Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting

Wh​at is the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)?

Dallas College is committed to helping our students who have been financially affected by COVID-19. “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which establishes and funds the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), directs institutions of higher education (“institutions”) to use no less than 50% of funds received under Sections 18004(a)(1) and 18004(c) of the CARES Act to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.” (United States Department of Education, 2021). Recently, Dallas College has received HEERF-Supplemental Support Under the American Rescue Plan (SSARP) Program.

The SSARP terms, conditions, and requirements governing your institution’s (Recipient’s) use of these grant funds awarded pursuant to section 2003 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2) (award or grant) by the U.S. Department of Education (Department) are governed by section 2003 of the ARP and section 314 of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) (Pub. L. 116-260) and the terms and conditions of this Certification and Agreement (C&A) can be found in the Supplemental Support Under The American Rescue Plan (SSARP) Program.

What can CARES / HEERF / SSARP Student Aid Grants be used to support?

Grants are for students who have experienced additional expenses due to COVID-19. Grant funds can help students pay for eligible expenses such as food, housing, childcare, learning materials, health care/safety and transportation. Funds can also be used for emergency expenses for school semesters due to the impact of COVID-19.

Who is eligible?

The federal government has established the eligibility criteria that students must meet to receive HEERF Grants. All students who are or were enrolled in an institution of higher education during the COVID-19 national emergency are eligible for emergency financial aid grants. 

Review the eligibility criteria.

How do I apply?

Dallas College students with a temporary financial hardship resulting from a sudden emergency and COVID-19 may apply for financial help. Funding is not guaranteed.

Dallas College CARES / HEERF / SSARP emergency aid is a federal grant provided United States Department of Education (USDE).

1. Complete the Student Care Referral Form with proper documentation.
   1. Proper documentation (if applicable) must be provided within the Student Care Referral Form and/or during the intake appointment with the Student Care Network staff, this may include but is not limited to documentation of the crisis (as applicable), bills, or invoices for payments to be made (as applicable).
2. A Student Care Network staff member will contact the student if more information is needed.
3. Once you submit this form, a Student Care Network staff member will reach out to you to set up a time to discuss your needs and appropriate on- and off-campus resources that may be available including if emergency aid is appropriate.

How will I receive my award?

CARES / HEERF / SSARP will be distributed directly to the student by the institution. If you are approved for the award, you will receive an email notification. Please log in to your Dallas College eConnect account and choose the eRefunds option. Follow the instructions, and you will be able to enter your bank account information and receive your emergency aid quicker. If you do not have banking information available, you will receive a paper check in the mail.

Will the HEERF grant first go toward paying any outstanding charges on my student account?

If awarded, students will be given an option to have their award go directly to them or used to pay outstanding charges allowable for CARES / HEERF / SSARP aid.

Is this grant included in my gross income?

No, nor can it be claimed as a deduction or credit for expenses paid with the grant including the tuition and fees deduction, the American Opportunity Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit (section 139(h) of the Internal Revenue Code).

Will everyone who applies receive a HEERF Grant?

No. The number of funds received from the U.S. Department of Education for direct emergency financial aid grants to students was $77,895,951. This amount is not sufficient to support all students, and Dallas College will follow federal eligibility criteria that require that students demonstrate a financial need for expenses directly related to disruption due to COVID-19. We have developed a plan to help as many students as possible while still awarding a meaningful amount. Eligible students with the highest demonstrated financial need will be given priority.

HEERF & SSARP Reporting Requirements & Disclosure

Dallas College Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Minority Serving Institutional Reimbursement Portion PR/Award Numbers:

• Cedar Valley - Award Number: P425L200299 for $208,225
  
• Eastfield - Award Number: P425L200297 for $249,038
  
• El Centro - Award Number: P425L200298 for $3,370,661
  
• Mountain View - Award Number: P425L200296 for $194,559
  
• North Lake - Award Number: P425L200294 for $181,249
  
• Richland - Award Number: P425L200295 for $366,380
  

Dallas College Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Aid Portion PR/Award Numbers:

• Brookhaven - Award Number: P425E204062 for $1,093,654
  
• Cedar Valley - Award Number: P425E200254 for $700,746
  
• Eastfield - Award Number: P425E200270 for $1,824,847
  
• El Centro - Award Number: P425E200262 for $65,949,443
  
• Mountain View - Award Number: P425E200280 for $1,451,230
  
• North Lake - Award Number: P425E200284 for $1,249,091
  
• Richland - Award Number: P425E200285 for $2,158,054
  

HEERF Report for Dallas College

1. In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education, as a recipient of HEERF funding, Dallas College signed a Certification of Agreement on April 10, 2020, assuring that the institution will use no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the HEERF to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
2. The total amount of Student Emergency Aid Grant funds distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of HEERF as of April 4, 2022, is $82,916,855. All funds have been disbursed through the process described below in the methods used to determine which students receive aid and how much they receive. Amounts of disbursement are updated daily on the HEERF Report.
3. The estimated total number of students at Dallas College is eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Student Emergency Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the HEERF is:
• 10,922 for Spring 2020
• 4,066 for Summer 2020
• 7,548 for Fall 2020
• 13,284 for Spring 2021
• 16,000 for Summer 2021
• 64,828 for Fall 2021
• 64,828 for Spring 2022
• 3,000 for Fall 2022
  
• 64,306 for Spring 2023
  
4. The total number of students who have received Student Emergency Aid can be found on the HEERF Report.
5. The methods used by Dallas College to determine which students receive Student Emergency Aid Grants and how much they will receive under Section 18004(a)(1) and (a)(3) of the HEERF are as follows:
   • Students who apply through the Dallas College Student Care Referral Form and are eligible to receive the CARES / HEERF / SSARP grant.
     
   • Award priority will be given to students with the highest need. The date eligible students complete the application on Student Care Referral Form will also be used in making the awards.
   • Amounts will be awarded to assist as many students as possible based on the needs presented in the application.
6. Instructions, directions or guidance provided by Dallas College to students concerning the CARES / HEERF / SSARP grant are:
• Provided on this page are general instructions on the purpose and allowable use of funds; disbursement information; application information or instruction and additional emergency aid resources for students can be found on the Dallas College Emergency Aid web page.
• Information regarding the facts surrounding the HEERF grant and the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund is prominently displayed above and on the HEERF Report.
  

Accessibility

Dallas College is committed to ensuring accessibility of its digital technology and is actively working to increase the accessibility of this webpage and electronic documents. Should you experience any difficulty in accessing information on this webpage, please contact Tricia Thomas-Anderson at 972-860-7396 or TriciaThomas-Anderson@dallascollege.edu.