CARES ACT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

 

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

 

Updated  December 30, 2020

 

About the CARES Act and the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

 

On March 27, 2020, the federal government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act includes a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). A portion if HEERF funds must go directly to eligible students in the form of emergency financial aid grants for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Emergency grants will be awarded to students using a need-based formula as determined by federal financial aid guidelines. All students who filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be awarded an emergency grant if qualified. If you did not file a FAFSA for the 2019-2020 Aid Year, you can do so at studentaid.gov/FAFSA (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa). Once the Financial Aid Office certifies you have a valid FAFSA, you can submit your HEERF Emergency Assistance Grant application.

 

The following information is provided by Professional Technical Institution as required by the Department of Education to comply with the reporting requirements under the CARES Act. This is Professional Technical Institution’s subsequent progress report and presents information as of December 30, 2020. Additional reports will be provided every 45 days.

 

1.      Certification and Agreement

 

On April 11, 2020, Professional Technical Institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the Institution 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. The application was accepted on May 1, 2020. The funding was allocated into the Institution’s G5 account on June 16, 2020.

 

2.      Amounts to be Received

 

Pursuant to the Certification and Agreement, Professional Technical Institution received $413,730 in HEERF Emergency Assistance Grant funds. PTI received confirmation of the availability of these funds on June 16, 2020 and has drawn down the available funds for distribution.

 

3.      Amounts Distributed to Date

 

As of the date of this submission, Professional Technical Institution has distributed $331,140.00. As of July 24, 2020, PTI finalized a policy regarding the HEERF Emergency Assistance Grant funds and developed an online application process for students to request these grants. The application and reviewing process was opened to the students form May 1, 2020 until November 15, 2020.

Estimated Number of Eligible Students

 

As of the Spring 2020 academic semester, Professional Technical Institution estimates that approximately 193 may be eligible for the Emergency Assistance Grant Funds. Of these, 42 are married and 151 are single. Also, 67 students have reported dependents.

 

Number of Students who have Received HEERF Emergency Grant Funds

 

As of December 30, 2020 193 students have received their second disbursement of emergency assistance grant funds.

 

Method of Determining Which Students Would Receive HEERF Emergency Grant Funds

 

Professional Technical Institution decided to prioritize students with the greatest need, but at the same time establish a maximum funding threshold for each student to ensure that these funds are distributed as widely as possible. The emergency assistance grant is processed by semester. The maximum award amount will be distributed utilizing the following four categories:

 

EFC 0 WITH CHILDREN	EFC 0 WITHOUT CHILDREN	EFC HIGHER THAN 0 WITH CHILDREN	EFC HIGHER THAN 0 WITHOUT CHILDREN
$1,000.00	$890.00	$850.00	$710.00

 

The maximum award will depend on the actual number of applicants received and the enrollment status.

 

Following is a summary of the Institution’s procedure for determining how the HEERF Emergency Assistance Grant funds will be distributed:

 

• $413,730 will be distributed based on student applications describing the expenses incurred because of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Institution will validate each student’s Student applications will be accepted starting May 1, 2020 and the deadline to apply during this priority application period is November 15, 2020.
• Professional Technical Institution will allocate the funds based on lowest to highest Expected Family Contribution (EFC), until the cumulative grants total $413,730.
• Any funds remaining after this subsequent funding period will be awarded to eligible students on a case- by-case basis considering each student’s unique circumstances and needs. The Institution will continue to make awards consistent with the CARES Act and the Institution’s policy until de HEERF Emergency Assistance Grant funds are fully distributed.

 

 

4.      Instructions, Directions and Guidance Regarding HEERF Emergency Grant Funds

 

Professional Technical Institution developed an online application process for students to apply for the Emergency Assistance Grant funds. Students are continuously notified through email, text and other notifications processes and encouraged to do the following:

 

• Review the Online Application:

https://ptipr.moodle.school/login/index.php

http://ptipr.edu/

• Of all allowable expenses (Food, Course Materials, Technology, Health Care, Child/Dependent Care, Transportation or Housing), determine expenses incurred after March 13, 2020 that are directly related to the disruption of campus operations.
• The Professional Technical Institution Financial Aid Office Staff will review applications on a regular and ongoing basis to determine eligibility and allocated amount based on financial need. A member of the Financial Aid team will communicate with the student if there are concerns or if additional information is needed.
• Grants will be awarded by check, or ACH Direct Checks may take up to 10 business days to be received.

 

Emergency grants will be awarded to students using a need-based formula as determined by federal financial aid guidelines. All students who filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be awarded an emergency grant if qualified. The application deadline date is November 15, 2020.

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

Here what’s required:

 

• Enrollment in a diploma seeking program with Title IV eligibility (Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)).
• Eligible as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA (see details below this list).
• S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen.
• A valid Social Security
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in their course of
• Do not owe a refund on grants previously received or in default on any federal student
• Must have been enrolled in at least one face-to-face or hybrid class in spring 2020
• Returning students must be registered for the Fall 2020 semester, May 2020 graduates are NOT required to be enrolled for Fall 2020 to be eligible.
• Be considered a student in good standing with the
• The student record must be complete and

 

According to U.S. Department of Education, only students who are eligible to participate in Federal Title IV programs may receive CARES Act funds. Therefore, if you already filed a 2019-2020 FAFSA and receive Title IV aid, then you are eligible to apply for CARES Act funds.

 

If you have not filled a FAFSA, please apply at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa to be considered.

HOW TO APPLY?

 

CARES Emergency Assistance Grant must be used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. This includes, but is not limited to, eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare.

 

Starting the process:

https://ptipr.moodle.school/login/index.php

http://ptipr.edu/

(Application review will begin on May 1, 2020.)

 

WHAT TO EXPECT

 

The Financial Aid Office staff will review applications on a regular and ongoing basis to determine eligibility and allocated amount based on financial need. A member of the financial aid team will communicate with you if there are concerns or if additional information is needed.

 

Payment by check may take up to ten business days to be received.

 

ALLOWABLE EXPENSES

 

• Food expenses may include unexpected grocery expenses or a student supporting dependent children now home due to their school or childcare
• Course materials may include but not limited to general use supplies such as writing utensils and notebooks; course specific supplies such as calculators, lab equipment, rental equipment, paint brushes, and canvases unexpectedly required to be purchased due to campus disruption of regular
• Technology expenses may include computer equipment, internet access expenses, printer supplies, required for student success when transitioning to an online format from the traditional in-person class structure.
• Health care expenses may include the cost of unanticipated or unusual medical expenses due to coronavirus or its effects.
• Childcare/Dependent care expenses may include the cost of unanticipated or unusual care expenses for a student’s child or other dependents in the independent (based on FAFSA) student’s
• Transportation expenses may include the cost of unanticipated or unusual travel expenses related to the disruption of campus operations. This may include additional trips to the institution to retrieve personal belongings or difficulty in making car payments due to income loss from this economic
• Housing expenses may include unanticipated expenses in securing housing and/or rent for residential students after the closure of campus housing in March. This may also include difficulty in making rent or mortgage payments due to income loss from this economic

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Is there a deadline to apply for CARES Emergency Assistance Grant?

 

Yes. The application deadline is November 15, 2020 applications will be considered on a first-come, first served basis until all funds are depleted.

 

The Institution’s goal is to distribute these funds as widely as possible to assist many students.

 

How long will it take for me to receive the funds?

 

Receiving the payment may take up to 10 days after approval.  The financial aid staff will review applications on an ongoing basis and make decisions as quickly as possible.

 

In the event an application is not approved, the student will be notified as soon as possible to provide additional information or to clarify eligibility.

 

How will the funds be received?

 

CARES Emergency Assistance Grant funds will be distributed by check or Direct Deposit. We recommend you regulatory update your mailing address with the Registrar. Due to these unique circumstances, your check to be sent to your permanent residence on file with the Institution.

 

Could these funds be deemed taxable by the IRS?

 

CARES Act student payments are non-taxable, according to the IRS. (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs- higher-education-emergency-relief-fund-and-emergency-financial-aid-grants-under-the-cares-act)

 

Can CARES Emergency Assistance Grant funds be applied to my institution balance or account?

 

No, the Institution cannot directly apply these funds to an outstanding balance on a student’s account. The Institution will disburse funds to students by check.

 

Can I make a payment to my institution balance using a portion of the CARES Emergency Assistance Grant?

 

You can make a payment on your balance at any time. However, please note that the intent of the CARES Act is to provide emergency cash grants to students to cover their emergency personal expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and childcare.

 

Please ensure you have what you need to cover these expenses before using any emergency grant funds to make payment on an outstanding student account balance. Professional Technical Institution will not withhold any CARES Act funds to cover balances.

What are my options if I lost my job?

 

CARES Act funds cannot be used to offset lost income but can be used to help toward expenses incurred due to that lost income if those expenses were due to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

 

It its recommended that you contact the Financial Aid office to discuss the details of your situation. It may be an option to request a Special Circumstance Form to determine if you are eligible for additional federal funds due to a reduction or loss of income.

 

Whom may I contact with questions?

 

Students who require assistance in completing the application, or have other questions, may contact the following offices weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

Application questions: Financial Aid Office – asistenciaeconomicaptipr@gmail.com

 

Financial Aid general questions: admnptipr5@gmail.com

 

Student Accounts and General Payment questions: tesoreriaptipr@gmail.com

 

For more information please visit our online education platform https://ptipr.moodle.school/login/index.php login into your account and under dashboard icon you will see all of the postings regarding the cares act disclosure in Spanish.