Federal Reporting Requirements for HEERF Funds

The CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) provides funding to institutions to provide emergency financial aid grants to eligible students whose lives have been disrupted, many of whom are facing financial challenges and struggling to make ends meet. Based on guidance from the Department of Education (ED) and to impact as many students as possible, the College’s plan distributes HEERF funds through a financial aid grant to eligible students equally no matter the number of hours they are enrolled in. The College based the initial distribution on the price of technology required for most students to transition to wholly online courses, more specifically an entry level laptop. Students can use funds to cover expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare. 
 
The College will distribute a financial aid grant of $400 to each eligible student enrolled for Spring Semester 2020. The financial aid grant will be applied to a student’s account and issued as a refund as students are verified as eligible. The grant will be awarded automatically and a request will not have to be made. For more information about refund distribution options, please visit our Refund Information website. Students can view their account through Banner Web and see if they have been awarded a grant.

Eligible students as outlined in the Higher Education Act include:

• Students enrolled after March 13, 2020 in at least one (1) credit hour for a Title IV eligible program that leads to a certificate, diploma, or degree. 
• Title IV eligible programs are listed HERE and are indicated with an asterisk (*). 
• Student has submitted and the College has received an approved FAFSA for the 19/20 award year and has no outstanding verification requests. 
• If a student has not submitted a FAFSA for the 19/20 award year, it is not too late. Visit fafsa.gov to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid today. 
• Student has met all admission requirements including: Obtaining a HS diploma, GED, or equivalency. 
• A student’s Spring Semester Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is under an eligible status (Good Standing, Warning, or an approved SAP appeal). 

Students who are not eligible for the HEERF Grant include: 

• Dual Enrolled (High School) Students 
• Foreign Students 
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Students 
• Transient Students 
• Students who have defaulted student loans, over-payments, or other eligibility restrictions 
• Students enrolled only in part-of-term that ended prior to March 13, 2020 
• Students enrolled exclusively in online courses for Spring Semester 2020 

Distributions will begin once the College receives the funding from the Department of Education and student eligibility is verified by the College’s Financial Aid Department. Please note, eligibility may change based on guidance from the Department of Education. 

Additional Emergency Assistance Financial Aid Grants Available 

If a student has a need for additional funds (in addition to the $400 Financial Aid Grant), he/she can submit a request through the Emergency Assistance Application Process. Funds not initially distributed will be available for eligible students based on an Emergency Assistance Application, documentation, and available funds. Emergency assistance funds are not guaranteed. Emergency Assistance can be a need for monetary assistance, technology items, and/or textbook/course items. Any student enrolled during Spring Semester 2020 who meets the eligibility requirements previously listed may apply. Once an application and appropriate documentation is submitted, students will be notified through their student email account of a decision. 

Steps to apply for Emergency Assistance 

1. Students can apply for Emergency Assistance by completing the Emergency Assistance/Lending Library application. Be as detailed as possible. 
2. The application will be reviewed by the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs. 
3. Within 1-2 business days, the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs will email the applicant with a decision on the Emergency Assistance application or a request for additional information. 
4. If approved, the monetary assistance, technology item, or textbook/course item will be provided to the applicant as soon as possible. 

If you have questions about your HEERF distribution or eligibility, contact the Financial Aid Department via email at fa@ogeecheetech.edu or call 912.681.5500. You can also chat live with an advisor at www.ogeecheetech.edu. 

Based on guidance from the Department of Education (ED) and to impact as many students as possible, the College’s plan distributes HEERF II funds through a financial aid grant to eligible students (excluding dual enrolled and transient students) taking into consideration financial need as demonstrated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students can use funds to cover expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and/or childcare.  

Below are the amounts of the financial aid grants that will be issued to eligible students (excluding dual enrolled and transient students) to the student populations identified below that are enrolled for Spring Semester 2021. If a student has a remaining account balance the funds can be applied directly to the balance if the student completes the authorization form; this form can be completed by students by signing into their BannerWeb account here and completing the form. Otherwise, the financial aid grant will be applied to a student’s account and issued as a refund. For more information about refund distribution options, please visit http://www.ogeecheetech.edu/financial-aid/refunds.   

• $500  will be issued to students who have a $0 EFC on the 2020-2021 FAFSA 
• $400  will be issued to students who have greater than a $0 EFC on the 2020-2021 FAFSA or null EFC 

Students who are not eligible for the HEERF Grant according to federal guidance include: 

• Foreign Students  
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Students  

Additional students who are excluded from the initial grant: 

• Dual Enrolled (High School) Students  
• Transient Students  

Distributions will begin once the College receives the funding from the Department of Education. Please note, eligibility may change based on guidance from the Department of Education.   

Funds not initially distributed will be available for eligible students (including dual enrolled students) based on an Emergency Assistance Application, documentation, and available funds. Priority will be given to students receiving the PELL grant. Emergency assistance funds are not guaranteed. Any student enrolled during Spring Semester 2021 who meets the eligibility requirements previously listed may apply. Students will be notified through their student email account and information will be posted online at https://www.ogeecheetech.edu/federal-reporting-requirements-for-heerf-funds.    

Any funds left over from emergency assistance will be reallocated to all current students that received initial allocations.   

Ogeechee Technical College has continued to pay its employees and contractors during disruptions to the greatest extent possible.  

Based on guidance from the Department of Education (ED) and to impact as many students as possible, the College’s plan initially distributes HEERF III funds through a financial aid grant to eligible students (excluding dual enrolled and transient students) taking into consideration financial need as demonstrated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students can use funds 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 childcare. 

Below are the amounts of the financial aid grants that will be issued to the student populations identified below (excluding dual enrolled and transient students) that are enrolled for Summer Semester 2021, Fall Semester 2021, and Spring Semester 2022. If a student has a remaining account balance the funds can be applied directly to the balance if the student completes the authorization form; this form can be completed by students signing into their BannerWeb account here and completing the form. Otherwise, the financial aid grant will be applied to a student’s account and issued as a refund. For more information about refund distribution options, please visit http://www.ogeecheetech.edu/financial-aid/refunds.   

Summer Semester 2021 

• $700  will be issued to students who have a $0 EFC on the 2020-2021 FAFSA 
• $500  will be issued to students who have greater than a $0 EFC on the 2020-2021 FAFSA or null EFC 

Fall Semester 2021  

• $700  will be issued to students who have a $0 EFC on the 2021-2022 FAFSA  
• $500  will be issued to students who have greater than a $0 EFC on the 2021-2022 FAFSA or null EFC 

Spring Semester 2022   

• $700  will be issued to students who have a $0 EFC on the 2021-2022 FAFSA 
• $500  will be issued to students who have greater than a $0 EFC on the 2021-2022 FAFSA or null EFC  

Students who are excluded from the initial grant  

• Dual Enrolled (High School) Students  
• Transient Students  

Please note, eligibility may change based on guidance from the Department of Education.   

Funds not initially distributed will be available for eligible students (including dual enrolled and transient students) based on an Emergency Assistance Application, documentation, and available funds. Priority will be given to students receiving the PELL grant. Emergency assistance funds are not guaranteed. Any student may apply. Students will be notified through their student email account and information will be posted online.

Any funds left over from emergency assistance will be reallocated to all current students that received initial allocations.   

Ogeechee Technical College has continued to pay its employees and contractors during disruptions to the greatest extent possible.