Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Report Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students

Quarterly Report, Revised March 31, 2022

Southeastern College OPEID 03123900, North Charleston OPEID 03555400, Columbia OPEID 03746400 and Charlotte OPEID 03555300 received education stabilization funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Public Law No: 116-136. This Fund Report applies to the student portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund that is designated exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students.

The institution appreciates that Congress and the President have made these critical funds available for eligible students who have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. We take receipt of these federal funds seriously and are distributing them in accordance with the CARES Act and implementing guidance.

The institution is making the below information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) Electronic Announcement of May 6, 2020. For questions or concerns regarding this Fund Report, please contact us.

The institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. The institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
The methods used by the institution to determine which students receive emergency financial aid grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act are provided at Attachment A.
Guidance provided by the institution to students concerning appropriate use of emergency financial aid grants are provided at Attachment B.
The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and thus eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, as of the date of this Fund Report is:

SEC West Palm Beach and Miami Lakes (OPEID 03123900)

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $844,830.
The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is $844,830.
The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and thus eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, as of the date of this Fund Report is 526.
The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is 526.

SEC N. Charleston (OPEID 03555400)

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $236,821.
The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is $236,821.
The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and thus eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, as of the date of this Fund Report is 152.
The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is 152.

SEC Charlotte (OPEID 03746400)

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $302,973.
The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is $302,973.
The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and thus eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, as of the date of this Fund Report is 206.
The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is 206.

SEC Columbia (OPEID 03555300)

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $153,476.
The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is $153,476.
The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and thus eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, as of the date of this Fund Report is 115.
The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is 115.

Attachment A

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 to be eligible for a SEC CARES Act grant; this application may be submitted online. 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, they 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-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 College-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 $6,196 – $15,000 = $750

Part-time with EFC of $5,001 – $15,000 = $375

Students automatically received emergency grant funds via check or direct deposit, depending on the preference indicated at registration.

Approximately 47% of CARES Act funds specified for students were distributed through Initial Grants for SEC WPB and SEC ML. Approximately 53% of CARES Act funds specified for students were distributed through Initial Grants at SEC CHAR, SEC COL, and SEC NCHAR. Students received notification of their grant awards via their school email account.

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)

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 received notification of their grant awards, via their school email account.

CARES Grants IV

The fourth round of grants were awarded on April 1, 2021, with the same eligibility criteria as CARES Grants II and III. All eligible students were awarded grants under CARES Grants IV following the schedule below.

Full-time with EFC of $0 – $5,501 = $421 (SEC CO) / $1,043 (SEC NCh) / $897 (SEC CH) / $483 (SEC FL)

Part-time with EFC of $0 – $5,000 = $211 (SEC CO) / $522 (SEC NCh) / $449 (SEC CH) / $242 (SEC FL)

Full-time with EFC of $5,502 – $15,000 = $316 (SEC CO) / $783 (SEC NCh) / $673 (SEC CH) / $363 (SEC FL)

Part-time with EFC of $5,001 – $15,000 = $158 (SEC CO) / $392 (SEC NCh) / $337 (SEC CH) / $182 (SEC FL)

Full-time with EFC of >$15,000 = $211 (SEC CO) / $522 (SEC NCh) / $449 (SEC CH) / $242 (SEC FL)

Part-time with EFC of >$15,000 = $106 (SEC CO) / $261 (SEC NCh) / $225 (SEC CH) / $121 (SEC FL)

Students automatically received emergency grant funds via check or direct deposit, depending on the preference indicated at registration. 99 (SEC CO) / 127 (SEC N Ch) / 224 (SEC CH) / 526 (SEC FL) eligible students received a total of $28,761 (SEC CO) / $99,748 (SEC N Ch) / $131,706 (SEC CH) / $192, 463 (SEC FL) in CARES Act grants through the CARES Grants IV phase. Students received notification of their grant awards via their school email account.

These grants were given to students with funds that were awarded to the institution for institutional funding during the CARES ACT. All student grant funding was previously awarded through direct student grants during the CARES Grants I, II III disbursements.

Attachment B

Guidance Concerning Use of CARES Act Funds

The following guidance is provided in writing to all students receiving grants through CARES Act funds:

Please note that CARES Act grants are intended for “emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).” By accepting a CARES Act grant, you are attesting that funds will be used in this manner.

Southeastern College has made good faith efforts to identify students eligible to receive CARES Act grants. By accepting emergency grant funds, you are attesting that you have successfully completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or are a military veteran receiving military aid to attend Southeastern College who is eligible to file a FAFSA.