The following information is provided by Reed College as required by the Department of Education in order to comply with the reporting requirements under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II) Reporting.
As required by the United States Department of Education, this page is meant to provide public information about Reed's participation in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, and specifically the portion of the CRRSA Act that pertains to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). The Department of Education has directed us to supply the following information:
1. An acknowledgement that Reed College signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and assurance that Reed has, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under CRRSA Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students:
On April 16, 2020 Reed College signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under CRRSA to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. For Reed, that amount was $421,328. In addition, Reed has provided, and will continue to provide institutional funds to students who are not eligible for CRRSA Act funds, for expenses not covered by the CRRSA Act, and when CRRSA Act funds are exhausted through Reed's Emergency Grant program.
2. The total amount of funds that Reed College has received from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under the CRRSA Act:
Reed's total HEERF II allocation is $1,237,125. Of that amount $421,329 was/will be disbursed to students in the form of emergency aid grants. The remaining $815,795 was used to relieve pandemic related expenses incurred by the college.
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CARES and CRRSA Acts as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30- or 45-day report, and calendar quarterly thereafter):
- June 7, 2021 was $728,706
- July 22, 2021 was $729,621
- September 30, 2021 (Quarter 3) was $731,421 to 788 students
4. 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 recevie Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under the CRRSA Act:
Based on the number of students who completed a FAFSA in 2020-2021 and who have not yet graduated from Reed, an estimated 781 students may be eligible to receive HEERF II funding. Reed does not intend to distribute funds to every federally eligible student. Instead, we will target delivery to students with the highest levels of financial aid as described below.
5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under the CRRSA Act:
- June 7, 2021 was 785
- July 22, 2021 was 786
- September 30, 2021 (Quarter I) was 788
6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSA Act:
Reed College has received funding through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II) authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). The student portion of this funding will be used to provide direct payments to eligible students to assist with any component of their cost of attendance and/or emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, and health (including mental health) care.
Eligibility for this funding is limited to students who are eligible to receive Title IV federal aid, which is determined through completion of the FAFSA. Guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive federal Pell grants.
Reed College utilized the following methodology for distribution of funds for Emergency Financial Grants received under the CRRSA Act:
To equitably distribute HEERF II funds to students, payments were allocated in two ways:
1) Automatic direct payment
Direct payment will be made to eligible enrolled students who are currently receiving federal Pell grant funds and/or need-based Reed grant funds:
- Federal Pell grant recipients will receive an automatic payment of $1200.
- All other need-based Reed grant aid recipients will receive an automatic payment of $600.
2) Application process
Students who 1) meet the federal eligibility requirements but do not currently receive federal Pell grant funds or need-based Reed grant funds and 2) are experiencing financial hardship may apply for HEERF II assistance through the Reed Emergency Fund application process. Documentation will be required.
Students who
- do not meet the federal eligibility requirements (international, DACA and undocumented students) and
- are experiencing financial hardship are not eligible for HEERF II assistance, but may apply for Reed funding through the Reed Emergency Fund application process. Documentation will be required.
Students who
- qualify for the automatic direct payment AND have expenses in excess of the amount of the direct payment, may apply for Reed funding through the Reed Emergency Fund application process. Documentation will be required.
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants:
Reed College provided the following instructions, directions, and guidance to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants:
- Announcement to general student body
- Individual emails sent to students eligible for automatic payment with instructions on how to ceritfy and acknowledge expenses were incurred
- Notification to students from Business Office when funds were deposited into student bank account or mailed