Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act

As a part of the CARES Act passed by Congress, colleges and universities across the country were allocated funds to offset the disruptions to institutions and their students resulting from the coronavirus. To receive these funds, Oglethorpe signed and returned the Department of Education Certification Agreement. Oglethorpe intends to use all funds in compliance with Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, including awarding 50% of the funds in emergency financial aid grants directly to students.

The Department of Education advanced Oglethorpe a total of $1,279,508 in funds, including $639,754 in funds for Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Oglethorpe estimates 1,127 students are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants.  The total sum of $639,754 has been spread across 1,066 students.  Distributions were made via physical check, sent to each student’s mailing address on file.  Considering the interruption of university services provided during the spring, the first set of distribution amounts varied across displaced university residents ($625), full-time non-resident students ($400), and full-time Adult Degree Program students ($250).  This first round of distributions produced $557,450 to 1,064 students.

Students were also invited to apply for CARES Act distributions who communicated specific, emergency needs brought on by the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.  Students who had such needs were encouraged to apply for additional assistance using this form.  Another $82,304 was distributed to 204 students submitting the form for additional assistance.

Questions regarding CARES Act funding can be submitted online here.

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) and American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (ARP)

In 2021, the CRRSAA authorized an additional allocation to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to continue helping institutions and their students through disruptions caused by the coronavirus.  Later in 2021, the ARP authorized yet another allocation to HEERF for even more assistance. Having already signed and returned the Department of Education Certification Agreement in securing HEERF funds from the CARES Act, Oglethorpe has been able to access funds allocated from Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA and Section 2003(a)(1) of ARP.

The Department of Education advanced Oglethorpe a total of $2,105,854 in funds through CRRSAA, with $639,754 designated specifically for Emergency Financial Aid Grants.  In March 2021, Oglethorpe identified 1,159 students eligible to receive CRRSAA / HEERF II distributions. Oglethorpe distributed $464,600 across all 1,159 eligible students. Distribution amounts varied based on enrollment status and Pell Grant eligibility, with part-time, Pell-ineligible students receiving $150, part-time, Pell-eligible students receiving $250, full-time, Pell-ineligible students receiving $350, and full-time, Pell-eligible students receiving $500. Distributions were made via physical check, sent to each student’s mailing address on file.

Students were also invited to apply for additional distributions from CRRSAA based on specific, emergency needs brought on by disruptions from the coronavirus. Students who had such needs were encouraged to apply for additional assistance. As of January 1, 2022, $175,154 has been distributed to 268 students submitting the form for additional assistance.

Later in 2021, ARP made $3,712,120 available to Oglethorpe, with $1,856,060 designated specifically for Emergency Financial Aid Grants. In December 2021, Oglethorpe identified 1,377 students eligible to receive ARP / HEERF III distributions. Oglethorpe distributed $1,007,516 across all 1,377 eligible students. Distribution amounts again varied based on enrollment status and Pell Grant eligibility, with part-time, Pell-ineligible students receiving $300, part-time, Pell-eligible students receiving $500, full-time, Pell-ineligible students receiving $600, and full-time, Pell-eligible students receiving $1,000. Distributions were made via physical check, sent either to each student’s mailing address on file or to an address designated by the student specifically for ARP distributions.

In March 2022, Oglethorpe distributed the remaining $848,544 made available through ARP.  For this effort, Oglethorpe distributed $848,544 across the 1,282 students then eligible to receive ARP / HEERF III funds.  Distribution amounts again varied based on enrollment status and Pell Grant eligibility, with part-time, Pell-ineligible students receiving $255, part-time, Pell-eligible students receiving $487.50, full-time, Pell-ineligible students receiving $510, and full-time, Pell-eligible students receiving $975. Distributions were made via physical check, sent either to each student’s mailing address on file or to an address designated by the student specifically for ARP distributions.

Questions regarding HEERF funding can be submitted online here.

The descriptions above provide details for the Student Portion of funding received through HEERF. Here is a listing of Oglethorpe’s Quarterly HEERF Reports, submitted to summarize the use of the Institutional Portions of HEERF I, II, and III. All Institutional Portions of HEERF extended to Oglethorpe were expended by Q2 2022:

HEERF Report for 2021 Q3 
HEERF Report for 2021 Q4 
HEERF Report for 2022 Q1 
HEERF Report for 2022 Q2