Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) Spring 2021 Plan:
The Secretary of Education has announced the availability of new Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grant funding under section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA. On December 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) (P.L. 116-260). This law makes available approximately $22.7 billion for institutions of higher education under the Higher Education
Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), with funding appropriated for the existing (a)(1), (a)(2) and (a)(3) programs previously authorized under the CARES Act, as well as funding for a new (a)(4) program authorized under the CRRSAA.
With this notice, the Secretary of Education is announcing the availability of HEERF grant funds under the CRRSAA section314(a)(1) programs (CFDAs 84.425E and 84.425F). These programs, with some changes, are a continuation of the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) program which the Department implemented as two funding streams: the Student Aid Portion (CFDA 84.425E) for financial grants to students, and the Institutional Portion (CFDA 84.425F) for institutional uses of funds related to the coronavirus.
In accordance with the provisions of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), MVCC has established and uses written policies and procedures for verifying an applicant's eligibility for HEERF II funds from FAFSA information. These policies and procedures include:
- The time within which an applicant must request funding.
- Method used to select recipients and determine award amounts.
- The method by which the College notifies an applicant of the results and approval of funding.
- The procedures the College will follow itself or the procedures the College will require from the student.
- The procedures the College will follow for making referrals to other college resources available to the student.
Applications for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II will be made available to students on February 23, 2021 and must be submitted by April 23, 2021 (see Appendix I for the college’s priority groups of students with exceptional needs). Students can apply for funding during this period only and must meet eligibility requirements at time of application.
All students will be notified by email and text messaging regarding the availability of HEERF II funds. In addition, information regarding the HEERF II funds application process will be posted on the college’s website and the student portal. Communications to targeted populations who have not applied for support will be sent on a continuous basis until funds are exhausted. Students will be directed to an online application housed on the College’s student portal. Completed applications will be sent to the financial aid office to determine applicants’ initial eligibility. Applications that do not meet criteria set forth by this policy will be forwarded to the Supplemental Fund Committee to determine other resources that may be available to the student.
Submitted applications will be directed to a Financial Aid committee for review. The committee members will review the initial application and determine if the student meets all of the HEERF II funds eligibility requirements listed below:
- A verified or completed FAFSA on file for 2020-2021 academic year and be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen,
- For Priority Group 1 and 2 a verified FAFSA is required;
- For Priority Group 3 a completed FAFSA is required.
- Enrolled in a Title IV eligible degree or certificate program,
- Have been enrolled in the spring 2021 semester as of January 19, 2021, or later,
- Be in an eligible status according to MVCC Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy; and
- Certify they have incurred expenses related to the coronavirus on or after December 27, 2020.
The award of either $1,000 (part-time) or $2,000 (full-time) will be determined by a student’s academic load.
- Award Amounts based on Academic Load
- Part-Time= 0-11 credits $1,000
- Full-Time= 12 or greater credits $2,000
Students approved for HEERF II funding will be notified via e-mail. The Financial Aid office will maintain records of applications and award communication for each applicant.
Students denied for HEERF II funding will be notified via e-mail and may be referred to other college resources.
The Financial Aid Office will determine final award amount. Awards will be compiled on a master spreadsheet for disbursement. The spreadsheet will be used for reporting purposes per the requirements related to the College’s participation in the program. Information will include student id, name, award amount and eligibility criteria.
The Business Office will use the file load process to post awards on student accounts. For students who authorized MVCC to use the funds for tuition balance, the award process will apply funds to the outstanding balance. Remaining HEERF II funds will be reimbursed directly to students. Students who did not authorize MVCC to use the funds for their tuition balance will be reimbursed the full amount awarded.
To qualify for funding, students must meet the following criteria:
- A verified or completed FAFSA on file for 2020-2021 academic year and be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen,
- Enrolled in a Title IV eligible degree or certificate program,
- Have been enrolled in the spring 2021 semester as of January 19, 2021, or later,
- Be in an eligible status according to MVCC Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy; and
- Certify they have incurred expenses related to the coronavirus on or after December 27, 2020.
- Tuition
- Food
- Technology
- Housing
- Utility bills
- Childcare
- Health Care (including mental health care)
- Other financial needs arising from individual and/or special circumstances to be determined on a case-by-case basis
- Because limited funding is available, requests made for expenses beyond the spring 2021 semester may not be considered.
- Funds awarded do not need to be repaid but may be subject to federal taxes.
- Award amounts will be $1,000 (part-time) and $2,000 (full-time) for coronavirus related expenses.
Eligible students will complete and submit the online application using the link supplied through their student e-mail account. Applications will be reviewed by the Financial Aid department. Decisions will be communicated to students through email.
Note: This plan can be found on the College’s primary website, here.
