• Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF)

    Mt Hood Community College (MHCC) has signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement required to access the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) as of April 14, 2020.

    The information below outlines MHCC’s compliance with federal guidance for use of emergency relief funds for students under each federal stimulus act. The quarterly reports in the right hand column document our use of institutional funds received.

    The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act – HEERF I

    MHCC has used 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. The total amount of funds that MHCC has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $1,692,829.

    The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of 01/10/2021 is $1,629,829. (NOTE: Additional emergency grants were awarded to students using institutional funds – see Quarterly Reports in sidebar for more information.)

    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 2,665.

    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 2,565.

    Spring 2020

    • The College determined that all students enrolled in Spring 2020 term were impacted in some way by the closure of the college campus and the migration of coursework to online/remote format. The precise impact was different for each student, but may have included additional costs related to food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
    • Eligible students met the following requirements at the time of awarding:
      • Enrolled for at least 1 credit in Spring 2020 term
      • Pursuing an aid-eligible degree or certificate
      • Completed a 2019-20 FAFSA that confirmed Title IV eligibility criteria including but 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.
      • Had remaining lifetime eligibility for loans and/or Pell Grant
      • Met institutional SAP requirements
    • All eligible students in Spring 2020 received the same award amount of $675. The amount was determined based on the number of eligible students, the amount of funding, and the desire of the College to keep a portion of the funds for future disbursements. The award amount was equal to approximately 19% of the average Cost of Attendance (COA), not including tuition and fees.
    • Click on links below to see communication sent during Spring 2020 term:

    Summer & Fall 2020

    • The College reserved a portion of the HEERF I funding in order to award additional students in later terms who may be eligible by completing a FAFSA and documenting expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, or due to updates in guidance from the Department of Education.
    • A simple application was made available to students wishing to apply for funding and students who were most likely to be eligible were notified to apply.
    • Eligible students met the eligibility criteria listed above for Spring 2020 with the addition of the following requirements (added since the College did not assume all students enrolled after Spring 2020 were directly impacted by the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus):
      • Students did not already received a disbursement of the emergency grant in a prior term
      • Students were able to document by written statement any unforeseen expenses that they incurred related to the closure of MHCC’s campus operations and/or due to classes being cancelled or moved online/remote. Eligible expenses included food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare. 
    • After the application period closed each term, the Office of Financial Aid reviewed applications and determined award amounts. Award amounts varied by student depending on expenses reported and available funding. Students were notified by email of their approval or denial of the grant.
    • Based on eligible applicant and available funding, the maximum award amount for Summer 2020 term was $675 and the maximum award amount for Fall 2020 was $450.
    • Click on links below to see communication sent during Summer & Fall 2020 terms:
    The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) – HEERF II

    Per section 314(d)(5) of the CRRSAA, MHCC has provided at least the same amount of funding in financial aid grants to students as was required to be provided under sections 18004(a)(1) and (c) of division B of the CARES Act. This means that no less than 50 percent of the HEERF II funds received under the CRRSAA were provided as emergency financial aid grants to students. The total amount of funds that MHCC has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $1,692,829.

    The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA as of 06/30/2021 is $1,629,829. (NOTE: Additional emergency grants were awarded to students using institutional funds – see Quarterly Reports in sidebar for more information.)

    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 314 of the CRRSAA is approximately 2,816.

    The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 314 of the CRRSAA is 2,816.

    The method(s) used by MHCC to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 314 of the CRRSSA is described below.

    Winter & Spring 2021

    • The College prioritized students in Winter and Spring terms with exceptional need, and automatically awarded students who had a 2020-21 FAFSA on file with MHCC. The FAFSA was required to verify citizenship status.
    • Regardless of enrollment status, program, or other criteria, students with a FAFSA on file were awarded as follows:
      • Students eligible for Pell Grant received $400 per term for Winter and Spring (if enrolled)
      • Students not eligible for Pell Grant received $300 per term for Winter and Spring (if enrolled)
    • NOTE: Additional HEERF funds made available under the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund were also disbursed to eligible students at this time. Since those funds were not awarded from the HEERF funds designated under CARES or CRSSA, they are not reported here.
    • Click on links below to see communication sent during Winter 2021 and Spring 2021 terms:
    The American Rescue Plan (ARP) – HEERF III

    MHCC has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under ARP (a)(1) to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. The total amount of funds that MHCC will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $7,099,576.

    The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under ARP (a)(1) as of 06/30/2022 is $7,099,576.

    The estimated total number of unique active students at the institution eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants to students under ARP(a)(1) is approximately 16,318 to date.

    The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under ARP(a)(1) is 3,988.

    Summer & Fall 2021

    • A simple application was created by the Emergency Funding Planning Committee (EFPC) and was made electronically accessible to all active MHCC students in the MyMHCC student portal. The application assessed individual student need based on the number of people that the student was financially responsible for (not including themselves), and based on reported areas of increased or unexpected need including, but not limited to, housing, food, transportation, college tuition/fees, college books/supplies, healthcare (including mental healthcare), technology (computer, internet/Wi-Fi, phone, etc.), and dependent care (childcare or adult care). Considering student needs may change from term to term, applications were good for one term only and students needed to reapply each term.
    • ALL active MHCC students were eligible to apply and the application was only made available to active students. The number of credits enrolled, financial aid status, or citizenship status had no bearing on eligibility.
    • An award rubric was created and approved by the EFPC to determine award amount based on number of dependents and areas of need selected on the application. The Office of Financial Aid reviewed each application and awarded the appropriate amount based on this rubric.
      • Award amounts varied by student, but the minimum award for students was $200 per term.
      • The maximum award for students with no dependents was $500 per term.
      • The maximum award for students with dependents was $1000 per term.
    • NOTE: Additional HEERF funds made available under the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund were also disbursed to eligible students at this time. Since those funds were not awarded from the HEERF funds designated under ARP, they are not reported here.
    • Click on links below to see communication sent during Summer and Fall terms:

    Winter & Spring 2022

    • The application and eligibility criteria outlined above for Summer and Fall continued to be applicable for Winter and Spring.
    • The award rubric was edited slightly for Winter and Spring to increase the award potential for applicants. The rubric continued to determine award amounts based on the number of dependents and areas of need selected on the application. The Office of Financial Aid reviewed each application and awarded the appropriate amount based on this rubric.
      • Award amounts varied by student, but the minimum award for students was $300 per term.
      • The maximum award for students with no dependents was $600 per term.
      • The maximum award for students with dependents was $1200 per term.
      • Additional HEERF funds were awarded in Winter term (not Spring term) for students for whom the award rubric showed high need. Thus, in addition to the maximum award amounts noted above, students could receive up to $2000 more in Winter. These additional award amounts are included in all total reported HEERF expenditures noted above.
    • Click on links below to see communication sent during Winter and Spring terms: