COVID Funding

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Compliance (CARES Act)

Date: 1.13.2023

Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) as an institution participating in the funds available for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) is required to post information regarding the use of those funds. 

FSCC has signed and returned to the Department of Education the certification and Agreement form assuring that FSCC has used fund received to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. 

FSCC received the following funds for student needs:

April 27, 2020$510,763.00HEERF I CARES
January 17, 2021$510,763.00HEERF II CRRSAA
May 12, 2021$1,965,625.00HEERF III ARP

Disbursements to students have been as follows for HEERF I CARES Act funding:

May 5, 2020 through June 23, 2020                           565 students   $317,960

  • The methodology used to award was based on enrolled hours of students who met the government guidelines to receive funds.   Those who could not be included were:
  • High School Students
  • Students enrolled in only online classes as of March 13, 2020
  • International students
  • DACA students
  • Students not making satisfactory academic progress
  • Non-degree seeking students.
  • Eligible students were required to complete an online application available on the fortscott.edu website.  Multiple attempts were made to contact all eligible students who had not applied through text messages.  

July 27, 2020 through August 31, 2020                     565 Students   $152,550

  • As of July 23, 2020 after multiple attempts to contact students who had not applied for the previous award had failed it was decided to add remaining student funds available to previous awardees.  These students received a second award of $270.00 each. 
  • The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed by FSCC to students for the CARES funds as of December 31, 2020 was $470,510. 

Beginning with the HEERF II funds (CRRSAA) changed the guidelines for eligible students going forward as well as for HEERF I funds (CARES) awards going forward.    Eligible students can now include:

  • High School students
  • International students
  • DACA students
  • Non-degree seeking students
  • Students not making satisfactory academic progress

March 26, 2021 through April 16, 2021                    784 students      $338.782.44

  • Remaining outstanding student balances for COVID semesters were reviewed.
  • All students with an outstanding balance were awarded based on the balance due.
  • The following text and email was sent to notify them of the award towards their balance due and the need to accept. 
  • “Up to $500 is available to assist in reducing your unpaid balance at FSCC incurred during COVID 19 impacted semesters (Spring 2020 – Spring 2021).   These funds will be applied to your balance after you accept them.   You must login to your GIZMO and open your financial aid box for 20-21 year and accept the “COVID Relief HEERF II” award by April 16, 2021.   Please contact financial aid or the cashiers if you have questions.”

April 21, 2021 through May 6, 2021                          830 Students      $233,775.00

  • After addressing students with outstanding balances as defined above.  Administration made the decision to award students who had made payments towards their account and did not have a remaining balance for the pandemic related semesters of Spring 2020 – Spring 2021. 
  • Students who made a payment during the period of January 1, 2021 and March 21, 2021 were contacted via email and text with the following message.
  • Up to $500 is available to assist you with expenses incurred at FSCC during COVID-19 impacted semester (Spring 2020 – Spring 2021 semesters). These funds will be applied to your balance first. If you do not have a balance and made a payment between January 1 and March 21, 2021, up to $500 may be refunded to you. You must login to your GIZMO and open your financial aid box for the 20-21 year and accept the “COVID Relief HEERF II” award by May 6, 2021. Please contact financial aid or the cashiers if you have questions.

The decision to award in the methodologies above was determined by Administration as acceptable to meet the financial requirement based on the following:

  • Of the 3,484 FAFSA filers for 2020/2021, 2,675 students or 77% had a household income below $50,000.
  • Due to our rural location, limited possibilities for community service, lack of public transportation, and the majority of our students living on campus without transportation, we are exempt from matching Title IV federal work study monies.
  • FSCC is designated as a Title III institution, meaning we serve at risk students thus exempt from matching SEOG dollars with institution funds.
  • As High School students do not complete FAFSA, they are unable to demonstrate unmet financial need.   Therefore the use of unpaid balances up to $500 per student was utilized.

Based on the above, our student population is largely considered at risk.   By awarding to all students of the HEERF student grant funds, based on credit hours or balances due, this enables us to assist in meeting their financial needs brought on by COVID. 

August 2021 through June 2022

Fort Scott Community College is awarding student funds in the academic year of Fall 2021 through Summer 2022 by awarding scholarships for general fees per credit hour.   Following are the guidelines:

  • Students will receive an award of $55.00 per credit hour for each hour they are enrolled in.
  • Students must electronically accept the award each semester before it will be applied to their student account.
  • Student must be enrolled and attending to receive the award.   (attending definition – the class must have been certified – usually the 20th day).

Awards processed through June 30, 2022 were $1,631,744.99.

FALL 2022 – July 2022 through September 2022

  • Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) is pleased to continue the plan to utilize federal funding to assist in paying student fees for Fall 2022. Federal funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) will be utilized to pay $22.00 per credit hour towards the general fees for all students for Fall 2022 only.
  • Each student will receive an email to their FSCC student email account requesting that they log into their STUDENT PORTAL/GIZMO to accept the award amount for fees.  Payment of fees will not occur until after acceptance of award.

Awards processed July 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022 currently are $101,726.00

FALL 2022 – July 2022 through December 2022

  • Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) continued the plan to utilize federal funding to assist in paying student fees for Fall 2022 and Fall Intersession 2022.
    • Fall 2022 – Federal  funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF was utilized to pay $22.00 per credit hours towards the general fees for all students.
    • Fall Intersession 2022 – these same monies from (HEERF) were utilized to pay general fees for all students of $58.00 per credit hour. 
  • Students must electronically accept the award each semester before it can be applied to their student account. 
  • The student must be enrolled and attending to receive the award.  (attending definition – the class must have been certified – usually the 20th day)

Awards process July 2022 through December 2022 are $317,030. 

*******************************************************************

FSCC received the following funds for Institutional purposes:

May 12, 2020$510,763.00HEERF I CARES
June 18th & Nov. 13th$50,716.00HEERF I Strengthening Institutions
July 2020$308,717.00SPARK Funding – County
August 2020$345,182.00SPARK Funding – State
March 4, 2021$92,635.00HEERF II Strengthening Institutions
March 12, 2021$1,695,112.00HEERF II CRRSAA
May 12, 2021$1,912,715.00HEERF III ARP
August 3, 2021$170,039.00HEERF III Strengthening Institutions

Public Health 

  • Sanitizing machines
  • Equipment to sanitize practice clothing
  • Disinfecting practice areas
  • Social distancing furniture
  • Replacing furniture to enable sanitation
  • Sneeze guards
  • Water refill stations
  • COVID testing

Facilitate distance learning

  • Laptops for faculty and student use
  • Webcams for faculty to teach online
  • Video & audio equipment for classrooms
  • Monitors to zoom classes

Budgeted personnel & services diverted to a substantially different use 

  • Athletic director – contact tracer
  • Information technology-equipment procurement, how-to videos to facilitate distance learning & remote work staff
  • Business office-manage multiple new grants
  • Dorm coordinator- coordinating quarantine/isolation meals

Social Distancing

  • Divider screens for nursing lab modules
  • Expanded dorm facilities giving the ability to isolate/quarantine
  • Furniture to furnish expanded dorm facilities and to replace foam mattresses
  • Large fleet vehicles – to social distance students for offsite dorm and activity travel
  • Upgrade theatre audio, video, projection equipment for large classroom use
  • New furniture in cafeteria to seat smaller groups
  • Update HVAC for the building utilized for classrooms for better ventilation/circulation.
  • Renovate the dining and kitchen facilities for improved social distancing.

Lost Revenue

  • Dorm and cafeteria revenue refunded to students
  • Student balances for pandemic related semesters of Spring 2020 – Spring 2021

Remote work ability for faculty & staff

  • Hot Spots
  • Web Cams
  • Phone System

Personal Protective Equipment

  • Hand sanitizer
  • Lysol wipes
  • Masks
  • Gloves
  • Sanitizing Misters
  • Thermometers 

Facilities

  • Purchase of additional dorm housing to facilitate social distancing for student living.
  • As described in acceptable projects by HEERF, Fort Scott Community College has contracted to remodel the cafeteria – which includes kitchen and dining.   This will provide a more efficient and separated flow of students in the cafeteria thus eliminating social distancing concerns.

Update Links

Institutional Funding Updates