Middle Georgia State University (MGA) has been awarded $2,994,084 in federal student aid funds from The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). These funds allow MGA to provide financial aid grants for qualified students to cover cost of attendance or emergency costs that may arise due to the coronavirus. Similar to the previous federal funding in 2020 (CARES Act/HEER Fund I), there are guidelines that MGA must follow in all phases of the HEER Fund II allocation plan, and eligibility is defined as follows:

1. Grant funds are not available to international, undocumented, dual enrolled, transient or non-degree seeking students;
2. Students must be enrolled at the time of the grant disbursement;
3. Fully online students who meet the above criteria are eligible.

The University has developed a detailed allocation plan that will distribute the funds as widely and quickly as possible for all three semesters in 2021. The plan prioritizes eligible students with the most demonstrated need. Approximately 75% of the funds should be distributed by June 30. The remaining amount will be distributed no later than September 30, 2021. 

All grants will be disbursed through MGA’s BankMobile disbursement system.  Please verify your distribution method in BankMobile.  For questions about the BankMobile system, please contact ). 

QUESTIONS About HEER II? Contact  

The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund is a Federal grant program by which the US Department of Education awards grants to Governors in order to provide education related entities with emergency assistance because of COVID-19. Governor Kemp has designated $5 million from the grant awarded to Georgia to aid students within the University System of Georgia who are struggling to pay bills for tuition and fees due to impacts related to COVID-19.

The Governor’s allocation of funds has been determined and Middle Georgia State University received $272,000. The funds were allocated to institutions based on the institutions’ percentage or share of the total number of Pell-eligible students enrolled in each USG institution. Middle Georgia will disburse the funds beginning with the students enrolled in the Spring 2021 Semester for second session. Guidelines were provided to each USG institution and must be followed when determining a students’ eligibility to receive funds and for disbursing funds to students.

• The funds may be awarded to assist students who have been financially impacted by COVID-19, are having trouble paying tuition and fees, and are at risk of being dropped from enrollment due to non-payment.
• Funds are to be made available for the Spring 2021 semester to currently enrolled and degree-seeking undergraduate students. Any portion of funding not used in Spring 2021 may be awarded to similarly situated students needing aid in Summer 2021, or potentially in Fall 2021 should funds remain available.
• Institutions will require the completion of the application (hyperlink) for each grant request in order to assess student need and eligibility.
• All applications will be reviewed by the MGA GEER team (staff members from Finance and Operation and Enrollment Management) to determine the student’s eligibility and funding priority prior to making grant funds available. Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.
• The use of awarded funds is to be limited to the direct payment of tuition and fee expenses.

Student Eligibility

Students receiving GEER funding awards must meet these criteria:

• Enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to a degree.
• In good academic standing, and making progress toward degree attainment, as defined by meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) guidelines for Federal financial aid.
• Have suffered a financial impact due to COVID-19 pandemic as determined by the institution.
• Have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and been determined eligible for Title IV federal student assistance.
• Have accepted all Federal Title IV federal student assistance for which they are eligible (excluding PLUS loans but including subsidized and unsubsidized loans offered).
• Student must have an outstanding balance of direct charges to the institution.
• Priority will be given to Pell eligible students. If funds remain after awarding all Pell-eligible applicants that qualify, funds may be used to assist other students that have direct charges owed to the institution and unmet need based on the standard financial aid formula (COA- EFC-all other aid = unmet need)
• Institutions should ensure awards will satisfy student obligations.
• Students that meet the eligibility criteria will be prioritized based on the following categories.
  • Bachelor Degree Seeking Students
    • Graduating Seniors
    • Seniors
    • Juniors
    • Sophomores
    • Freshmen
  • Associate Degree Seeking Students
    • Graduating Sophomores and Above
    • Sophomores
    • Freshmen

Award Guidelines

Financial awards made to the student must meet these criteria:

• Not to exceed $1,000 per student.
• Not to exceed the student’s total balance due the institution, after all other aid, including federal loans, has been applied, and including any 3 ^rd party guarantees which may be pending but not yet received.
• GEER awards may not be directly refunded to the student as surplus financial aid, nor can these awards cause other funds from other sources to be refunded directly to the student as surplus financial aid.

Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) Scholarship Application

This award of up to $1,000 provides one-time emergency financial assistance to students encountering unforeseen circumstances due to COVID-19 that may prevent them from continuing their education at Middle Georgia State University. Circumstances that may lead a student to apply for these funds can vary widely. These funds are intended to assist students with financial hardships to complete their education.

How to Apply

Students are encouraged to apply for this funding if the need arises and should complete the application as soon as possible. Students must complete an application that requests supporting documentation of the financial or personal circumstances prompting the application. Upon review of the student's application and situation, the MGA GEER Team determine the funding amount. These funds will then be applied to the student’s outstanding balance.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to a degree.
• Be in good academic standing, and making progress toward degree attainment, as defined by meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) guidelines for Federal financial aid.
• Have suffered a financial impact due to COVID-19 pandemic as determined by the institution.
• Have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and been determined eligible for Title IV federal student assistance.
• Have accepted all Federal Title IV Federal student assistance for which they are eligible (excluding PLUS loans but including subsidized and unsubsidized loans offered).
• Student must have an outstanding balance of direct charges to the institution.
• Institutions should ensure awards will satisfy student obligations.
• Priority will be given to Pell-eligible students. If funds remain after awarding all Pell-eligible applicants that qualify, funds may be used to assist other students that have direct charges owed to the institution and unmet need based on the standard financial aid formula (COA- EFC-all other aid = unmet need)
• Students that meet the eligibility criteria will be prioritized based on the following categories.
  • Bachelor Degree Seeking Students
    • Graduating Seniors –Submit your graduation application (hyperlink)
    • Seniors
    • Juniors
    • Sophomores
    • Freshmen
  • Associate Degree Seeking Students
    • Graduating Sophomores and Above Submit graduation application (hyperlink)
    • Sophomores
    • Freshmen

Award decisions will be based on the established criteria outlined in the application. Award amounts will be determined based on the request, proof of need, and available funds. 

Awards will be applied to the student’s account and may not be directly refunded to the student as surplus financial aid, nor can these awards cause other funds from other sources to be refunded directly to the student as surplus financial aid.

International students are ineligible for state and federal financial aid, so they are not required to complete this process and are not eligible for the funding.

Middle Georgia State University (MGA) has been provided student aid funding from The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) and the Strengthening Institutional Program Fund (SIP) authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). This funding will be used, according to federal guidelines, to assist students impacted by COVID-19.

You, as a student, may complete the application below and apply for a grant to help pay for your tuition and fees. In addition, if you live on campus, you may also apply for an additional grant to help cover a portion of the cost of your residence hall.

Please carefully read the following information and apply for the grant(s) if you are eligible.

• Students must complete the application and indicate the grant or grants for which they are applying to receive.
• Students must have suffered a financial impact due to COVID-19 pandemic as determined by the institution.
• Have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and been determined eligible for Title IV federal student assistance.
• Students with exceptional need, as evidenced by Pell Grant eligibility, will receive priority over other applicants each time a group of applications are reviewed.
• Students must be making progress toward degree attainment, as defined by meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• Students cannot apply to use funds to pay for a previous term balance.
• The awards will be for the summer and/or the fall Semester 2021.
• Students must be enrolled at the time of the grant disbursement.
• Funds will be disbursed through MGA’s BankMobile disbursement system or, with the student’s permission, applied directly to their account.
• Grant funds will not be disbursed to dual enrolled, non-citizens, transient or non-degree seeking students.

The Award Amounts

The two awards available are:

1. Up to $500 to help offset tuition and fees at MGA
2. Up to $350 to help offset the cost of living in on-campus housing at MGA.

This emergency financial assistance is for students encountering unforeseen circumstances due to COVID-19 that may prevent them from continuing their education at MGA. Circumstances that may lead a student to apply for these funds can vary widely. These funds are intended to assist students, who are experiencing financial hardships, in completing their education.

How to Apply