CARES Act Reporting Information

The recently passed CARES Act directs institutions receiving funds under Section 18004 of the Act to submit a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”). Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act requires institutions to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received from of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).

The Certification and Agreement directs each institution applying for HEERF funds to comply with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act and submit an initial report (the “30-day Fund Report”) to the Secretary thirty (30) days from the date of the institution’s Certification and Agreement to the Department. The Department will provide instructions for providing the required information to the Secretary in the near future. In the meantime, each HEERF participating institution must post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website.

  1. An acknowledgement that the institution 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.
    1. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock submitted the Certification and Agreement to the US Department of Education on 4-22-2020.
  2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
    1. UA Little Rock expects to receive $2,978,250.00 to distribute to students via the CARES Act to use toward emergency financial aid for students.
  3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).
    1. As of January 5, 2021, UA Little Rock has disbursed the entirety of their allotment of $2,978,250.00 to undergraduate and graduate 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 receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
    1. UA Little Rock has an estimated 6,145 students eligible under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965
  5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
    1. As of January 5, 2021, 4,404 UA Little Rock students have been awarded CARES Act funding.
  6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
    1. UA Little Rock proposes a hybrid distribution methodology. The hybrid methodology consists of two components:
      1. Method 1: CARES Act Direct Aid for Undergraduates
        • The first method is through the CARES Act Direct Aid for Undergraduates, which will be used to award funds directly to undergraduate students enrolled in the spring 2020 term. Eligible undergraduates will receive an award posted to their BankMobile account (see below for BankMobile instructions). The award amount is based on multiple factors, including the number of enrolled credit hours as well as unmet financial need as determined from the FAFSA. Students who receive funds through the CARES Act Direct Aid for Undergraduates must meet eligibility requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education, including:
          • Enrolled as a degree-seeking undergraduate as of March 27, 2020.
          • Enrolled in either a primary or a secondary degree program that is not an online degree program as of March 27, 2020.
          • Submitted a FAFSA for the academic year 2019-20.
          • As part of the acceptance of the funds, the student agrees that the funds will be used for “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).” Students who do not agree to use the funds for this use must complete the form here to opt-out of CARES Act funding by no later than May 12, 2020. If the opt-out form is completed after May 12, 2020, students will need to contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships about the process to return CARES Act funds.
      2. Method 2: CARES Act Aid Application
        • The second method to receive funds is through the CARES Act Aid Application. Eligible undergraduates and graduates, including students enrolled at the Bowen School of Law and the Clinton School of Public Service, may apply to receive reimbursement of COVID-19 related expenses through the CARES Act Aid Application.
        • Undergraduates should apply here. (Note: Undergraduates should only submit a CARES Act Aid Application if they received no or insufficient funding through Method 1, CARES Act Direct Aid for Undergraduates.)
        • Graduates, including Bowen School of Law and Clinton School of Public Service, should apply here.
        • Students who receive funds through the CARES Act Aid Application must meet eligibility requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education, including:
          • If a student submitted a valid FAFSA for the academic year 2019-20, then the student may receive emergency financial aid grants.
          • If a student has not submitted a valid FAFSA but is eligible to file a FAFSA, then the student may still receive emergency financial aid grants. The criteria to participate includes but is not limited to the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen; a valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Service (if the student is male); and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting.
          • Enrolled in either a primary or a secondary degree program that is not an online degree.
          • Further, a student who receives funds must agree that the funds will be used for “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).”
        • Beginning May 18, 2020, designated committees will meet weekly to review and make award decisions on applications submitted through the CARES Act Aid Application. Awards for approved applications will be disbursed periodically, usually weekly, depending on the number of applications approved.
  7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
    1. The linked email was sent to students on Friday, May 8th: CARES Act Announcement
    2. The linked email was sent to students on Thursday July 2nd: Summer CARES Act Announcement
    3. The linked email was sent to students on Friday August 21st: Fall CARES Act Anouncement