HEERF Reporting Requirements

Students

The Certification and Agreement directs each institution applying for Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) to comply with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act and submit an initial report (the “30-day Fund Report”) to the Secretary thirty (30) days from the date of the institution’s Certification and Agreement to U.S. Department of Education. Each HEERF participating institution must post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website. The following information must appear in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation under 18004(a)(1) and updated every 45 days thereafter:

1. An 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.
   • Columbia College signed and submitted the U.S. Department of Education Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on May 4, 2020. The U.S. Department of Education provided Columbia College a Grant Award Notification on May 11, 2020.
2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
   • Columbia College will receive $2,192,660 for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
3. 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).
   • $2,314,893.75 as of April 5, 2021
4. 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.
   • 6,933 students as of July 20, 2020
5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
   • 2,077 students as of April 5, 2021
6. 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.
   • Columbia College identified students who were enrolled in at least one in-seat class and/or was in a non-distance education program on March 13, 2020, and had established eligibility to receive Federal Financial Aid under the Title IV program within the college’s financial aid system. Enrollment Services (now called the Center for Student Success) validated enrollment statuses and federal aid eligibility prior to disbursement of emergency funds as outlined in the CARES Act and additional guidance from U.S. Department of Education.
   • Columbia College’s CARES grant will be awarded to eligible students in two phases. Phase 1 provides an award of $750 for Pell eligible students and a $500 award for Title IV eligible students. This award requires the eligible student to attest that expenses such as for food, housing, technology, health care and childcare associated with the disruption of on-campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic were incurred. Phase 2 allows for an additional award up to $6,000 to eligible students who demonstrate expenses incurred in excess of the Phase 1 grant award. This award requires the eligible student to submit an application describing the expenses incurred associated with the disruption of on-campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
   • Information about the CARES Act

Additional HEERF Grant Funds

1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
   
   Columbia College signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the original Certification and Agreement under the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1), and further acknowledges we agree to the conditions of the Supplemental Grant Funds for Students Agreement under the CRRSSA Act section 314(a)(1) signed on February 1, 2021 and ARP Act section 2003(a)(1) signed on May 13, 2021, and gives the assurance that Columbia College is using 50 percent of the funds Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.
   • Columbia College will receive $12,961,244 for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under section CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter).
   • $15,139,804.22 as of April 6, 2022
4. The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.
   • 19,854 students as of April 6, 2022
5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under sections 314(a)(1) and 2003(a)(1)
   • 5,298 students as of April 6, 2022
6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Columbia College’s HEERF grant were awarded to eligible students in two grant types.
   • Columbia College identified students who were enrolled past census date for the 2020-2021 academic year at Columbia College.
   • Columbia College’s HEERF II and III grant funding will be awarded to eligible students in two award types: Block Grants and Application Grants.
   • Block Grants will be awarded at a predetermined fixed amount, students who received HEERF I (CARES Act Grant) funds previously may receive a reduced amount or not be eligible for the initial awarding.
     • Pell Grant recipients will receive up to $1600
     • Non-Pell grant recipients will receive up to $600
   • Application Grants will be awarded based upon application submission. Applications provide a dollar amount request field. Students who received prior HEERF I (CARES Act Grant) and HEERF funds (block grant) previously may receive a reduced amount.
   • Prior to disbursement of any grant funding, students will attestation that these grant funds will be used toward educational costs and other emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care.
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
   • Information about HEERF Grant PDF link

Institutional

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting under CARES Act

• 00245600 HEERF Q32022 101022 PDF link
• 00245600 HEERF Q42021 011022 PDF link
• 00245600 HEERF Q32021 101021 PDF link
• 00245600 HEERF Q22021 071021 PDF link
• 00245600 HEERF Q12021 041021 PDF link
• 00245600 HEERF Q42020 011021 PDF link
• 00245600 HEERF Q32020 101020 PDF link
• 00245600 HEERF Q12022 040122 PDF link
• 00245600 HEERF Q22022 063022 PDF link
• 00245600 HEERF Q42022 011023 PDF link