The college received $7,135,313 from the U.S. Department of Education through the ARP: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) designated to provide direct support to our students with course materials, housing, childcare, food or other COVID-19 related needs due to the disruption of campus operations.
The ARPA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students. For this reason, it is recommended that students complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are not required to apply for financial aid or be awarded a Pell grant to be eligible. Beyond Pell eligibility, other types of exceptional need could include students who may be eligible for other federal or state need-based aid or have faced significant unexpected expenses, such as the loss of employment (either for themselves or their families), reduced income, or food or housing insecurity." In addition, the ARPA explicitly provides that financial aid grants to students may be provided to students exclusively enrolled in distance education. These grants are for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care. Students determine how they may use their emergency financial aid grant within the allowable uses.
How to Apply
If you are eligible to apply, you will receive an invitation via your Gateway student email. The application is unique to each qualified student and should not be shared with other students. Communications via email, social media, website presence and student groups assisted in educating students of this opportunity.
Your submission will be individually reviewed and communication related to support will be emailed to your Gateway student email. All financial awards will be disbursed directly to each student. All disbursements will be sent to students via a check mailed to your student address on file at the college or in limited cases via BankMobile.
Application Deadline
The final application deadline was January 12, 2022. The college supported additional students that meet eligibility requirements with ARPA for the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters.
Who Qualifies for the Grant
- Students who are or were enrolled in an institution of higher education on or after March 13, 2020, the date of the national emergency declaration due to the Pandemic. (Including study abroad, exclusively online, ABE/ELL, dual enrolled, international, DACA and undocumented students)
- Currently enrolled in the following course types include degree, certificate, continuing education, non-credit, non-degree and dual (enrollment) credit courses or programs.
- It is recommended that students complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to aid in determining exceptional need. Completion of FAFSA is not required.
Reports
June 10, 2021 Reporting
Through the ARP Act, Gateway received $14,109,697 from the U.S. Department of Education. Gateway has provided the U.S. Department of Education with a signed Certification and Agreement. The college would like to provide support to as many Gateway students as possible during this challenging time. No less than $7,135,313 of these funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act will be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Gateway Technical College acknowledges the institution has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement for the ARPA funding.
The college estimates that 3986 students are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
July 10, 2021 Reporting
As of July 9, 2021, the college estimates that for Summer 2021, 3986 students are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
At this time, the college has disbursed $0. The college is in the process of awarding and disbursing student emergency grants for the Summer 2021 term. Grants will be in the amounts of $750 for students who did not exhibit exceptional need. Students who met requirements for exceptional need will be awarded emergency grants in the amount of $1500. Exceptional need is determined by completion of the FAFSA application and a response to questions on an electronic emergency grant application. Communications via email and website presence, educated students regarding this opportunity. Updates are quarterly.
October 10, 2021 Reporting
The college previously estimated for Summer 2021, 3986 students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
As of October 8, 2021, the college has received $7,135,313 in HEERF III ARPA funding from the Department of Education for Emergency Financial Aid Grants for Students. During the month of July, for the Summer 2021 term, ARPA funding in the amount of $578,372 along with HEERF II CRRSAA funding in the amount of $541,378 was disbursed to 799students in the form of Direct to Student emergency grants. The combined total disbursement was $1,119,750. Grants were in the amounts of $750 for students who did not exhibit exceptional need. Students who met requirements for exceptional need will be awarded emergency grants in the amount of $1500. Exceptional need is determined by completion of the FAFSA application and a response to questions on an electronic emergency grant application. The total amount of funding available to students was also a factor in determining maximum award amounts. Communications via email and website presence, educated students regarding this opportunity. At this time, $6,556,941 in ARPA III funding still remains available to students. ARPA III direct to student emergency grant funding will be available during the Fall 2021 term.
January 10, 2022 Reporting
The college previously estimated for Fall 2021, 9306 students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
As of January 10, 2021, the college has received $7,135,313 in HEERF III (ARPA) funding from the Department of Education for Emergency Financial Aid Grants for Students. During the month of November and December for the Fall 2021 term, ARPA funding in the amount of $3,516,500.00 was disbursed to 1473 students in the form of Direct to Student emergency grants. Grants were in the amounts of $1500 for students who did not exhibit exceptional need. Students who met requirements for exceptional need were awarded emergency grants in the amount of $2500. Exceptional need is determined by completion of the FAFSA application and a response to questions on an electronic emergency grant application. The total amount of funding available to students was also a factor in determining maximum award amounts. Communications via email and website presence, educated students regarding this opportunity. Immediate one-time emergency funding was disbursed to 523 students in the amount of $270,589.67 to help offset immediate financial hardships that students were experiencing. To support students with outstanding balances for Spring and Summer 2021, students were given an opportunity to consent to payment of their past due balances. 255 students consented to 258 payments of past due balances in the amount of $209,869.15. At this time, a total of $7189,886.82 in HEERF funding has been disbursed to students. $4,575,330.82 million has been disbursed in HEERF III funding with $2.56 million in HEERF III (ARPA) funding still available. 2253 checks/payments totaling $3,996,958.82 have been disbursed to 1758 unique students since Oct 1, 2021. HEERF III (ARPA) direct to student emergency grant funding is now available for Spring 2022 term.
April 10, 2022 Reporting
The college estimated for Spring 2022, 4661 students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
As of March 23, 2022 the college has received $7,135,313 in HEERF III ARPA funding from the Department of Education for Emergency Financial Aid Grants for Students. During the months of January and February immediate emergency financial assistance and prior/current debt relief in the amount of $143,525.94 was disbursed to 187 unique students. This assistance covered the Spring 2021, Summer 2021, Fall 2021 & Spring 2022 terms. ARPA funding in the amount of $2,445,352.43 was disbursed to 1350 students in the form of Direct to Student emergency grants. The combined total disbursed was $2,588,878.37. Grants were in the amounts of $1500 for students who did not exhibit exceptional need. Students who met requirements for exceptional need were awarded emergency grants in the average amount of $1846.96. Exceptional need is determined by completion of the FAFSA application and a response to questions on an electronic emergency grant application. Some students with a ‘0’ EFC were auto awarded funding to replace students who did not enroll. The total amount of funding available to students was also a factor in determining maximum award amounts. Communications via email and website presence, educated students regarding this opportunity. At this time, all $7,135,313 in ARPA III funding has been expended. At this time Gateway has exhausted all of the HEERF student portion emergency grants funding under CARES $1,307,278, CRRSAA $1,307,278 and ARPA $7,135,313. All $9,749,869 in HEERF funding has been allocated to support students' needs during the Pandemic.