The college received $1,307,278 from the U.S. Department of Education through the CRRSAA: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II) designated to provide direct support to our students with course materials, housing, childcare, food or other COVID-19 related needs due to the disruption of campus operations.
The CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students. For this reason, it is recommended that students complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are not required to apply for financial aid or be awarded a Pell grant to be eligible. Beyond Pell eligibility, other types of exceptional need could include students who may be eligible for other federal or state need-based aid or have faced significant unexpected expenses, such as the loss of employment (either for themselves or their families), reduced income, or food or housing insecurity. Students who do not complete a FAFSA application must self-certify their citizenship status and emergency related expenses. In addition, the CRRSAA explicitly provides that financial aid grants to students may be provided to students exclusively enrolled in distance education. These grants are for any component of their 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. Students determine how they may use their emergency financial aid grant within the allowable uses.
How to Apply
If you are eligible to apply, you will receive an invitation via your Gateway student email. The application is unique to each qualified student and should not be shared with other students. Communications via email, social media, website presence and student groups assisted in educating students of this opportunity.
Your submission will be individually reviewed and communication related to support will be emailed to your Gateway student email. All financial awards will be disbursed directly to each student. All disbursements will be sent to students via a check mailed to your student address on file at the college or in limited cases via BankMobile.
Application Deadline
As of May 24, 2021, 1405 students who were enrolled in the Spring 2021 semester and met eligibility requirements were supported with emergency grants. 240 students were provided immediate emergency funding for Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 to assist with emergencies The college intends to support additional students that meet eligibility requirements with CRRSAA for the Summer 2021 Semester. Additional reporting is noted below. At this time, all funding has been expended.
Who Qualifies for the Grant
- Students who are or were enrolled in an institution of higher education on or after March 13, 2020, the date of the national emergency declaration due to the Pandemic. (Including study abroad, exclusively online, ABE/ELL, dual enrolled) Initially international, DACA and undocumented students were not eligible.
- Currently enrolled in the following course types include degree, certificate, continuing education, non-credit, non-degree and dual (enrollment) credit courses or programs.
- It is recommended that students complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to aid in determining exceptional need. Completion of FAFSA is not required.
Reports
June 10, 2021 Report
Through the CRRSAA Act, Gateway received $7,675,437 from the U.S. Department of Education. Gateway has provided the U.S. Department of Education with a signed Certification and Agreement. The college would like to provide support to as many Gateway students as possible during this challenging time. No less than $1,307,278 of these funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act will be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Gateway Technical College acknowledges the institution has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement for the CRRSAA funding.
The college estimates that 6416 students are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
The college has received $1,307,278 from the Department of Education for Emergency Financial Aid Grants for Students and has disbursed $648,900 to 1405 students as of June 10, 2021 in the form of Direct to Student emergency grants. Students enrolled and determined to be eligible based on Department of Education guidelines could receive up to a maximum of $550 grant (Pell eligible) or $250 grant (non-Pell) to support food, housing, course materials, childcare, and/or other educational-related expenses due to the disruption of campus operations. In determining Emergency Financial Aid Grants, the College did not require students to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) but did use the FAFSA but to identify students of high need. At the time of disbursing this funding, international students, DACA and undocumented students were not eligible. Funding was not made available to dual credit, start college now and transcripted credit students.
An additional $117,000 emergency funding that provided immediate support to students enrolled for Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 was disbursed to 240 students in the form of emergency grants. These grant amounts were in the amount of $500. Students were given the option to authorize use of the funds to pay outstanding tuition balances. A total of $765,900 has been allocated to 1645 students.
July 10, 2021 Report
As of July 9, 2021, the college estimates that for Summer 2021, 3986 students are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
The college is in the process of awarding and disbursing student emergency grants for the Summer 2021 term. Grants will be in the amounts of $750 for students who did not exhibit exceptional need. Students who met requirements for exceptional need will be awarded emergency grants in the amount of $1500. Exceptional need is determined by completion of the FAFSA application and a response to questions on an electronic emergency grant application. Communications via email and website presence, educated students regarding this opportunity.
October 10, 2021 Reporting
The college previously estimated for Summer 2021, 3986 students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
As of October 8, 2021, the college has expended the remaining student portion of HEERF II CRRSAA funding in the amount of $541,378 along with HEERF III ARPA funding in the amount of $578,372. A combined total of $1,119,750 was disbursed to 799 students in the form of Direct to Student emergency grants for the Summer 2021 term. Grants were in the amounts of $750 for students who did not exhibit exceptional need. Students who met requirements for exceptional need will be awarded emergency grants in the amount of $1500. Exceptional need is determined by completion of the FAFSA application and a response to questions on an electronic emergency grant application. The total amount of funding available to students was also a factor in determining maximum award amounts. Communications via email and website presence, educated students regarding this opportunity.