Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting

Kentucky Wesleyan College received funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Act provides federal aid to institutions of higher education to help students cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 through emergency grants.

In accordance with receipt and use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”), Kentucky Wesleyan detailed the following

Kentucky Wesleyan College signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement on April 17, 2020.
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 is $421,602.
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) is $375,000. Additional $43,250 distributed for hardship cases (65) on 6/19/2020.
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 is 660.
The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 660.
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 is as follows: Each full-time KWC student who received a federal Pell Grant for the spring 2020 semester received $1,000 from the CARES Act funding. All other full-time, degree-seeking KWC students who were eligible to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), whether they filed one or not, received a $250.
Instructions, directions, or guidance provided by Kentucky Wesleyan College to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants was shared in the following communication:

Students,

While I know these are unprecedented times and you’re all following guidelines related to staying healthy at home, I hope that your summer has started off well. I hope you know how much we missed having each of you on campus for the last part of the spring semester. This place just isn’t the same without you and we are anxious to have each of you back on campus as soon as possible.

You may know that Kentucky Wesleyan, along with other higher education institutions, received funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Act provides federal aid to institutions of higher education to help students cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 through emergency grants.

We know that many of you and your families are dealing with new financial challenges in the middle of this pandemic. While no formula could easily determine which students have the greatest need, we have a plan to distribute the funds in a manner which will allow us to do it within the next week.

Each full-time KWC student who receives a federal Pell Grant for the spring 2020 semester will receive $1,000 from the CARES Act funding. All other full-time, degree-seeking KWC students who were eligible to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), whether they filed one or not, will receive a $250 CARES Act grant. These are one-time grants from the federal government and do not require any repayment.

Following the initial distribution of funds to eligible full-time students, individual students with more significant needs can apply for additional funding in accordance with the guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Education by completing this online emergency grant application. The additional funds are limited and are only available to students who have critical COVID-19-related financial needs. Each request will be reviewed individually.

There will be more information in the coming weeks related to account credits for Spring 2020 residential students. Please stay tuned for that information.

We are living in a unique and trying time, but I have been so impressed by the grace that you and your families have given the college as we navigate this difficult situation. I’m also in awe of your resilience, positivity, and the way you’ve adapted. We’ll through this together, Panthers!

As always, feel free to reach out and to visit the KWC COVID-19 site (https://kwc.edu/coronavirus/) for further information, resources, and answers to frequently asked questions pertaining to this epidemic.

Total grant for from the Department of Education for Emergency Financial Aid Grants for the institution is $421,602.
HEERF: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021 (CRRSAA)