Quarterly Budget Reporting for HEERF Grant 

Sections 18004(a)(1) – Institutional Portion and Section 18004(a)(3)

What is COVID-19?

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a new respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Learn more here.

How does the virus spread?

This virus seems to be spreading from person-to-person. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses.

How can I best protect myself and others?

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed March 27, 2020.  As a component of the CARES Act, $14 billion dollars were allocated to colleges to help students who have faced economic hardships due to coronavirus, or COVID-19. Omega Graduate School has completed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education in order to apply for a portion of the federal grant.  OGS has been allocated $5,092 in emergency relief funding which may be distributed to our U.S. students.  Funding has been set aside to assist students with Emergency Financial Aid Grants to help with costs such as: food, housing, course materials, technology necessary to assist with distance learning, health care, child care, transportation, or loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governmental guidance directs the process for students to request funds for expenses directly related to COVID-19 campus closures.  Eligible hardship expenses OGS students may have faced include:  materials purchased to assist in the change from on campus to online classes, technology upgrades necessary due to the change to an online class format, and transportation costs not reimbursed due to the last minute Core cancellation.  To be eligible for funding from the grant, students must be currently enrolled and eligible to receive Title IV aid.

While we wait for the funding to arrive, we will communicate the process students will need to follow to request and receive funding.  It is essential that you monitor your OGS email accounts for this information.

As we await the receipt of funds, please contact Dr. Curtis McClane, Chief Student Success Officer, at cmcclane@ogs.edu and relay the issues you are facing due to COVID-19 and our campus closure.  Providing information regarding the type of emergency and unexpected expenses you have or will incur due to the interruption of your semester at OGS will help us evaluate the best way to handle unique situations our students are experiencing.

At OGS, our students come first.  What affects one, affects us all.  We appreciate your patience as we work with the Department of Education to help meet financial needs of students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Reporting and Disclosure – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting (HEERF I) – Student Relief

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES)Funding 

Disclosure of  Awards disbursed as of September 23, 2020 :

  • Omega Graduate School signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that OGS has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CARES Act, section 18004(a)(1) to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.  

Under the CARES Act, section 18004(a)(1) as of the date of the quarterly report submission:

  • The total amount of  Emergency Financial Aid Grants awarded on May 1, 2020 to Omega Graduate School from the U.S. Department of Education for distribution to students is $5,092.00.  Funding was received by our institution on August 31, 2020.  Omega Graduate School signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that OGS had used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CA 
  • Under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act:
    • The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students as of the disclosure date is $5,092.10.
    • As a condition of receipt an Emergency Financial Aid Grant, students must be eligible to participate in the Federal student financial aid programs under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965,  as amended.  The number of students at Omega Graduate School who may be eligible to receive a grant due to Federal financial eligibility and the guidelines of the CARES Act is: 58.
    • As of the disclosure date, the total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant is 26.
  • The method used to determine which students are eligible to receive an Emergency Financial Aid Grant and the amount the students are to receive is as follows:
    • Evaluation of  the actual cost to each student caused by the disruption of operations due to COVID-19 campus closures is not easily determined.  Due to this, funds are to be distributed to every qualified student.  Due to the guidelines of the CARES Act, international students are ineligible for a distribution.
    • Only students who were actively enrolled in at least one class during either (1) the Spring Core weeks affected by the campus closure (3/C/5/Dissertation Workshop weeks) or (2) the Summer/Pre-Fall Core weeks (1/A/5/Dissertation Workshop weeks) are eligible to receive a grant.  As our program is a limited residency program, all eligible students are considered to be impacted equally by the campus closure.   A grant of $195.85 was distributed to each of the 26  actively enrolled, eligible students.
  • Students needing further financial assistance due to COVID hardship should contact Dr. Curtis McClane, Chief Student Success Officer at cmcclane@ogs.edu.

CRRSAA:  Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II)

 

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on December 27, 2020 by President Donald Trump.  CRRSAA funds are a grant from the Federal Government to cover cost incurred December 27, 2020 and after to ensure learning continues for students during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Funding has been set aside to assist students with Emergency Financial Aid Grants to help with costs such as: food, housing, course materials, technology necessary to assist with distance learning, health care, child care, transportation, or loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reporting and Disclosure – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting (HEERF II) – Student Relief

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) 

Disclosure of  Awards disbursed as of May 25, 2021:

  • The total amount of  Emergency Financial Aid Grants awarded on February 19, 2021 to Omega Graduate School from the U.S. Department of Education for distribution to students is $5,092.00.  
  • Omega Graduate School signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that OGS has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

Under the CRRSAA (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of the quarterly report submission:

  • The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students as of the disclosure date is $5,092.00.
    • As a condition of receipt an Emergency Financial Aid Grant, students must be eligible to participate in the Federal student financial aid programs under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965,  as amended.  The number of students at Omega Graduate School who may be eligible to receive a grant due to Federal financial eligibility and the guidelines of the CRRSSA and ARP programs is: 62.
    • As of the disclosure date, the total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant is 37.
  • Upon completion of the Spring Term 2021Class Sessions, student eligibility was evaluated.
  • The method used to determine which students are eligible to receive an Emergency Financial Aid Grant and the amount the students are to receive is as follows:
    • Evaluation of  the actual cost to each student caused by the disruption of operations due to COVID-19 campus closures is not easily determined.  Due to this, funds are to be distributed to every qualified student.  Due to the guidelines of the CRRSAA program, international students are ineligible for a distribution.
    • Only students who were actively enrolled as a degree seeking student in at least one class during the Spring Core term are eligible to receive a grant.  As our program is a limited residency program, all eligible students are considered to be impacted equally by the campus closure.   A grant of $150.00 was distributed to each of the 37 actively enrolled, eligible students.
    • All funding from the CRRSAA was disbursed on May 25, 2021.
  • Students needing further financial assistance due to COVID hardship should contact Dr. Curtis McClane, Chief Student Success Officer at cmcclane@ogs.edu.

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ARP:  Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III)

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021 by President Joe Biden, providing $39.6 billion in support to institution of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Funding has been set aside to assist students with Emergency Financial Aid Grants to help with costs such as: food, housing, course materials, technology necessary to assist with distance learning, health care, child care, transportation, or loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reporting and Disclosure – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting (HEERF III) – Student Relief

American Rescue Plan  (ARP) 

Disclosure of  Awards disbursed as of September 30, 2021:

  • The total amount of  Emergency Financial Aid Grants awarded on May 24, 2021 to Omega Graduate School from the U.S. Department of Education for distribution to students is an additional $17,677.00.  
  • Omega Graduate School signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that OGS has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

Under the ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of the quarterly report submission:

  • The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants from ARP funding which was distributed to students as of the disclosure date is $12,975.00.
    • As a condition of receipt an Emergency Financial Aid Grant, any currently enrolled student was eligible to request an emergency financial aid grant.  Students at Omega Graduate School were contacted electronically and permitted to complete an online request for additional grant assistance due to the impact of COVID-19.  The number of students requesting relief was:  18.
    • As of the disclosure date, the total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant from ARP funding is 10 in the amount of $12,975.00.
    • The remaining 8 students requesting assistance received Emergency Financial Aid Grants from the Institutional Portion of Funding from the HEERF I Section 18004(a)(3) funds.
  • Students needing further financial assistance due to COVID hardship should contact Dr. Curtis McClane, Chief Student Success Officer at cmcclane@ogs.edu.

Disclosure of  Awards disbursed as of December 31, 2021:

Under the ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of the quarterly report submission:

Upon completion of the Fall Term 2021Class Sessions, student eligibility was evaluated.

    • The method used to determine which students are eligible to receive an Emergency Financial Aid Grant and the amount the students are to receive is as follows:
      • Evaluation of  the actual cost to each student caused by the disruption of operations due to COVID-19 campus closures is not easily determined.  Due to this, funds are to be distributed to every qualified student.  
      • Only students who were actively enrolled as a degree seeking student in at least one class during the Spring Core term are eligible to receive a grant.  As our program is a limited residency program, all eligible students are considered to be impacted equally by the campus closure.   A grant of $150.00 was distributed to each of the 36 actively enrolled, eligible students.
      • The remainder of ARP funding ($4,702) was disbursed on December 15, 2021.  Funds in the amount of $698.00 were utilized from the CARES Act -Section 18004 (a)(3) funding to supplement the ARP funding for student assistance. 

Students needing further financial assistance due to COVID hardship should contact Dr. Curtis McClane, Chief Student Success Officer at cmcclane@ogs.edu.

 

Quarterly Budget Reporting for HEERF Grant 

Section 18004(a)(1) – Institutional Portion and Section 18004(a)(3)