,917 students are enrolled for the summer 2021 term and may be grant eligible.
5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSSA program. As part of the original distribution on March 22, 2021:
- 1,933 students received Financial Aid Grants funded through the Student portion of CRRSSA funding.
Supplemental Financial Aid grants through student portion of CRRSSA funding was distributed and:
- 5095 students were awarded supplemental money of $145 on April 30, 2021
Additional distributions to students for emergency grants through application were awarded, and:
- 182 students were awarded emergency grants through application as of June 30, 2021
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201 students were awarded emergency grants through application as of September 30, 2021
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417 students were awarded emergency grants through application as of December 31, 2021
6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA program.
Anoka-Ramsey will distribute these funds through two awarding methods:
- Direct payment CRRSA Awards for Pell and State Grant eligible students based on the students 2020-21 FAFSA results
- Emergency funds by application
Anoka-Ramsey defined students with exceptional need as having an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on their 2020-21 FAFSA that would make them eligible for a Federal Pell Grant or Minnesota State Grant. Pell Grant recipients were identified by the U.S. Department of Education as a priority group for exceptional need. We are also including Minnesota State Grant recipients, as they are students from low- and moderate- income families determined through criteria by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. Approval of the spending plan was given both by student leaders and the Minnesota State Chancellor's Office.
Students who were enrolled for the spring 2021 term and met this qualification were given a direct payment of $400 on March 22, 2021. This direct payment is to cover the cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare. All payments were sent directly to students by check or direct deposit. For students whose emergency expenses include an unpaid tuition or fees balance, they were given instruction on how to make payment to Anoka-Ramsey.
Based on regulatory direction from the federal Department of Education, students who are either on DACA or Dream Act eligible, as well as International students with an F1 VISA status in SEVIS are not eligible for CRRSSA funding. However, they may apply for institutional emergency grant funding through the Normandale Cares Emergency Grant application.
Concurrent high school students and students enrolled entirely non-credit courses (continuing education) are not eligible for emergency funding. If students were attending more than one Minnesota State college or university, the direct payment amount may be adjusted to receive a total of $1,300 from all CRRSSA funds.
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Differing lists of students who were eligible for the emergency funds listed above, received email communications about the funds on May 5, 2021.
For students who were not eligible based on the 2020-21 FAFSA results but have had a change of income, they were encouraged to complete the COVID-19 special circumstance form. This allows consideration for financial aid based on 2020 income/unemployment, rather than the 2018 information entered on the 2020-21 FAFSA. This was one portion of our effort to meet the requirements of the American Rescue Plan requirement that we conduct outreach to students who may have had a change of income.
