CARES Act Report

The university has distributed all remaining HEERF funds benefitting students. More than 5,500 student awards were offered to fully distribute the $8,079,133 HEERF III funding. The impact these funds have had on our students has been instrumental in helping our student body, especially those in need. Per the DOE guidance, the university focused its attention on those with exceptional need and hardship.

June 1, 2021

In April 2020, the university received $4,820,568 in HEERF funds as follows:

• $2,410,284 to be used for the direct benefit of students. The eligibility requirements for this round were outlined in the May 31, 2020, posting. To date, 1,730 students received a total of $2,349,196 with $61,088 yet to be expended.
• $2,410,284 was also received and distributed for room and board relief aid. Students who resided in on-campus housing as of March 17, 2020 (the date the university moved to remote instruction) and who also completed the academic term were eligible to receive Room & Board Relief. To date, 1,507 students received a total of $2,312,838 with the remaining funds expended for the benefit of students toward a new health clinic on campus. There are no funds left to expend from the institutional portion of the CARES Act.

In February 2021, the university received an additional round of HEERF funds in the amount of $2,410,284 to be used for the direct benefit of students. To date, 3,768 students have received a total of $2,347,724 with $62,560 yet to be expended.

In total, $123,648 of funds are yet to be expended from the April 2020 and February 2021 funds and will be allocated to students according to the DOE guidance before May 31, 2022.

In May 2021, the university was awarded an additional round of HEERF funds in the amount of $8,079,133 to be used for the direct benefit of students.

These funds have been drawn down and fully distributed to our students in July 2021 using a structured award methodology.

Students still have the opportunity to appeal for additional relief aid if they have experienced hardship. They may do so by contacting SEU Student Financial Services for more information and for access to the application for students that qualify to apply.

April 15, 2021

In February 2021, the university received an additional round of HEERF funds in the amount of $2,410,284 to be used for the direct benefit of students. The three rounds of funds have been expended as follows.

• $2,410,284 was received from the first round of funds designated for emergency grants for student aid. (The eligibility requirements for this round were outlined in the May 31, 2020, posting.). To date, 1,730 students received a total of $2,349,196 with $61,088 yet to be expended.
• $2,410,284 was received from the second round of funds for room and board relief aid. Students who resided in on-campus housing as of March 17, 2020 (the date the university moved to remote instruction) and who also completed the academic term were eligible to receive Room & Board Relief. To date, 1,507 students received a total of $2,312,838 with the remaining funds expended for the benefit of students toward a new health clinic on campus. There are no funds left to expend from the institutional portion of the CARES Act.
• $2,410,284 was received from the third round of funds designated for emergency grants for student aid. To date, 3,947 students have received a total of $2,331,860 with $78,425 yet to be expended.

In total, $139,513 of funds are yet to be expended and will be allocated to students according to the DOE guidance before May 31, 2021. Students still have the opportunity to appeal for additional relief aid if they have experienced a hardship. They may do so by contacting SEU Student Financial Services for more information and for access to the application for students that qualify to apply.

January 31, 2021

• 1,730 students received a total of $2,349,196 from the first round of funds designated for emergency grants for student aid. (The eligibility requirements for this round were outlined in the May 31, 2020 posting.) Remaining funds ($61,088) will be used for the benefit of students and should be distributed before May 31, 2021.
• 1,507 students received a total of $2,312,838 from the second round of funds for room and board relief aid. Students who resided in on-campus housing as of March 17, 2020 (the date the university moved to remote instruction) and who also completed the academic term were eligible to receive Room & Board Relief. Remaining funds have been expended for the benefit of students toward a new health clinic on campus. There are no funds left to expend from the institutional portion of the CARES Act.

December 31, 2020

• 1,725 students received a total of $2,325,075 from the first round of funds designated for emergency grants for student aid. (The eligibility requirements for this round were outlined in the May 31, 2020 posting.) Remaining funds ($85,209) will be used for the benefit of students and should be distributed before May 31, 2021.
• 1,507 students received a total of $2,312,838 from the second round of funds for room and board relief aid. Students who resided in on-campus housing as of March 17, 2020 (the date the university moved to remote instruction) and who also completed the academic term were eligible to receive Room & Board Relief. Remaining funds have been expended for the benefit of students toward a new health clinic on campus. There are no funds left to expend from the institutional portion of the CARES Act.

October 30, 2020

• 1,716 students received a total of $2,325,075 from the first round of funds designated for emergency grants for student aid. (The eligibility requirements for this round were outlined in the May 31, 2020 posting.) Remaining funds ($85,209) will be used for the benefit of students and should be distributed before December 31, 2020.
• 1,507 students received a total of $2,312,838 from the second round of funds for room and board relief aid. Students who resided in on-campus housing as of March 17, 2020 (the date the university moved to remote instruction) and who also completed the academic term were eligible to receive Room & Board Relief. Remaining funds have been expended for the benefit of students toward a new health clinic on campus. There are no funds left to expend from the institutional portion of the CARES Act.

August 17, 2020

As of this date, the university has disbursed a total of $4,619,013 to total relief aid.

• 1,713 students received a total of $2,306,175 from the first round of funds designated for emergency grants for student aid. (The eligibility requirements for this round were outlined in the May 31, 2020 posting.) Remaining funds will be used for the benefit of students.
• 1,507 students received a total of $2,312,838 from the second round of funds for room and board relief aid. Students who resided in on-campus housing as of March 17, 2020 (the date the university moved to remote instruction) and who also completed the academic term were eligible to receive Room & Board Relief. Remaining funds will be used for the benefit of students.

July 6, 2020

As of this date, the university has disbursed a total of $4,619,733 to total relief aid.

• 1,713 students received a total of $2,306,175 from the first round of funds designated for emergency grants for student aid. (The eligibility requirements for this round were outlined in the May 31, 2020 posting.) Remaining funds will be used for the benefit of students.
• 1,502 students received a total of $2,313,558 from the second round of funds for room and board relief aid. Students who resided in on-campus housing as of March 17, 2020 (the date the university moved to remote instruction) and who also completed the academic term were eligible to receive Room & Board Relief. Remaining funds will be used for the benefit of students.

May 31, 2020

Southeastern University received a total of $4,820,568 in Emergency Relief Funds, all of which will be used to provide relief aid to students. The money was received in two disbursements. The first disbursement of $2,410,284 was designated for emergency grants for student aid. The second disbursement of $2,410,284 was designated for emergency relief for the institution; however, these funds will also be used in total to provide relief aid to students.

The institution signed and returned to the Department of Education (DOE) the Certification Agreement and the assurance that the institution intends to use more than the required 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

The university has approximately 2,064 Title IV eligible students. These students have until 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2020, to apply for the $2,410,284 in emergency relief aid designated for student aid. The university referred to guidance provided by the Department of Education in the development of its Higher Education Emergency Relief website and application. The website provides details specifically about the CARES Act as well as instructions, parameters and the process for students to request funding. Students have the opportunity to navigate to and apply through a protected online application within the university’s student information portal. Once the application window has closed, all applications will be screened for an eligibility check. Once eligibility is confirmed, funds will be disbursed to those students via the method they selected on the form (either direct deposit or paper check).

Students eligible to receive the relief aid were notified via their SEU email on a daily basis from May 8, 2020, through May 22, 2020. Additional emails will be sent the week of May 26. The email communication details both the eligibility requirements and instructions for the application process. Eligible students were also sent communication via text message on May 8, 2020. Additionally, information is posted on the university’s website .

The primary method used to determine the student portion of CARES Act funding gives priority to face-to-face students based on the cost of attendance associated with their program. These distributions are weighted in accordance with the variance in the cost of the program and the level of disruption due to the delivery of education. Award amounts will depend on the total number of eligible applicants and total amount of funding to award.

As the application window is still open, a total of $0 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants has been 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). The majority of funds are expected to be distributed in the next few weeks.