US Department of Education – Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"), Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ("HEERF")
Federal CARES Act Reporting/Financial Aid Grants to Students
The following information is provided by Atlantis University (AU) as required by the Department of Education (“ED”) in order to comply with the reporting requirements under the CARES Act.
This is the University’s first and final quarterly report as of 09/30/2020.
Atlantis University’s Use of Funds Distributed from HEERF-Student Funds is as Follows:
1.Certification and Agreement Acknowledgement
Atlantis University (AU) acknowledges signing and returning to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students in order to access funds under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund on April 22, 2020. The institution will 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.
2. Total AMOUNT of Funds RECEIVED
Pursuant to the Certification and Agreement, the University has received an award notification that totals $40,443.00 from the Department in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
3. Total AMOUNT of Funds DISTRIBUTED TO DATE
The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants funds distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of 09/30/2020 is $40,443.00.
4. ESTIMATED NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS
The total number of AU students 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 under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was 20.
Only students who were eligible to receive financial aid funding were eligible for the emergency grant. The Department of Education defined eligible students as students who had a disruption in their education due to the COVID 19 pandemic. International students, undocumented students, and students who enrolled prior to March 13, 2020 in an online program were not eligible for funding from this grant.
5. Total Number of Students Who Received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant
The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of 09/30/2020 was 19. These students submitted the application between 07/01/2020 and 08/21/2020 that was reviewed by AU staff.
The 20th student was a drop from the university and was non-responsive e-mails and phone calls by AU staff starting from June 16th until mid-August. In addition, the official letter sent by AU to each eligible student was returned as unable to forward. AU FA staff attempted to contact the references listed, however, even after speaking with a family member and sending them an email explaining why we were trying to reach the student, we still did not receive a response. On August 28th, it was decided that the funds that had been set aside for the student would be allocated to the other 19 students, and the funds were provided to these students during the month of September 2020.
6. METHOD OF DETERMINING WHICH STUDENTS WOULD RECEIVE AN Emergency Financial Aid Grant
The University has decided to prioritize students with the greatest need. The individual award amount will vary depending on the actual number of applications received and the funds requested by students based on their needs.
Following is a summary of Atlantis University’s procedure to determine how the grant funds are distributed:
- Eligible Students apply for a HEERF Emergency Student Grant by completing an application describing the expenses incurred as a result of the disruption of campus operations.
- AU will validate each students’ eligibility and will review supporting documentation.
- Priority will be given to student requests that directly relate to their academic success with particular emphasis placed on technological needs for online course completion and basic daily necessities such as food and medical needs.
- Applications will be ranked ordered, based on the amount requested, as well as ranking the applications based on lowest to highest EFC until the cumulative grants total AU awarded amount to disburse.
- The University will track each award until the University’s award amount has been attained.
- The University will disburse the HEERF Emergency Student Grants to students via check. Students will receive an e-mail notification once any disbursement is made.
- The payments will be split over two equal payments. The second payment will be provided to the students within 60 days of the initial payments.
7. Instructions, Directions, or Guidance Provided to Students
All guidance to students will be placed on a CARES Act website.
https://AtlantisUniversity.edu/cares-act/
or: Any questions, please email the following AU staff:
ingrid.ayala@auold.atlantisuniversity.edu
ken.kistner@auold.atlantisuniversity.edu