45-Day Report for Gadsden State’s CARES Act
Gadsden State Community College has released its 45-day report regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act – Emergency Student Financial Aid Grants.
Gadsden State Community College, under the leadership of President Dr. Martha Lavender, signed the Certification and Agreement for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and submitted it to the Department of Education. In the Certification and Agreement, Gadsden State assured that it would spend no less than 50% of the money received under 18004(a)(1) under the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Students receiving checks must be “eligible” as defined by DOE guidelines and may use the funds “for expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and childcare.”
The award letter for the grant funds was received on May 4, 2020.
Total Amount of CARES Act funds received by Gadsden State for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students: $1,878,083
Total Amount of Aid distributed as of June 4 (30 days): $1,879,516.20
Number of Gadsden State students deemed eligible to receive CARES Act funds: 2,496 students (62% of students enrolled in Spring Semester)
Number of students who have received a CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant: 2,496 students
METHOD OF DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FROM THE CARES ACT FUNDS
Students who met all of the following criteria received funds:
- Students working towards a degree or certificate at Gadsden State
- Students enrolled in at least one traditional (in-person) course on one of the five Gadsden State campuses
- Students who have a valid 2019-2020 FAFSA on file with the Financial Aid Office OR those who are eligible to apply for FAFSA
- Students who have a satisfactory academic progress (SAP) status
- Students enrolled at Gadsden State during the Spring Semester (with exception to those who exclusively attended Spring Mini I Term)
AMOUNT OF FUNDS DISBURSED FROM CARES ACT FUNDS
- Residence Hall Refunds – As of March 17, 71 students residing in Fowler Hall on the Wallace Drive Campus are eligible to receive funds. Dates the students left campus were monitored, and refunds were calculated based on a per day of cost for residence. Total spent on Residence Hall Refunds is $21,609.00.
- Food Service Refunds – Using the same list of eligible students from Fowler Hall, 71 students received a partial refund for food service from the date of departure through May 8. Total spent on Food Service Refunds is $28,339.20.
- Technology Grants – A total of 2,496 students have been deemed eligible to receive emergency financial assistance in the amount of $733 per student for a total of $1,829,568.
ADDITIONAL DIRECTIONS TO STUDENTS
- A check was mailed to the student to the address on record on May 18.
- If eligible students have not received their checks, they should log into myGadsdenState and verify their home address where the check was mailed.
- Students need to cash their checks within 60 days.