Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF)

The following guidelines are approved for use by Guilford Technical Community College for the disbursement of funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF).These funds were authorized by the

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law March 27, 2020
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) signed into law December 27, 2020
American Rescue Plan (ARP), signed into law March 11, 2021

In each case, GTCC signed and returned the Certification and Agreement form, if required, and the institution has used, or will use, no less than the minimum required amount of student funds received to provide HEERF grants to students.

Anthony J. Clarke, Ph.D.
President

GTCC Distribution Guidelines
CARES Funding Guidelines

Eligible curriculum (CU) students are new and returning students who have been affected by the campus disruption due to the coronavirus.
An eligible curriculum (CU) student described in #1 above must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be deemed TIV eligible as defined by Sec. 484 of the HEA by satisfying the following criteria:
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program;
- Not be enrolled in elementary or secondary school;
- For currently enrolled students, be making satisfactory academic progress;
- Not owe an overpayment on Title IV grants or loans;
- Not be in default on a Title IV loan;
- File "as part of the original financial aid application process" a certification that includes
  - A statement of educational purpose;
  - Student's SSN;
- Be a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible noncitizen;
- Have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds if convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges;
- Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits if obtained inadvertently;
- Have repaid Title IV loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits if obtained inadvertently;
- Have Selective Service registration verified;
- Have Social Security Number verified; and
- Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations.
Eligibility for students receiving funds is based on the 2020-21 FAFSA.
Students taking classes may apply for funding by submitting the 2020-21 FAFSA, if they have not already done so, and complete a short online application stating that s/he was affected by the campus disruption due to the coronavirus. Amounts awarded would be based on a student’s estimated family contribution (EFC) and their enrollment status, using the following chart for the 2020-21 year:
1. Students with a 0 EFC (greatest financial need):
  - Full-time $1000
  - Three-quarter time $750
  - Half-time $500
  - Less-than-half-time $250
2. Students with 1 – 5711 EFC (Pell eligible range):
  - Full-time $750
  - Three-quarter time $562
  - Half-time $375
  - Less-than-half-time $187
3. Students with 5712 or higher EFC:
  - Full-time $500
  - Three quarter time $375
  - Half-time $250
  - Less-than-half-time $125
4. Aid will be prorated based on enrollment as of the Fall census date.

CRRSAA Funding Guidelines

Eligible students are new and returning spring 2021 students who have been affected by disruptions due to the coronavirus. It includes all curriculum students and all CCP/Dual Enrolled students. It also includes Basic Skills students enrolled at least 12 hours and all students enrolled in CE OERB courses as of March 15, 2021. Students withdrawn or were a “no show” to a course at the time of disbursement were excluded.
Exceptional Need - Increased funding amounts are given to Federal Pell Grant-eligible students as they demonstrate “exceptional need”.
Eligibility for students receiving funds during the Spring 2021 semester is based on the 2020-21 FAFSA. Students without a FAFSA will be assigned to lowest tier for funding (see #4 below)
Amounts awarded are based on a student’s estimated family contribution (EFC) and their enrollment status, using the following chart for the spring 2021 term:
1. Curriculum students with a 0 EFC (greatest financial need):
  1. Full-time $1000
  2. Three-quarter time $750
  3. Half-time $500
  4. Less-than-half-time $250
2. Curriculum students with 1 – 5711 EFC (Pell eligible range):
  1. Full-time $750
  2. Three-quarter time $562
  3. Half-time $375
  4. Less-than-half-time $187
3. Curriculum students with 5712 or higher EFC (or no EFC):
  1. Full-time $500
  2. Three quarter time $375
  3. Half-time $250
  4. Less-than-half-time $125
4. Basic Skills and Continuing Education students receive $500 (no proration).
Curriculum amounts are prorated based on credit hours enrolled.
- Full-time – 12 or more credit hours
- Three quarter time – 9 to 11 credit hours
- Half-time – 6 to 8 credit hours
- Less-than-half-time – Less than 6 credit hours

ARP Funding Guidelines

Eligible students are new and returning summer 2021, fall 2021, and spring 2022 students who have been affected by disruptions due to the coronavirus. It includes all curriculum students and all CCP/Dual Enrolled students. It also includes Basic Skills students enrolled at least 12 hours and all students enrolled in CE OERB courses. Students withdrawn or were a “no show” to a course at the time of disbursement are excluded.
Exceptional Need - Increased funding amounts are given to Federal Pell Grant-eligible students as they demonstrate “exceptional need”.
Eligibility for curriculum students receiving funds during the summer 2021 semester is based on the 2020-21 FAFSA. Eligibility for curriculum students receiving funds during the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters is based on the 2021-22 FAFSA. Students without a FAFSA will be assigned to lowest tier for funding (see #4 below).
Summer 2021 curriculum amounts are based on a student’s estimated family contribution (EFC) and their enrollment status, using the following chart:
1. Curriculum students with a 0 EFC (greatest financial need):
  1. Full-time $1000
  2. Three-quarter time $750
  3. Half-time $500
  4. Less-than-half-time $250
2. Curriculum students with 1 – 5711 EFC (20-21 Pell eligible range):
  1. Full-time $750
  2. Three-quarter time $562
  3. Half-time $375
  4. Less-than-half-time $187
3. Curriculum students with 5712 or higher EFC (or no EFC) for 20-21:
  1. Full-time $500
  2. Three quarter time $375
  3. Half-time $250
  4. Less-than-half-time $125
4. Curriculum amounts are prorated based on credit hours enrolled.
  1. Full-time – 12 or more credit hours
  2. Three quarter time – 9 to 11 credit hours
  3. Half-time – 6 to 8 credit hours
  4. Less-than-half-time – Less than 6 credit hours
Fall 2021/Spring 2022 curriculum amounts are based on a student’s estimated family contribution (EFC) and their enrollment status, using the following chart:
1. Curriculum students with a 0 EFC (greatest financial need):
  1. Full-time $1350
  2. Three-quarter time $1100
  3. Half-time $850
  4. Less-than-half-time $600
2. Curriculum students with 1 - 5846 EFC (21-22 Pell eligible range):
  1. Full-time $1100
  2. Three-quarter time $912
  3. Half-time $725
  4. Less-than-half-time $537
3. Curriculum students with 5847 or higher EFC (or no EFC) for 21-22:
  1. Full-time $850
  2. Three quarter time $725
  3. Half-time $600
  4. Less-than-half-time $475
4. Curriculum amounts are prorated based on credit hours enrolled.
  - Full-time – 12 or more credit hours
  - Three quarter time – 9 to 11 credit hours
  - Half-time – 6 to 8 credit hours
  - Less-than-half-time – Less than 6 credit hours
Continuing Education amounts awarded for the Summer 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022 (2021CE2, 2021CE3, 2022CE1) are based on their enrollment in either Basic Skills or OERB (Occupational Education Regular Budget) courses and the number of hours earned, using the following chart:
1. Basic Skills students (Summer):
  1. 75+ hours $500
  2. 20-74 hours $250
  3. 12-19 hours $125
2. Basic Skills students (Fall and Spring):
  1. 96+ hours $500
  2. 40-95 hours $250
  3. 12-39 hours $125
3. OERB students:
  1. 96+ hours $500
  2. 20-95.5 hours $375
  3. 12-19.9 hours $250
  4. Less than 12 hours $125

Award Instructions

Students who receive funding are not required to record or track how it is spent. GTCC, however, will be required to report:

How funds were distributed to students;
The amount of each grant awarded to each student;
How the amount of each grant was calculated; and
Any instructions or directions given to students about the grants.

The first report will be posted on the GTCC website within 30 days of receipt of the student share of the funding. The report will be updated each quarter thereafter.

Instructions, directions, or guidance provided by GTCC to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants was provided by email and by this webpage. All eligible students receiving CARES Emergency Grants were notified of the Emergency Grant funding availability and the mechanism for applying for this aid. The application for applying is through the GTCC portal, which requires the students to log in and use their GTCC user ID and password. The application requires the students to click on the statement "I certify that I incurred (or will incur) expenses related to campus disruption due to the coronavirus." Students are notified by email whether they were eligible or ineligible for CARES funding. In the case of CRRSAA and ARP funding, no application is necessary. Students will be awarded funding based on their enrollment at the census point for both Curriculum and Continuing Education students.

Reporting Information

GTCC has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement (if required) to use no less than the minimum student portion for emergency grants to students.

The total amount of funds that the institution has been authorized for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students is

CARES - $4,130,195.
CRRSAA - $4,130,195
ARP - $14,060,223

Total Amount of HEERF Grants Distributed to Students

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the Student Portion of Section 18004 (a)(1) of the CARES Act:

As of June 3, 2020 = $1,521,294
As of July 16, 2020 = $2,512,160
As of September 30, 2020 =$4,130,195 Fully expended
As of June 30, 2021 = $4,129,695
As of September 30, 2021 = $4,130,195 Fully expended

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the Institutional Portion of Section 18004 (a)(1) of the CARES Act:

As of September 30, 2020 = $207,913
As of December 31, 2020 = $203,224
As of March 31, 2021 = $2,018,188
As of June 30, 2021 = $2,600,000
As of September 30, 2021 = $2,600,000

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the Student Portion of Section 314 (a)(1) of CRRSAA:

As of March 31, 2021 = $0
As of June 12, 2021 = $4,130,195 Fully expended
As of June 30, 2021 = $4,130,195 Fully expended

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the Institutional Portion of Section 314 (a)(1) of CRRSAA:

As of March 31, 2021 = $0
As of June 12, 2021 = $323,853
As of June 30, 2021 = $473,353
As of September 30, 2021 = $3,016,996

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the Student Portion of Section 2003 (a)(1) of ARP:

As of March 31, 2021 = $0
As of June 12, 2021 = $0
As of June 30, 2021 = $0
As of September 30, 2021 = $5,888,826

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the Institutional Portion of Section 2003 (a)(1) of ARP:

As of March 31, 2021 = $0
As of June 12, 2021 = $0
As of June 30, 2021 = $0

Estimated Total Number of Students Eligible to Receive HEERF Grants

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 of the 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:

As of June 3, 2020 =6,058
As of July 16, 2020 = 6,486
As of September 30, 2020 =8,763 (20-21 FAFSAs received)
As of December 31, 2020 = 9,227 (20-21 FAFSAs received)
As of March 31, 2021 = 14,830 (20-21 FAFSAs received)

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 314 (a)(1) of CRRSAA:

As of March 31, 2021 =10,974 (Spring 2021 enrollment)
As of June 12, 2021 = 10,974 (Spring 2021 enrollment)
As of June 30, 2021 = 10,974 (Spring 2021 enrollment)

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 2003 (a)(1) of ARP:

As of March 31, 2021 =N/A
As of June 12, 2021 = N/A
As of June 30, 2021 = N/A

Total Number of Students Receiving HEERF Grants

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004 (a)(1) of the CARES Act:

As of June 3, 2020 = 2273
As of July 16, 2020 = 3661
As of September 30, 2020 =4801
As of December 31, 2020 =4794
As of March 31, 2021 =5536

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 314 (a)(1) of CRRSAA:

As of March 31, 2021 = 0
As of June 12, 2021 = 10,974
As of June 30, 2021 = 10,974

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 2003 (a)(1) of ARP:

As of March 31, 2021 = 0
As of June 12, 2021 = 0
As of June 30, 2021 = 0

Quarterly Reporting (7/1/21 through 9/30/21)

The total quarterly amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under any HEERF program: $8,434,353
Estimated Quarterly Total Number of Students Eligible to Receive HEERF Grants: 14881
Quarterly Total Number of Students Receiving HEERF Grants: 14881

Quarterly Reporting (10/1/21 through 12/31/21)

The total quarterly amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under any HEERF program: $2,370,615
Estimated Quarterly Total Number of Students Eligible to Receive HEERF Grants: 9465
Quarterly Total Number of Students Receiving HEERF Grants: 9465

These guidelines will be followed subject to the availability of HEERF funding.

Quarterly Reporting (1/1/22 through 3/31/22)

The total quarterly amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under any HEERF program: $10,177,383
Estimated Quarterly Total Number of Students Eligible to Receive HEERF Grants: 16468
Quarterly Total Number of Students Receiving HEERF Grants: 16468