Covid-19 Information

Baptist Health College Little Rock

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

Last update on January 4, 2023

HEERF Information

WHAT IS THE HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND?

The U.S. The Department of Education established the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support students and institutions during this unprecedented COVID-19 Pandemic. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) is federal legislation that provides provisions for funding of emergency financial aid grants to eligible students and institutions who have experienced disruption to educational activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are allotted to eligible colleges with the distribution at the discretion of the college. The funds must be unencumbered and are to be used to help with any hardship the COVID-19 pandemic has created.

Baptist Health College Little Rock (BHCLR) signed and returned the Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement form for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and intends to use the funds to provide the mandated amount of at least 50% of the emergency financial aid grants to eligible

BHCLR students. Further, in accordance with the terms set forth in the CRRSA and APRA supplemental grants, BHCLR also intends to provide the required 50% of the Emergency Financial Aid grants to students.

HOW MUCH FUNDING HAS BHCLR RECEIVED?

BHCLR received federal grants for student emergency grant allocations in the following ways:

Type of Funding	Amount Received	Date Received
Student Portion
HEERF I (CARES)	$438,175	06/04/2020
HEERF II (CRRSAA)	$438,175	01/18/2021
HEERF III (ARPA)	$1,243,662	05/14/2021

BHCLR received Federal Grants for student emergency grant allocations in the following ways:

Type of Funding	Amount Received	Date Received
Institutional Portion
HEERF I (CARES)	$438,174	09/23/2020
HEERF II (CRRSAA)	$972,135	01/18/2021
HEERF III (ARPA)	$1,243,661	05/14/2021

These federal grants are to be utilized for institutional support for expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic such as lost revenue, additional technology needed for online support as well as campus and safety operations.

HOW HAS BHCLR DETERMINED WHICH STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING?

The CARES Act expressly required that institutions provide the emergency financial aid grants directly to students “for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare)”. The CRRSAA and ARP programs added additional allowances for funding such as components of the students cost of attendance or emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. The criteria to participate in programs under Section 484 of the HEA include, but are not limited to, the following:

U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen;
a valid Social Security number;
registration with Selective Service (if the student is male);
and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting.

An additional requirement for eligibility of the grant funds is to complete the Emergency Grant and Technology Grant Applications by posted deadlines. Below are the deadlines utilized each semester.

Term	Description of Application	Open Date	Closed Date
Spring/Fall 2020	Emergency Grant	05/28/2020	08/27/2020
Fall 2020	Technology Grant	06/01/2020	08/28/2020
Spring 2021	Emergency Grant	02/23/2021	03/01/2021
Spring 2021	Technology Grant	03/01/2021	04/02/2021
Fall 2021	Emergency Grant	07/22/2021	08/05/2020
Fall 2021	Technology Grant	07/22/2021	08/05/2021
Spring 2022	Emergency Grant	01/27/2022	02/11/2022
Spring 2022	Technology Grant	01/27/2022	02/11/2022
Fall 2022	Emergency Grant	08/30/2022	09/09/2022

The initial amount of each grant awarded were based on the following chart:

EFC Range		Full Time Amounts to be awarded to students
0	3000	$900
3001	6000	$850
6001	8000	$750
8001	10000	$625
100001	20000	$550
20001	30999	$350
31000	60000	$300
61000	99000	$200
No EFT	No FAFSA	$150

Based on the increase in funding from the U.S. Department of Education, BHCLR increased the awarded amount to students. The new ranges were as follows:

EFC Range		Full Time Amounts to be awarded to students
0	3000	$1,150
3001	6000	$1,050
6001	8000	$950
8001	10000	$850
100001	20000	$750
20001	30999	$650
31000	60000	$550
61000	99000	$450
No EFT	No FAFSA	$300

For Spring 2022, student emergency grants were increased to the following ranges:

EFC Range		Full Time Amounts to be awarded to students
0	3000	$2,500
3001	6000	$2,400
6001	8000	$2,300
8001	10000	$2,200
100001	20000	$2,100
20001	30999	$2,000
31000	60000	$1,900
61000	99000	$1,800
No EFT	No FAFSA	$1,700

For Fall 2022, student emergency grants were awarded to all students who applied. Each student was awarded $500.

Furthermore, to help students with the new technology requirements due to being online, BHCLR awarded technology grants in the amount of $300 for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters. Indicators used for these grants include:

Enrolled as a qualified student; and
Completed the Technology Grant Application.

Funds are also disbursed to students via direct deposit and mail. Funds were not to be used for other purposes.

Beginning in the Fall 2021 semester, the amount was increased to $500 based on new technology requirements.

HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE HEERF FUNDING?

Based on U.S. Department of Education guidance, BHCLR estimates there were:

327 BHCLR students were eligible to receive HEERF (CARES) student emergency funding in Spring 2020.
170 BHCLR students were eligible to receive HEERF (CARES) student emergency funding in Fall 2020.
415 BHCLR students were eligible to receive HEERF (CARES) technology grant funding in the Fall 2020.
391 BHCLR students were eligible to receive HEERF (CRRSAA) student emergency funding in Spring 2021.
351 BHCLR students were eligible to receive HEERF (CRRSAA) technology grant funding in Spring 2021.
404 BHCLR students were eligible to receive HEERF (CRRSAA) student emergency funding in Fall 2021.
398 BHCLR students were eligible to receive HEERF (CRRSAA) technology grant funding in Fall 2021.
355 BHCLR students were eligible to receive HEERF (CRRSAA) student emergency funding in Spring 2022.
354 BHCLR students were eligible to receive HEERF (CRRSAA) technology grant funding in Spring 2022.
416 BHCLR students were eligible to receive HEERF (ARPA) student emergency funding in Fall 2022.

HOW HAS BHCLR DISBURSED HEERF FUNDING TO STUDENTS?

In addition to the eligibility requirements, BHCLR utilized multiple indicators to determine how the student emergency funding was distributed. These include:

The number of credit hours a qualified student was enrolled;
The student’s Estimated Family Contribution(EFC) as determined by their completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and
Completed the BHCLR Emergency Grant Application by posted deadlines.

Funds were disbursed to students via direct deposit and mail. Students were able to sign up for direct deposit by logging in to the BHCLR Campus Portal, selecting the “Student” tab, selecting “Nelnet Enterprise” and clicking “Student Choice Refunds.” If students had questions about direct deposit or the funds being mailed, they could have contacted Student Accounts at businessoffice@bhclr.edu or (501) 202-6055.

HOW MUCH HEERF FUNDING HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO BHCLR STUDENTS?

As of December 31, 2021, BHCLR has distributed a total of $1,430,300 in HEERF emergency and technology grants to 940 students (unduplicated).

Please note the below figures reflect individual students for each reporting period; therefore, do not represent the total unduplicated amount reflected above.

A total of $323,350 in HEERF grants were distributed to 352 BHCLR students through June 30, 2020.

A total of $189,150 in HEERF grants were distributed to 295 BHCLR students from July 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020.

A total of $900 in HEERF grants were distributed to 1 BHCLR student through December 31, 2020.

A total of $400,975 in HEERF grants were distributed to 423 BHCLR students from January 1, 2021 to March 30, 2021.

A total of $5,300 in HEERF grants were distributed to 17 BHCLR students from April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021.

A total of $614,350 in HEERF grants were distributed to 473 BHCLR students from July 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021.

A total of $975 in HEERF grants were distributed to 2 BHCLR students from October 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.

A total of $1,008,050 in HEERF grants were distributed to 410 BHCLR students from January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022.

A total of $208,000 in HEERF grants were distributed to 416 BHCLR students from July 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022.

BHCLR has fully expended its CARES, CRRSAA, and ARPA student grant allocations. BHCLR has also fully expended its CARES and CRRSAA and ARPA institutional portion allocations to make additional emergency grants to students. To date, there are no remaining HEERF funds.

ARE STUDENTS REQUIRED TO SPEND THE MONEY ON CERTAIN THINGS?

The awards for the Student Emergency Grant are given to the students to be used based on each individual student’s needs.

The Technology Grant has specifically been awarded to students who state they need additional assistance in meeting the technical requirements for online learning.

WHAT INFORMATION HAS BHCLR PROVIDED REGARDING HEERF?

Students are notified from the Financial Aid Office through campus email regarding information on the Student Emergency Grant or Technology Grant through BHCLR’s HEERF allocations. The Business Office then sends out notifications to students with the link to the application.

HEERF Notification to Students

ADDITIONAL GRANTS OFFERED TO STUDENTS

Pandemic Response Grant

In Spring 2021, Baptist Health experienced a large amount of COVID-19 patients due to the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus. Due to this influx, there was a great need for additional help in our hospital. Therefore, Baptist Health College Little Rock asked students if they would be willing to volunteer to help out at the hospital in this time of need. These students were awarded a $1000 Pandemic Response Grant following the guidelines of allowing institutions to use ARP funds to pay students for internships and job training experiences that are aligned with local coronavirus-related recovery needs.

A total of $49,000 in HEERF grants were distributed to 49 BHCLR students from January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022.

Exceptional Need Grant

With rising inflation and increasing gas prices, BHCLR noticed that many of our students were struggling to meet basic needs in order to be successful. In conjunction with our Academic and Spiritual Counselor, BHCLR developed an Exceptional Need Grant that’s purpose would be to assist students, identified as having exceptional financial need, with greater student support services. Exceptional financial need has been defined as inability to cover the cost of living required in relation to transportation needs, utilities, food, and housing. This grant does not require a student to have completed the FAFSA and the award amount, up to $2000 in Spring 2022 and $2500 in Fall 2022, is determined by an Exceptional Need Grant Task Force.

A total of $14,700 in HEERF Exceptional Need Grants were distributed to 8 BHCLR students from April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022.

A total of $50,900 in HEERF Exceptional Need Grants were distributed to 22 BHCLR students from July 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022.

A total of $58,000 in HEERF Exceptional Need Grants were distributed to 24 BHCLR students from October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.