CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds
The federal CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) provided funding to Colleges for emergency grants to students who have experienced expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education provided guidance to aid Colleges in how to distribute these funds. On May 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education made institutions aware of information that it would require all institutions to post, the following information is in compliance with this requirement. More information about this and future posting requirements can be found at Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting - Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
On April 11, 2020, Tulsa Community College entered into an Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education that allows the College to distribute $3,990,147.00 to eligible students consistent with the guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Tulsa Community College began awarding monies to federally eligible students during the Spring 2020 semester and continued during the Fall 2021 semester. During this timeframe, approximately 19,000 Tulsa Community College students qualified for Title IV federal student aid in accordance with Section 484 of the Higher Education Act. The College used a tiered approach to distribute funds based upon Title IV federal student aid eligibility and estimated family contribution (EFC):
| EFC Range | Grant Amount |
|---|---|
| 0 – 1,000 | $750 |
| 1,001 – 8,000 | $550 |
| 8,001 – 16,000 | $450 |
Students with an EFC of 16,001+ could apply for grants of $250 by submitting a supplemental application.
Federally eligible students meeting those criteria were notified directly, via their TCC email, that they may be eligible for the emergency grants. Students were asked to self-certify and affirm via an electronic form routed to their financial aid portal in MyTCC that they were enrolled at TCC on or after March 13, 2020, and that they have experienced expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.
Note: After reviewing the Department of Education’s 6, 17, 2020 Interim Final Rule (IFR) regarding the eligibility of students who could receive funds under the HEERF-Student grants, TCC modified its grant distribution plan and removed the requirement of the attestation for students. Students who met the qualifications for CARES Grants had grants automatically disbursed to their accounts. Automated grant distribution began on August 7, 2020.
Learn more about how the student grant funds will be treated for tax purposes.
Institutional Quarterly Fund Reports
- 2020 Quarter 3 - Cumulative CARES HEERF I Budget and Expenditure Report
- 2020 Quarter 3 - Non-Cumulative CARES HEERF I Budget and Expenditure Report
- 2020 Quarter 4 - Cumulative CARES HEERF I Budget and Expenditure Report
- 2020 Quarter 4 - Non-Cumulative CARES HEERF I Budget and Expenditure Report
- 2021 Quarter 1 - Cumulative CARES HEERF I Budget and Expenditure Report
- 2021 Quarter 1 - Non-Cumulative CARES HEERF I Budget and Expenditure Report
Student CARES Grants
| Period Start | Period End | Total Students Awarded | Total Money Disbursed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/1/20 | 3/31/20 | 0 | $0.00 |
| 4/1/20 | 4/30/20 | 0 | $0.00 |
| 5/1/20 | 5/31/20 | 0 | $0.00 |
| 6/1/20 | 6/30/20 | 2,035 | $1,361,550.00 |
| 7/1/20 | 7/31/20 | 2,051 | $1,371,850.00 |
| 8/1/20 | 8/31/20 | 1,154 | $768,400.00 |
| 9/1/20 | 9/30/20 | 7 | $4,150.00 |
| 10/1/20 | 10/31/20 | 635 | $314,750.00 |
| 11/1/20 | 11/30/20 | 0 | $0.00 |
| 12/1/20 | 12/31/20 | 228 | $167,397.00 |
| 1/1/21 | 1/31/21 | 2 | $1,500.00 |
| 2/1/21 | 2/28/21 | 0 | $0.00 |
| 3/1/21 | 3/31/21 | 1 | $550.00 |
| 3/1/20 | 3/31/21 | 6,113 | $3,990,147.00 |