Cares Act

CARES Act – Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds Reporting Update

August 7, 2020

Flagler Technical College (formerly Flagler Technical Institute) has received the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) - Student portion and the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) - Institution portion which was provided under the CARES Act Section 18004(a)(1). These funds were made available to Flagler Technical College (FTC) on July 20, 2020.

Before the emergency relief funds were disbursed, FTC reached out to ninety-one (91) students to determine eligibility for these funds. These students were selected based on information that was entered during the registration process. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student – Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act application (Google Form) was sent via email to these students who were enrolled in FTC during the COVID-19 crisis. The application informed students the following:

“The U.S. Department of Education has made available emergency relief funds that Flagler Technical Institute can distribute to students that are eligible to receive federal student aid, and who need financial support for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 crisis (including education expenses, course materials, technology, food, housing, healthcare and childcare). This request form allows students to request these need-based grants.” All students were instructed on the application to complete a FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa using FTI’s School Code 041583. Additional phone calls were made to inform each student of the CARES Act funds and the HEERF application that was emailed.

The student’s application and Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) was used to verify the student’s eligibility per the guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Flagler Technical College followed this guidance to determine what students were eligible. This guidance states that students must meet the eligibility criteria under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act in order to receive Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds. The federal aid eligibility criteria, includes but is not limited to:

Being a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (i.e. permanent resident or conditional permanent resident)
Having a valid Social Security number
Having a high school diploma, GED or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting
Being degree-seeking
Must be enrolled in the term for which they are seeking assistance
Cannot be in default on federal student loans
Being registered with Selective Service, if male
Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress
Cannot exceed aggregate loan limit or Pell Grant lifetime usage
Cannot owe an overpayment on federal aid programs

Twenty-three (23) students responded to the HEERF application. Six (6) students were deemed ineligible based on U.S. Department of Education guidance or due to the student not completing the necessary documentation to verify if they were eligible. Seventeen (17) students were determined to meet requirements. Flagler Technical College received an allocation of $16,742. Seventeen (17) students received block grants of approximately $984.

All eligible students received a letter with their funds stating that based on the information that was provided on their Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student-CARES Act application they have met the eligibility to receive these need-based funds. By signing the enclosed check the student attests that all information provided on their application is true and accurate and that the funds will be used to cover the costs of expenses incurred during the COVID-19 crisis. If they had any further questions or determined that they are not eligible to receive these funds, students were to contact Financial Aid.

All funds ($16,742) in the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds – Student portion, Grant Award P425E202164, have been disbursed to students.

The funds ($16,741) in the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds – Institution portion, Grant Award P425F202486, are being designated to areas using the guidance that was provided by the U.S. Department of Education. At this time FTC has spent $0.00.



May 15, 2020

CARES Act Statement:

Flagler Technical Institute (FTI) has signed and returned to the Department of Education a Certification and Agreement for use of funds provided under the CARES Act Section 18004(a)(1). No less than 50% of those funds will be used to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.

The total amount of funds that FTI will receive from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement is $33,483.

Approximately 60 students at FTI should be 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.

Currently no students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. FTI is completing policies and procedures to align with the guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

To determine which FTI students will receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants our institution has developed a “Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student-CARES Act” application. Students who were enrolled in classes on March 13, 2020, have earned a high school diploma, GED, or a U.S. Equivalency certification on file, and are a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen will be sent the application to request these need-based funds. All students will be required to complete a FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa using FTI’s School Code 041583. This information will be used to verify the student’s eligibility per the guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education. FTI will initially use block grants of $250 to distribute to eligible students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. These funds are limited so FTI will distribute on a first come/first serve basis. Additional funds may be available to students as future funding is awarded to FTI through the CARES Act.

On April 20, 2020, the FTI Director sent out an Official Notification to all active students through our school portal. This notification included information on a student survey that was emailed to students on “How COVID-19 Has Affected You.” Students were asked to take a few minutes to fill out the survey as it may affect future funding opportunities for the students. Program Facilitators and instructors reiterated the importance of completing the survey during their distance education classes. On Tuesday, April 21, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education released additional information regarding emergency assistance for higher education

institutions and students under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
(HEERF) established by Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. This guidance affected many of our active students who are no longer eligible for the emergency funds.

FTI students will receive an email communication regarding the “Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds” shortly. These emergency relief funds relate to a student’s expenses arising from the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus. If you were an active student on March 13, 2020 at FTI and have earned a high school diploma, GED, or a have a U.S. Equivalency certification on file you will receive the “Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IGE/Student- CARES Act application. Students must submit the application and complete a free FAFSA application (Pell grant) for the school year 2019/20 at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa using FTI’s School Code 041583 to request funds. If you filled out an application for FAFSA, it is possible there is no further action required on the student’s part. Please monitor your email as updates come to our institution daily.