COVID-19 Relief Funds
Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) Funds
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:
- Grant funds are not available to international, undocumented, dual enrolled, transient or non-degree seeking students;
- Students must be enrolled at the time of the grant disbursement;
- 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
Spring Semester 2021 Grants (Automatic)
Totala approximately $1.5 million (~50% of total funds). Grants will be automatically disbursed to eligible students, prioritizing students with the greatest need, as defined by their Pell Grant status:
- $250 for eligible students who received the Pell Grant in Spring 2021 (totals approximately $979,000)
- $150 for eligible students who did not receive the Pell Grant in Spring 2021 (totals approximately $550,500)
***Please verify distribution method in BankMobile to ensure there is no delay in receiving grants***
Summer Semester 2021 Grants
Totaling approximately $832,500 (~25% of funds). Grants will be distributed via both automatic disbursements and emergency grants.
Automatic Grants - will be disbursed to eligible students, prioritizing students with the greatest need, as defined by their Pell Grant status
- $250 for eligible students who receive the Pell Grant in Summer 2021 ( totals approximately $682,500)
- $125 for eligible students who do not receive the Pell Grant in Summer 2021 (totals approximately $150,500)
Dibursement dates will vary. Funds will be disbursed after the drop/add date of the last term you are attending.
Emergency Grants - For students who have experienced financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency grants of up to $500 will be available during Summer semester. Priority given to students with exceptional need with those awards on a first-come, first-served basis. The application process for these grants will be published during the summer.
Fall Semester 2021 Grants
The amount of these disbursements is not yet available and will depend on remaining funding available at the end of the year + the number of students enrolled at MGA Fall 2021. Funds will be distributed to eligible students based on their Pell Grant status. Disbursement amounts will be made available on this page as soon as possible.
HEER I Fund/ CARES Act (2020)
The below information refers to the HEER I Fund, part of the 2020 CARES Act. For information on the current COVID-19 relief funds available through HEER II Fund (2021), please see top of this page.
Federal HEER I Fund/CARES Act Emergency Grants
The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provided economic relief for college students who qualified according to the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Education. MGA received $2.9 million in funds through the Higher Education Emergency Relief I Fund (HEER I Fund). These funds supported:
- Immediate grants were automatically awarded to eligible students who were enrolled in at least one face-to-face class as of March 13, 2020 for the Spring 2020 semester – The funds were for expenses related to educational disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic (approximately 80% of funds), and
- Emergency grants were made available via an application process for students who were enrolled in at least one face-to-face class as of March 13, 2020 and had not filed a FAFSA with the federal government and students who already received funding, were enrolled in the Summer semester 2020 and had emergency needs. (approximately 20% of funds).
USDOE OPE Required Reporting for HEER I Fund/CARES Act Funds
Section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion
Section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion and Section 18004(a)(2) Portion
Automatic Grants
Who is eligible for HEER i Fund/CARES Act automatic grants?
The US Department of Education has established eligibility guidelines for these funds. Title IV eligible students (based on completed 2019-2020 FAFSA) enrolled in at least one face-to-face spring class and who transitioned to online classes after March 13, 2020 will see grants automatically awarded.
Eligibility requirements:
- Student must have been enrolled in at least one face-to-face class on March 13, 2020
- Eligible students must be Title IV eligible (Eligibility is not a function of income. Most students who submit a FAFSA will be eligible). MGA will determine Title IV eligibility via a student’s 2019-2020 FAFSA report.
- Dual-enrolled students are not Title IV eligible, thus they will not be eligible for HEER I Fund/CARES Act grants.
How much will eligible students receive as part of the Spring Semester automatic grants?
A points system was used to allocate Spring Semester funds and attempts to prioritize students with demonstrated need, such as Pell recipients, while also distributing the funds as widely and quickly as possible. The points system also takes into consideration those most impacted by the move to online courses. Points are awarded to students as follows:
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Spring 2020 Points System:
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Points
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Enrolled in all Face to Face classes 3/13/20
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2
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Transitioned to new learning environment
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OR
Enrolled in F2F & online 3/13
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1
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Partially transitioned to a new learning environment
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Living on Campus
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1
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Living situation was disrupted
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Pell recipient
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2
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Had demonstrated financial need prior to disruption
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5 Total Points Available
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Total Points Available to Students is 5
Awards under the points system are rounded for ease of distribution, with each point being worth approximately $200 .
Grants will be awarded by the end of the second week in May.
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Points Allocation
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1
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$ 200.00
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2
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$ 400.00
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3
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$ 600.00
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4
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$ 800.00
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5
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$ 1,000.00
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I did not submit a 2019-2020 FAFSA prior to March 13 - can I still receive CARES Act funds?
Students who do not have a 2019-2020 FAFSA on file will not receive the automatic grant but are eligible to apply for the HEER I Fund/CARES Act Emergency Grants (see below). Eligible Spring Semester students who did not have a FAFSA on file as of March 13, 2020 should:
- Submit a 2019-2020 FAFSA prior to June 30, 2020 and,
- Submit an MGA CARES Act Grant Application
- The application system opened on May 15, 2020 for grants and will close on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
Eligible students will be awarded points as noted above (see: How much will eligible students receive as part of the Spring Semester automatic grants?) and funds will be distributed on a first-come-first served basis. Once all funds have been distributed, there will be no additional funds available.
Emergency Grants
Who is eligible for HEER 1 Fund/CARES ACT emergency grants?
The US Department of Education has established eligibility guidelines for these funds . Title IV eligible students (based on completed 2019-2020 FAFSA) enrolled in spring classes who transitioned to online after March 13, 2020 will be eligible to apply.
Eligibility requirements:
- Student must have been enrolled in at least one face-to-face Spring semester class on March 13, 2020
- Eligible students must be Title IV eligible (Eligibility is not a function of income. Most students who submit a 2019-2020 FAFSA will be eligible.) The only way for MGA to determine a students's eligibility for Title IV eligibility is by students completing the 2019-2020 FAFSA.
- Dual-enrolled students are not Title IV eligible, thus not eligible for CARES Act grants.
How much will eligible students receive as part of an emergency grant?
Funds will be allocated based on the student’s demonstrated need. Applications will be reviewed and funds distributed on a first-come-first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Any requests not awarded will have no recourse for additional funding.
If any funds remain after awarding all requests submitted as of the deadline, MGA will distribute the remaining funds on August 1, 2020 among those who submitted applications for emergency grants.
