Southeastern College CARES Act Student Emergency Grants Policy
Southeastern College has adopted a flexible approach to administering emergency grants to students negatively impacted by the COVID-19 economic crisis. In creating this policy, the College seeks to achieve five goals:
- To expeditiously develop and implement a plan to distribute CARES Act funds to Southeastern College Students.
- To adhere to CARES Act requirements and Department of Education interpretive guidance in distributing funds.
- To create a process for awarding of funds that is defensible, replicable, and equitable – a process which will stand up to predictable future scrutiny (auditors, legislators, media, etc.).
- To distribute funds in a manner that best ensures student support in light of COVID-19 and economic challenges.
- To utilize existing processes and automate the awarding, distribution, and tracking process to the greatest degree possible.
Eligibility
Title IV (federal financial aid) Status
Only students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), may receive emergency financial aid grants. If a student has filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), then the student has demonstrated this portion of eligibility. Students who have not filed a FAFSA must do so before being eligible to receive a grant. The criteria to participate in programs under Section 484 of the HEA include but are not limited to the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen; a valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Service (if the student is male); and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting. To determine eligibility, follow this link.
Military Veterans
SEC students receiving military benefits to pay for their education who have not completed a FAFSA will receive the maximum grant for their enrollment status as part-time or full-time. Those who have completed a FAFSA will be awarded CARES Act grants as according to the procedure outlined under “Initial Grants” below.
Online Enrollment
If a student was enrolled exclusively in an online program on March 13, 2020, the date of the President’s Proclamation, “Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak,” Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 53 at 1533738, he/she are not eligible for CARES Act emergency financial aid grants.
Student Status
A student must have been enrolled as a full-time or part-time degree seeking student, and not enrolled 100% online, on March 13, 2020 to receive Initial Grant Aid.
Initial Grant Aid
In an effort to distribute aid to students in an expeditious manner, and recognizing that SEC students disproportionately rely on income from the stifled Florida service economy, all eligible full-time and part-time SEC students with an Expected Family Contribution (“EFC” generated by FAFSA application) will receive a one time grant. In order to qualify for this funding, students must have been enrolled as full-time or part-time degree seeking students, or on a University-approved leave of absence, on March 13, 2020.
One-time grant awards for SEC students meeting all eligibility requirements were made as follows:
- Full-time with EFC of $0 – $5,501 (“Pell eligible” for undergraduate students) = $1,000
- Part-time with EFC of $0 – $5,000 (“Pell eligible” for undergraduate students) $500
- Full-time with EFC of $$5,502 – $15,000 = $750
- Part-time with EFC of $5,001 – $15,000 = $375
Students automatically received grant funds via check or direct deposit, depending on the preference indicated at registration. Approximately 47% of CARES Act funds specified for students at Miami Lakes and West Palm Beach were distributed through Initial Grants. Eligible students received a total of $395,750 In CARES Act grants through the Initial Grant Aid phase. Approximately 53% of CARES Act funds specified for students at Charlotte, Columbia and North Charleston were distributed through the Initial Grants. Eligible students received a total of $364,625 in CARES Act grants through the Initial Grant Act phase. Funds were delivered to students by May 25, 2020.
CARES Grants II
The second round of grants were awarded on July 2, 2020, and with the same eligibility criteria as Initial Grants. All eligible students, were awarded grants under CARES Grants II following the schedule below.
Full-time with EFC of $0 – $5,501 = $292 (SEC CO) / $451 (SEC NCh) / $414 (SEC Ch) / $475 (SEC FL)
Part-time with EFC of $0 – $5,000 = $177 (SEC CO) / $336 (SEC NCh)/ $299 (SEC Ch) / $360 (SEC FL)
Full-time with EFC of $6,196 – $15,000 = $235 (SEC CO) / $393 (SEC NCh) / $356 (SEC Ch) / $417 (SEC FL)
Part-time with EFC of $5,001 – $15,000 =$151 (SEC CO) / $310 (SEC NCh) / $273 (SEC Ch) / $334 (SEC FL)
Full-time with EFC of >$15,000 = N/A (SEC CO) / $601 (SEC NCh) / $564 (SEC Ch) / $624 (SEC FL)
Part-time with EFC of >$15,000 = $252 (SEC CO) / $411 (SEC NCh) / $374 (SEC Ch) / $434 (SEC FL)
Students automatically received emergency grant funds via check or direct deposit, depending on the preference indicated at registration.
Approximately 19% (SEC CO) / 26% (SEC NCh) / 25% (SEC Ch) / 27% (SEC FL) of CARES Act funds specified for students were distributed through CARES Grants III, bringing the cumulative total of grant funds distributed to students to 81% (SEC CO) / 74% (SEC NCh) / 76% (SEC Ch) / 74% (SEC FL). Students received notification of their grant awards via their school email account.
CARES Grants III
The third and final round of grants was awarded in very similar amounts and in the same eligible student categories as CARES Grants II. The third and final round of grants was distributed by August 4, 2020.
Students will automatically receive emergency grant funds via check or direct deposit, depending on the preference indicated at registration.
Students who received Initial Grant Aid will also receive CARES Grants III, in addition to eligible students who did not receive Initial Grant Aid due to their EFC.
All eligible students, were awarded grants under CARES Grants III following the schedule below.
Full-time with EFC of $0 – $5,501 = $292 (SEC CO) / $446 (SEC NCh) / $404 (SEC Ch) / $469 (SEC FL)
Part-time with EFC of $0 – $5,000 = $177 (SEC CO) / $332 (SEC NCh)/ $292 (SEC Ch) / $353 (SEC FL)
Full-time with EFC of $6,196 – $15,000 = $235 (SEC CO) / $388 (SEC NCh) / $347 (SEC Ch) / $413 (SEC FL)
Part-time with EFC of $5,001 – $15,000 =$151 (SEC CO) / $306 (SEC NCh) / $267 (SEC Ch) / $331 (SEC FL)
Full-time with EFC of >$15,000 = N/A (SEC CO) / $594 (SEC NCh) / $550 (SEC Ch) / $617 (SEC FL)
Part-time with EFC of >$15,000 = $252 (SEC CO) / $406 (SEC NCh) / $365 (SEC Ch) / $429 (SEC FL)
Approximately 19% (SEC CO) / 26% (SEC NCh) / 24% (SEC Ch) / 26% (SEC FL) of CARES Act funds specified for students will be distributed through CARES Grants III, and students will receive notification of their grant awards, via their school email account.
