Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021 (CRRSAA) was signed into law (Pub. L. 116-260 (Dec. 27, 2020)) which provides additional funds for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to assist public and private nonprofit colleges and universities in preparing for, preventing and responding to the COVID-19 global pandemic. These funds are separate from those awarded under the American Rescue Plan and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Emergency Financial Aid for Students under CRRSAA: Disbursement Plan

The U.S. Department of Education (“USDOE”) has allocated $1,057,016.00 to North Georgia Technical College (“the college”) for these emergency financial aid grants to students. The college has signed and returned to the USDOE the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the College intends to use no less than 50% of the funds allocated under Section 314 (a)(1) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) for students. These funds are to be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible expenses include food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. Students who meet basic eligibility criteria for federal financial aid (Title IV) funding and who have been determined to have an exceptional need were considered for the HEERF II. Information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) were used to determine eligibility for Emergency Grant Funds.

Student Eligibility under CRRSAA

  • Active enrollment during the Spring 2021 and/or Summer 2021 semester for a minimum of one (1) credit hour in a program that leads to a certificate, diploma, or degree.
  • Have completed a FAFSA for the 2020-2021 aid year
  • Have met all requirements for admission

Student Not Eligible for Emergency Grant Funds

Student populations determined as not eligible for Emergency Grant Funds as defined by the U. S. Department of Education:

  • Dual Enrolled High School Students
  • Joint Enrolled High School Students
  • Transient students – these students may receive funds from home institution
  • Adult Education (non-credit) Students

Proposed Process for Awarding and Disbursing Emergency Funds to Students

Based on the eligibility requirements above, the college initially identified 1,326 students who met eligibility requirements to receive Emergency Grant Funds. The college disbursed funds to those students determined to be eligible. There were 81 students enrolled in the spring who had unmet eligibility requirements to receive Emergency Grant funds. Funds were awarded by the Financial Aid Department and disbursed to student accounts. Each student account showed a credit balance. HEERF II Act funds can be used to cover tuition and fees balances, if the student gives prior authorization. The Business Office disbursed any credit balance to BankMobile for release to the student.

The college subsequently determined that there were approximately 141 students enrolled in the spring term who may be eligible with the completion of the 2020-2021 FAFSA.

The College disbursed funds to two cohorts: Cohort 1 from the Spring term and Cohort 2 from the Summer term.

Identification of Cohort 1:

Cohort 1 consisted of those students who have already completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2020-2021 and have met all eligibility requirements stated above. The college initially identified 1,335 students for Cohort 1 who were enrolled in a Title IV eligible program as having completed a 2020-2021 FASFA with no outstanding documents.

The total funding amount allocated to Cohort 1 was $684,467 resulting in the award amounts below. 

Tiers Students Award Total
Zero EFC + FT (verified) 215 $800 $172,000
Zero EFC + PT (verified) 410 $650 $266,500
EFC > 0 + FT OR 0 EFC (not verified) 277 $500 $138,500
EFC > 0 + PT OR 0 EFC (not verified) 429 $250 $107,250
Total 1,335   $684,467

 

Identification of Cohort 2:

The college subsequently determined that students who enrolled in the summer term continued to face impact from the COVID-19 virus. Cohort 2 consisted of summer semester students who met all eligibility requirements as stated above.

Students attending the Spring term who did not complete the 2020-2021 FASFA prior to the disbursement to Cohort 1 were considered for Cohort 2 if they submitted a 2020-2021 FAFSA and met all eligibility requirements as stated above by April 1, 2021.  Student Affairs contacted this group of students and offered assistance with filing a FASFA application by the stated deadline.

The total funding amount allocated to the Cohort 2 during the Summer term to 903 summer students and spring semester students who met all eligibility requirements by April 1, 2021 to was $372,369.

The total funding amount allocated to Cohort 1 was $372,369 resulting in the award amounts below.

Tiers Students Award Total
Zero EFC + FT (verified) 67 $855 $57,285
Zero EFC + PT (verified) 384 $500 $192,000
EFC > 0 + FT OR 0 EFC (not verified) 65 $405 $26,325
EFC > 0 + PT OR 0 EFC (not verified) 387 $250 $96,750
Total 903   $372,600

 

 

The disbursement of Cohort 2 to student accounts took place during the first week of July.

Should any Emergency Grant funds remain following the distribution to Cohort 2, the college will disburse the balance of remaining funds to the eligible students identified in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2. Funds will be disbursed prior to the completion of the Summer term. The College sent an email and text once the funds were disbursed to student accounts.

If you have questions about these Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the HEERF II, please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@northgatech.edu

The college has completed disbursement of 100% ($1,057,016.00) of the Emergency Financial Aid for Students allocated under Section 314 (a)(1) of CRRSAA.

Institutional Aid Portion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund under CRRSAA

Pursuant to Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA the USDOE allocated an additional $3,531,956.00 to the college. This award is separate from the funding made available for the CRRSAA Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students described above and the CRRSAA Strengthening Institutions Programs funds described below.

The college may use the award  to defray expenses associated with coronavirus (including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, faculty and staff trainings, and payroll); carry out student support activities authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) that address needs related to coronavirus; and make additional financial grants to students, 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.

No grant funds may be used to fund contractors for the provision of pre-enrollment recruitment activities; marketing or recruitment; endowments; capital outlays associated with facilities related to athletics, sectarian instruction, or religious worship; senior administrator or executive salaries, benefits, bonuses, contracts, incentives; stock buybacks, shareholder dividends, capital distributions, and stock options; or any other cash or other benefit for a senior administrator or executive.

The college may, but is not required to, use this Institutional portion to provide additional financial aid grants to students. If the college chooses to use this Institutional portion to provide additional financial aid grants to students, then these funds are subject to the requirements in the Public and Nonprofit Institution Grant Funds for Students Certification and Agreement.

The college may charge indirect costs to funds made available under this CRRSAA award. As the college does not have a current negotiated indirect cost rate with its cognizant agency for indirect costs, it will appropriately charge the de minimis rate of ten percent of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC). The college may also charge reasonable direct administrative costs to funds made available under this CRRSAA award.

The college acknowledges that any obligation under this CRRSAA grant (pre-award costs pursuant to 2 CFR § 200.458) must have been incurred on or after March 13, 2020, the date of Proclamation of the National Emergency.

Consistent with Section 315 of the CRRSAA and to the greatest extent practicable, the college will pay all of its full-time employees and contractors during the period of any disruptions or closures related to the coronavirus. The following expenditures are disallowed: senior administrator and/or executive salaries, benefits, bonuses, contracts, incentives; stock buybacks, shareholder dividends, capital distributions, and stock options; and any other cash or other benefit for a senior administrator or executive.

The college will notify the USDOE within 30 days of making a determination that it is required to remit payment to the Internal Revenue Service for the excise tax paid on investment income of private colleges and universities under section 4968 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for tax year 2019 via the Required Notification of Endowment Excise Tax Paid form, pursuant to section 314(d)(6) of the CRRSAA.

The college will comply with all reporting requirements (including those in Section 314(e)of the CRRSAA and submit required reports to the USDOE, at such time and in such manner and containing such information as the USDOE may reasonably require.

The Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts is the state agency that reviews the combined financial statements of the Technical College System of Georgia and its units, which includes this college. The college complies with GDAA’s requirements.

The college will comply with the provisions of all applicable acts, regulations and assurances; the following provisions of Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99; the OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485; and the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.

The college acknowledges it is under a continuing affirmative duty to inform the USDOE if the college is to close or terminate operations as an institution or merge with another institution.

Strengthening Institutions Program Portion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund under CRRSAA

Pursuant to Section 314(a)(2) of CRRSAA the USDOE allocated an additional $188,809.00 to the college. This award is separate from the funding made available for the CRRSAA Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students and the CRRSAA Institutional Aid Portion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund described above.

The college may use this award to defray expenses associated with the coronavirus (including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, faculty and staff trainings, and payroll); carry out student support activities authorized by the HEA that address needs related to the coronavirus; and make financial aid grants to students, 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.

No grant funds may be used to fund contractors for the provision of pre-enrollment recruitment activities; marketing or recruitment; endowments; capital outlays associated with facilities related to athletics, sectarian instruction, or religious worship; senior administrator or executive salaries, benefits, bonuses, contracts, incentives; stock buybacks, shareholder dividends, capital distributions, and stock options; or any other cash or other benefit for a senior administrator or executive.

The college may, but is not required to, use this Institutional portion to provide additional financial aid grants to students. If the college chooses to use this Institutional portion to provide additional financial aid grants to students, then these funds are subject to the requirements in the Public and Nonprofit Institution Grant Funds for Students Certification and Agreement.

The college may charge indirect costs to funds made available under this CRRSAA award. As the college does not have a current negotiated indirect cost rate with its cognizant agency for indirect costs, it will appropriately charge the de minimis rate of ten percent of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC). The college may also charge reasonable direct administrative costs to funds made available under this CRRSAA award.

The college acknowledges that any obligation under this CRRSAA grant (pre-award costs pursuant to 2 CFR § 200.458) must have been incurred on or after March 13, 2020, the date of Proclamation of the National Emergency.

Consistent with Section 315 of the CRRSAA and to the greatest extent practicable, the college will pay all of its full-time employees and contractors during the period of any disruptions or closures related to the coronavirus. The following expenditures are disallowed: senior administrator and/or executive salaries, benefits, bonuses, contracts, incentives; stock buybacks, shareholder dividends, capital distributions, and stock options; and any other cash or other benefit for a senior administrator or executive.

The college will notify the USDOE within 30 days of making a determination that it is required to remit payment to the Internal Revenue Service for the excise tax paid on investment income of private colleges and universities under section 4968 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for tax year 2019 via the Required Notification of Endowment Excise Tax Paid form, pursuant to section 314(d)(6) of the CRRSAA.

The college will comply with all reporting requirements (including those in Section 314(e)of the CRRSAA and submit required reports to the USDOE, at such time and in such manner and containing such information as the USDOE may reasonably require.

The Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts (GDAA) is the state agency that reviews the combined financial statements of the Technical College System of Georgia and its units, which includes this college. The college complies with GDAA’s requirements.

The college will comply with the provisions of all applicable acts, regulations and assurances; the following provisions of Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99; the OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485; and the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.

The college acknowledges it is under a continuing affirmative duty to inform the USDOE if the college is to close or terminate operations as an institution or merge with another institution.

The college has completed disbursement of 100% ($188,809.00) of the SIP Portion under Section 314(a)(2) of CRRSAA.

Updated: January 2, 2024 - CARES, CRRSAA, ARP & SSARPView the CARES Act, CRRSA & ARP Information and Covid-19 Guidance