CARES Act Reporting - 6 August 2020

6 August 2020 Update

Aurora University submits this 45-day update to the previously published Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund report to Department of Education secretary

(per instructions issued by the Office of Postsecondary Education dated 6 May 2020)

The Department of Education directs each institution receiving Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) to comply with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act and submit an initial report (the “30-day Fund Report”) to the Secretary thirty (30) days from the date of the institution’s Certification and Agreement to the Department with updates every forty-five (45) days thereafter.

Each HEERF participating institution must post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website. Accordingly, the university is providing this information to the AU community in compliance with this directive:

1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that 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.

   Aurora University acknowledges the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for the Student Portion of funds on 13 April 2020. The university signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for the Institutional Portion of funds on 29 April 2020.

   The university 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.

2. 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.

   The university has received $2,348,842 for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. These funds are currently available to the university through the Department of Education’s Grants Management system (G5). As of this date, the university has submitted and received draw requests totaling $2,334,000 through the G5 system.

3. 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 submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

   As of the date of this submission, Emergency Financial Aid Grants totaling $2,334,000 have been distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

4. 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 to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

   As of this date, 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 for the Spring 2020 academic term (as evidenced by a completed FAFSA on file with the university) and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 4,975.

   Pursuant to Department of Education guidelines, students who were enrolled exclusively in online courses on 13 March 2020 are not eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants. The approximate number of students enrolled in exclusively online courses included in the estimated total number of students eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 for the Spring 2020 academic term (as evidenced by a completed FAFSA on file with the university) is 940.

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

   As of this date, 2,083 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1).

6. The method(s) 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.

   The university used the following methods to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act:

   • Students must be Title IV eligible as determined by a valid FAFSA on file for the 2019-2020 award year.
   • Students must have been enrolled in courses underway as of the date the CARES Act was passed into law on 27 March 2020.
   • Students enrolled exclusively in online courses on 13 March 2020 are excluded per Department of Education guidance.
   • All Spring Semester Federal Pell Grants awardees receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
   • For those students who are not Federal Pell Grant awardees, students who are otherwise Title IV eligible with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) equal to or less than the 2019-2020 Federal Pell Grant EFC limit ($5,576) receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
     
     

   For those students meeting the qualifications listed above to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, students are awarded the following amounts:

   • Eligible students enrolled during the spring semester for 12 or more undergraduate credit hours will receive $1,200.
   • Eligible students enrolled during the spring semester for 9 or more graduate credit hours will receive $1,200.
   • Eligible students enrolled during the spring semester for fewer than 12 undergraduate credit hours will receive $600.
   • Eligible students enrolled during the spring semester for fewer than 9 credit hours will receive $600.
     
     

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

   The university posted a general announcement regarding Emergency Financial Aid Grants on the COVID-19 section of its website on 6 May 2020. A link to this announcement can be found here.

   Emails were sent to all students who received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant. The sample text of this email can be found here.

8. 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] Institutional Costs.

   The university has also received $2,348,841 for Institutional Costs. These funds are currently available to the university through the Department of Education’s Grants Management system (G5). As of this date, the university has submitted and received draw requests totaling $1,282,011.48 through the G5 system.

9. The total amount of Institutional Costs expended under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

   As of the date of this submission, Institutional Costs totaling $1,749,414.11 have been expended under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. These costs include credit adjustments/refunds to students for the unused portion of residential services (housing and dining) for the spring 2020 term due to the closure of the residence halls and discontinued food service as well as investments in technology and PPE.

10. 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] Minority Serving Institution Costs.

    The university has also received $344,120 for Minority Serving Institution Costs. These funds are currently available to the university through the Department of Education’s Grants Management system (G5). As of this date, the university has not yet submitted or received draw requests through the G5 system.

11. The total amount of Minority Serving Institution Costs expended under Section 18004(a)(2) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission.

    As of the date of this submission, there have not been any expenditures charged to Minority Serving Institution Costs under Section 18004(a)(2) of the CARES Act.