COVID-19 Higher Education Emergency Funding

Great Falls College MSU plan for COVID-19 Higher Education Emergency Funding (HEERF, HEERF II, and HEERF III) Student Distribution

In the spring of 2020, Great Falls College MSU received $845,222 in federal funds as a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act HEERF), award number P425E201842.  Of these funds, $431,737 was distributed as direct grants to students in response to disruption to campus operations due to COVID-19 concerns.  In January, Great Falls College MSU received an additional $1,730,333 in Higher Education Emergency Relief funding authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRSSA Act HEERF II).  By law, at least $422,611 of the HEERF II funds were distributed directly to students.  In May, Great Falls College MSU received an additional $2,846,452 in Higher Education Emergency Relief funding authorized by the American Recovery Plan Act of 2021 (ARP Act HEERF III).  By law, at least $1,516,311 must be given to students to use toward any component of the cost of attendance or for emergency funding related to COVID-19.

Following federal guidelines, and in consideration of available funding, the college has identified groups of eligible students. The US Department of Education requires us to post the below information:

• Great Falls College MSU received $845,222 in HEERF I, of which at least $422,611 was spent on direct to student grants.

*totals for all categories are cumulative

• For information on how HEERF I funds were distributed, please see information under side bar titled ‘HEERF I (CARES Act)’.

• Great Falls College MSU received $1,730,333 in HEERF II, of which at least $422,611 was spent on direct to student grants.

• For information on how HEERF II funds were distributed, please see information under side bar titled ‘HEERF II (CRSSA Act)’.

• Great Falls College MSU received $2,846,452 in HEERF III, of which $1,516,311 must be spent on direct to student grants.
• Great Falls College MSU received an additional $279,371 in HEERF III (SUPPLEMENTAL ARPA) funding on 7/13/2022, of which $139,686 must be spent on direct to student grants.

*includes returned funds from prior distributions

• To qualify for HEERF III funds, students must be enrolled as of census (or as of the no-show reporting period for 2nd block only) of the term in which the distribution takes place.
• The amount of the grant varies based on factors related to student type, enrollment status, and Pell grant eligibility.
• Distributions will made to qualifying students automatically. No application is required.
• Distributions will be provided directly to the student without withholding any amount for institutional charges the student may owe and will not be counted as Estimated Financial Assistance when considering eligibility for Title IV funding.
• While the college does not plan to apply grant funding to unpaid student accounts, ARPA allows for this with explicit authorization by the student. GFCMSU will not seek this authorization. If students would like to use these funds for payment to the college for an outstanding balance, they may do so by cashing your check and then making an independent payment.
• Payments will be processed through Student Accounts and distributed via direct deposit if set up. Otherwise, checks will be mailed to the address on file with the college.