CARES Act Section 18004(e) Report

Oregon Coast Community College (as part of the Portland Community College allocation) College Emergency CARES ACT Section 18004(e) second Forty-Five Day Report to the Secretary of Education, Nov 21, 2020

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.

A Portland Community College representative signed the “Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement, Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act” on April 15, 2020. The agreement assures that the institution 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.

Portland Community College received $6,269,372 from the U.S. Department of Education for the purpose of making Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.  Of this amount, PCC President Mark Mitsui and OCCC President Birgitte Ryslinge signed an agreement May 12, 2020 to provide Oregon Coast Community College $91,575 of these funds for the purpose of making Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students attending classes at Oregon Coast Community College.

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 November 21, 2020, Oregon Coast Community College distributed $37,635 Emergency Financial Aid Grant distributions to students.

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.

The estimated total number of Oregon Coast Community College students eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 215.

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 November 21, 2020, Oregon Coast Community College  distributed Emergency Financial Aid Grant distributions to 215 students.

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.

In lieu of an institutional aid application or additional documentation as allowed by the U.S. Dept. of Education (DOE), the College recognizes a student’s completed FAFSA as evidence of eligibility.

Emergency Financial Aid Grants will be made to students eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, may receive the emergency financial aid grants. If a student has filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2019-2020 Academic Year, and the student has demonstrated eligibility to participate in Section 484 programs, they are eligible for emergency grants. Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires the following to be eligible. A student must

• • Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree, certificate, or other program leading to a recognized educational credential;
  • Maintain satisfactory progress in the course of study;
  • Not owe a refund on grants previously received under Title IV Federal Student Aid;
  • Have filed a FAFSA;
  • Be a U.S. Citizen or national of the United States, a permanent resident of the United States, or able to provide evidence from the Immigration and Naturalization Service that he or she is in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a citizen or permanent resident; and
  • If the student has been convicted of or has pled nolo contendere or guilty to a crime involving fraud in obtaining funds under Title IV Federal Financial Aid, the student must have completed the repayment of such funds and be able to provide appropriate documentation. 

A recipient must be eligible to receive Federal Financial Aid (Title IV funds).  The college verified student records reflected five factors.

• • Admission to the college
  • Completion of a high school diploma or GED
  • Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • Enrollment in credit courses at the beginning of week two
  • Enrollment in on-campus courses in the preceding academic term (unless a new student)

The committee-based allocations on the number of classes and level of enrollment (credits). Per-student awards will differ by term.  For Spring Term $50 per course for each eligible student and an additional adjustment was added based on enrollment categories above five credits:

 This distribution formula’s per-student allocations may be adjusted based on the number of eligible students in each term.

Eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance include expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare. The committee reviewed factors that may have been higher due to the Coronavirus but determined few factors outside of increased home utilities were directly attributable or were difficult to affirm in the absence of documentation requests or an application. Technology to connect to the online environment was considered a potential cost but mitigated through the loaning Chromebooks and the availability of free Internet offered on campus. Neither tech-seeking-commuters nor CTE students with on-campus instruction would incur travel costs different from a standard term.

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

• News Release (As Published in the Newport News-Times)
• Student Email “CARES Act Emergency Grants: Not Eligible” (June 3, 2020)
• Student Email “Eligible: CARES Act Emergency Relief” (June 3, 2020)