CARES Act Required Reports and Disclosures

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Required Reports and Disclosures

This website serves as public disclosure required under Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act for Pitzer College regarding the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). This website will be updated every 45 days with any required changes.

Pitzer College signed and returned to the Department 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 Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Pitzer College will receive $312,931 from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
As of June 12, 2020, Pitzer College had not disbursed any funds to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
Pitzer College estimates that 391 students at the college are 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.
Pitzer College will determine student eligibility based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education. Students who met Title IV eligibility requirements for the 2019-20 academic year and received need-based aid will be considered eligible for funds.

REPORT UPDATES – April 28, 2021

On January 14, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education announced the availability of additional emergency funding through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) for institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pitzer College has received funding from the recently approved Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). Unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students. However, students do not need to be only Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants.¹

Per federal guidelines, $312,931 has been allocated to go directly to students in the form of CRRSAA Emergency Relief Grants. More than half the funds have been distributed already since March 2020 to provide direct support during the pandemic to students with exceptional need and considered housing insecure. The remainder of the funds will be disbursed as quickly as possible to provide students with the support they need to continue their educational pursuits via additional CRRSAA Emergency Relief Grants.

CRRSAA Emergency Relief Grants are intended to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the ongoing nation-wide pandemic (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare). If you have experienced any difficulties due to the disruption of campus operations, we strongly encourage you to apply for a CRRSAA Emergency Relief Grant.

Unfortunately, the current legislation limits eligibility for funds only to students eligible to receive federal financial aid, excluding assistance to non-U.S. citizens. However, just as we did with CARES Act, Pitzer College will use its own funds to cover grants in cases where students are ineligible to receive CRRSAA funds.

To be eligible to receive a CRRSAA Emergency Relief Grant, students should be currently enrolled with consideration to students on leave of absence
The CRRSAA Emergency Relief Grant is limited to $500 and a one-time request. While $500 is the maximum, we ask that you only request what you need, being mindful of other students also impacted by the pandemic. Pending resource availability, we may consider allocating additional support based on exceptional student need.
The request must be costs incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Department of Education has prioritized students with the greatest demonstrated financial need for immediate disbursement of funds.
With your consent, the funds can be applied toward student account balances.
Students must complete the CRRSAA Emergency Relief Grant form.

CRRSAA Emergency Relief Grant funding is limited. Applicants will be awarded grants as long as funds remain available.

1 https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/updatedfaqsfora1crrssaheerfii.pdf

REPORT UPDATES – July 10, 2020

Update 4. Pitzer College estimated 971 students were potentially 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.

Update 5. Effective June 18, 2020 Pitzer College processed check disbursements to 391 students who were determined eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants. The total amount disbursed was $309,850.

Update 6. Pitzer College included students who meet the following criteria as eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1):

Students enrolled in a degree granting program of study as of March 13, 2020, the date of the President’s Proclamation, “Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)”
Students who are making Satisfactory Academic Progress toward their degree
Students who had completed a 2019-20 FAFSA to confirm their Title IV eligibility requirements of Higher Education Act.

Pitzer College excluded from the larger population of potentially eligible students:

those individuals it knew to be foreign nationals who were not US permanent residents or other eligible non-citizens under Title IV of HEA;
those students in the US without a lawful immigration status; and
those students whose Title IV eligibility requirements could not be confirmed due to a missing or incomplete FASFA application.

Grant amounts of $200 – $1,000 were issued to students based on an evaluation of the student’s demonstrated level of financial need. Larger grants were provided to students with the higher demonstrated levels of financial need. Funds were distributed as broadly as possible to eligible students.

Update 7. More information can be found at https://www.pitzer.edu/emergency/2020/06/01/cares-frequently-asked-questions/

REPORT UPDATES – August 12, 2020

No additional disbursements have been made since June 2020.

QUARTERLY REPORT UPDATE – October 10, 2020

No additional disbursements have been made since June 2020.

QUARTERLY REPORT UPDATE – January 10, 2021 – FINAL REPORT

November 2020 the remaining $3,081 of CARES Student Funds was deposited into the Student Affairs Emergency Fund to reimburse Fund expenditures outlined below:

The Emergency Fund provided support exceeding $4,400 for travel expenses for students required to leave campus due to COVID 19 campus shut down.
- These expenses occurred between April 4 and April 10
- Students who received travel expenses support were CARES Act eligible
  - Students enrolled in a degree granting program of study as of March 13, 2020, the date of the President’s Proclamation, “Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)”
  - Students who are making Satisfactory Academic Progress toward their degree
  - Students who had completed a 2019-20 FAFSA to confirm their Title IV eligibility requirements of Higher Education Act

At the close of 4^th quarter 2020, all CARES Student Funds were distributed in accordance with Department of Education guidance.