CARES Act Disclosures Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
Merryfield Academy
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
5040 NE 13th Ave
Date of Last Update: June 11, 2020
Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act” or the “Act”)), Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (March 27, 2020), directs institutions receiving funds under Section 18004 of the Act to submit (in a time and manner required by the Secretary) a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”). Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act requires institutions to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received from Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants 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 child care). On April 9, 2020, the Department published documents related to the Emergency Financial Aid Grants, including a letter from Secretary Betsy DeVos, a form Certification and Agreement for signing and returning by institutions to access the funds, and a list of institutional allocations under 18004(a)(1).
The Certification and Agreement directs each institution applying for HEERF funds to comply with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act and submit an initial report (the “30-day Fund Report”) to the Secretary 30 days from the date of the institution’s Certification and Agreement to the Department. The Department will provide instructions for providing the required information to the Secretary in the near future. In the meantime, each HEERF participating institution must post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website. The Department would like to receive the most current information from the date when the institution received its allocation for emergency financial aid grants to students. Accordingly, the following information is being provided to comply with the “30-day Fund Report” and will be periodically updated at minimum, every 45 days thereafter:
- Merryfield Academy acknowledges that it has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and provides assurance that it intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provider Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- The total amount of funds that the institution has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $37,400.00
- The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES act as of June 11, 2020 is $0.
- 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 50.
- The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of June 11, 2020 is 0.
- The method 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:
Preamble
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The CARES Act includes the provision of approximately $12.56 billion for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Institutions of higher education are to receive an allocated share of this fund under a formula based on student enrollment described in the Act and to be administered by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. The CARES Act requires, in part, that “Institutions of higher education shall use no less than 50 percent of such funds to provide emergency financial aid grants 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 child care).”
As announced by the Secretary, Merryfield Academy (the “Institute”) is to receive $37,400.00 (the “Grant Fund”) for the purposes of making emergency financial aid grants to its students. This document sets forth the Institute’s plan for allocating, disbursing and accounting for the Grant Fund.
Just as COVID-19 does not discriminate on the basis of socioeconomic status, the Institute recognizes that a wide array of individuals and industries have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. The Institute recognizes that our students’ lives have been severely disrupted by coronavirus. Many are facing financial challenges and struggling to make ends meet. In order to provide financial relief to as many students as possible, the Institute will distribute $425 emergency financial aid grants from the Grant Fund to all eligible students who were actively enrolled and 2020.
Allocation of Grant Funds
Each eligible student will receive a grant award of $425.00. In accordance with guidance published by the U.S. Department of Education, student grants will be distributed only to students who are Title IV eligible. An eligible enrolled student includes any student that has not been withdrawn or graduated and includes enrolled students. Students who are on an approved Leave of Absence due to issues related to COVID-19 that began on or after March 13, 2020 are considered actively enrolled and are eligible to receive the grants. The eligible student roster will be determined by taking a census of the student body as of May 1, 2020.
The Institute will disburse the remaining Grant Funds via additional emergency need-based grants. The Institute will send an email to all eligible students informing them of the availability of additional grants. The email will include the information on the Cares Act grant and the determining factors (Exhibit C)
A committee consisting of the Institute’s President and the Operations Manager, will decide which students shall receive the emergency need-based grant and the amount of such grant.
Awarding Policy
The Institute will prepare a roster of eligible actively enrolled students as of today. Each eligible student enrolled as of June 1, 2020 will receive a grant award in the amount of $425.
Students that have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and for which the Institute has a current Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) will be considered Title IV eligible. Students enrolled as of May 1, 2020 who did not previously file a FAFSA may choose to file a FAFSA for grant purposes, and the Institute will consider the student to be Title IV eligible upon receipt of the student’s ISIR and successful completion of any required verification.
Other than any disclosures of this plan as may be required by the U.S. Department of Education or any other governmental or accrediting agency, the Institute shall not make any disclosures, publication, statement, or other notices regarding the ability of students who enroll after May 1, 2020 to apply for an emergency need-based grant. Only after such student has signed an enrollment agreement with the Institute will the Institute provide such student with information regarding the application for an emergency need-based grant.
Eligible students may only receive one emergency need-based grant. The Institute will make emergency need-based grants to eligible students until the Grant Fund is depleted. The Institute intends to begin making emergency need-based grants on or about June 15, 2020 and complete the distribution of such grants by December 31, 2020.
Awarding Procedures
The Institute’s Director and Financial Director will oversee the awarding and enrolled student census. The Institute will ensure there is a clear delineation on the funds being allocated in accordance with Federal law, published guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, and this plan.
Disbursement Procedures
The Institute will begin contacting students about the emergency financial aid grants on or about June 15, 2020. The Institute will make every reasonable effort to contact all eligible students to notify them of the emergency financial aid grant to which they are entitled. Included with this notice will be an attestation statement (Exhibit A) to be signed by the student wherein the student shall acknowledge that the emergency grant funds will be used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care. This notice and acknowledgment statement will be sent to the student’s email address on record with the Institute. The email will include a link to the Institute’s website, and students will complete the acknowledgment statement on
/financial-aid/https-www-merryfield-edu-cares-act-disclosures/
The emergency financial aid grants will be distributed by checks made payable to the students. No grant checks will be disbursed to any otherwise eligible student who fails to or refuses to sign the acknowledgment statement.
Eligible students will have the option on how to receive their grant fund checks. Students may request to pick up their checks at the Institute, otherwise the Institute will mail the check to the address listed on the student’s attestation statement. Students will indicate their choice for receiving the grant checks on their acknowledgement statements. The Institute will provide instructions for those students choosing to pick up their checks at the Institute which will include available pick-up times as well as safe social distancing requirements. In addition to the emergency grant fund checks, the students will receive an instruction letter from the Institute in the form attached as Exhibit B.
Accounting & Record keeping
The Institute’s Director and Financial Aid Director will be responsible for the administration of the emergency financial aid grants. All disbursements will be overseen by the Institute’s Director and Financial Aid Director.
The Institute’s Director and Financial Aid Director are responsible for all accounting and record keeping associated with the administration of the student emergency grants. They shall maintain an Excel spreadsheet to track all disbursements by student. The Institute’s Director shall also be responsible for completing all reports that must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education as required by the CARES Act and any future guidance from the Department.
EXHIBIT C
Merryfield Academy School
Emergency Financial Aid Grant Application
Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act the U.S. Department of Education has made emergency financial aid grant funds available to students of our institution who are in need of financial support for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to Coronavirus. The Institute’s administration will use our determining factors to determine the student’s eligibility for a grant and the amount for which they will be eligible. Each student will be eligible for only one grant payment in the amount of $425
- The institution will provide the following instructions, directions or guidance to its students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants:
- Attestation Statement: Prior to distribution, each student will receive and be obligated to sign and return the following attestation statement:
-
Merryfield Academy
Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants
Attestation
-
Student Name:
Current Mailing Address:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Amount of Award:
Date:
I would like to receive my grant check (choose one):
_____ Pick Up at Institute _____ Mail to my Current Address Above
I accept the grant award provided to me from funding made available to Merryfield Academy under the CARES Act.
I certify the following:
- All information provided in this Attestation is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
- I am eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid.
- I understand that any money awarded from this grant is to be used for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. These expenses include eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance in the calculation of Federal Financial Aid, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare. The money I am receiving is intended to cover my expenses related to the disruption of campus operations.
I understand that if I choose to have my grant check mailed to me it will be mailed to the address listed above. I will immediately notify the Institute if at any time my address changes. I further understand that if the Institute is unable to locate me and/or distribute any part of my grant award after making reasonable efforts that I will forfeit such funds and that the Institute may use those funds to make additional grants to other students.
Student Signature
Date
- Notification Letter: Eligible students will receive the following notification letter with their receipt of emergency financial aid grant checks:
June ___, 2020
Student Name:
Current Mailing Address:
Re: Student Emergency Relief Grant
Dear Student,
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides emergency assistance for students who need financial support for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Under the CARES Act, Merryfield Academy has received grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education for the purpose of making emergency financial aid grants to its students.
You have been approved for a one-time emergency financial aid grant check in the amount of $2425.00 to help cover the cost of expenses incurred due to Coronavirus pandemic.
In recognition that some of our students face greater financial need, and with the recognition that the disruption of campus operations due to Coronavirus are expected to continue indefinitely, additional need-based grant funds will be awarded to eligible, enrolled students who demonstrate current financial need.
This is a grant, which means that this amount does not need to be repaid. Your acceptance of these grant funds is conditioned upon your agreement to use the funds for the purposes allowed under the CARES Act and as agreed upon by you in the attestation statement that you previously provided to the Institute. In particular, you understand that the money awarded from this grant is to be used for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. These expenses include eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance in the calculation of Federal Financial Aid, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare. The money you are receiving is intended to cover your expenses related to the disruption of campus operations.
We hope that you and your family and friends are safe and healthy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Very truly yours,
Gregg Docktor
