CARES Grant Compliance Information

Current Status of the SAIHE Grant:

Peninsula College received $574,326 of Supplemental Assistance for Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE) Grant on November 19, 2021, authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). The funds have been fully expended as of February 28, 2023.

Current Status of the CARES / HEERF III Grants:

Applications are closed as funds are exhausted.

Peninsula College ARP Student Grants Information

Peninsula College acknowledges and appreciates the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), signed into law on March 11, 2021. ARP funds are in addition to funds authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), and the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

On May 20, 2021 the College received an additional $2,112,858 for student grants through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III). The College anticipates receiving $1,916,757 of HEERF III funds for administrative costs related to COVID-19 educational disruptions. The College will use the full $2,112,858 designated for student grants to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

Grants Awarded as of May 1, 2022 from third Grant allocation (HEERF III):

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the American Rescue Plan as of this date is $2,112,858 of the $2,112,858 funds. A breakdown of the awards is as follows:

Total applications: 1058
Students awarded: 480 (unduplicated)
Average award per student: $2,000
Ineligible applications: 55 (duplicates)
Incomplete or other (pending) applications: 5

$2,112,858.00 Received
$2,112,858.00 Disbursed to students
$0 Remaining

Peninsula College CRRSAA Student Grants Information

Peninsula College acknowledges and appreciates the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020.

On February 19, 2021 the College received an additional $580,220 for student grants through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II). The College anticipates receiving a like amount of HEERF II funds for administrative costs related to COVID-19 educational disruptions. The College will use no less than 50 percent of the combined funds (at least $580,220) received to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

Grants Awarded as of October 13, 2021 from second Grant allocation (HEERF II):

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSA Act as of this date is $580,220 of the $580,220 funds. A breakdown of the awards is as follows:

Total applications: 421
Students awarded: 339 (unduplicated)
Average award per student: $1,422
Ineligible applications: 32
Incomplete or other (pending) applications: 0

$580,220.00 Received
$580,220.00 Disbursed to students
$0 Remaining

Peninsula College CARES Act Student Grants Information

Peninsula College acknowledges and appreciates the CARES Act grant funding which was received and provided to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

The College received $580,220 for student grants on April 22, 2020 after signing and returning to the Department of Education the required Certification and Agreement on April 10, 2020. The College anticipates receiving a like amount of CARES Act funds for administrative costs related to COVID-19 educational disruptions. The College will use no less than 50 percent of the combined funds (at least $580,220) received under the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The College refers to these grants as CARES Grants.

Grants Awarded as of November 15, 2020 from first CARES Grant allocation:

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CARES Act as of this date is $580,220 of the $580,220 funds. A breakdown of the awards is as follows:

Total applications: 529
Students awarded: 344 (unduplicated)
Average award per student: $1,686
Ineligible applications: 79
Incomplete or other (pending) applications: 0

$580,220.00 Received
$580,220.00 Disbursed to students
$0 Remaining

Estimated Number of Students Potentially Eligible for CARES Grants at the College:

About 20-25% of the College’s students file a FAFSA (or WASFA). That is in the neighborhood of 900 or more students. The percentage of students who did not file a FAFSA but could have been eligible to do so is unknown, and can at this time only be estimated crudely as perhaps 50% of our degree- and certificate-seeking students. The percentage is likely greater than 90% of our students if “Title IV eligible” is interpreted to mean able to file the FAFSA even if the applicant is ineligible for need-based financial aid.

The College is engaged in a 2021-2022 push to ask all eligible students to apply for federal and state financial aid. As that effort continues, more accurate estimates will become known.

The Process for Awarding CARES Grants

To award the CARES grants for students, the College used these methods:

The eligibility criteria were determined as best as possible based on Department of Education and other published information.
A cross-departmental implementation team formed and followed the guidance of the President’s Cabinet.
For student convenience, CARES grants were added to an already existing emergency funds online application process for a one-stop application.
One central College application reviewer was identified and worked with the Financial Aid Office to confirm eligibility.
The implementation team continued to meet regularly to discuss issues, details, and data on awards made. For example, the team has closely monitored state and federal guidance on eligibility criteria from the U.S. Department of Education, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), the state of Washington, the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and other authoritative sources.
The team seeks guidance from the College administration as needed and serves as a resource for College employees needing information.
In addition to the main implementation team, an auxiliary support team was identified to further consult with students and steer them toward other resources and support after CARES grants were awarded.
Maximum award amounts, disbursement processes, and record keeping details were established along the way.

How Students Learn About the CARES Grant

The CARES grant is publicized online at https://pencol.edu/emergency-funding/cares-grant. Title IV eligibility information was published and referenced in detail on the College website by linking to https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements. 

Email information was sent to all students, and the emergency fund was advertised on social media and in other venues. Below, see the email of April 30, 2020 from Financial Aid Office Director. Other examples of communications to students may be added or linked to this page later.

Future Information and Updates

This page is scheduled for further updates on or about January 25 and February 25, 2022. Additional updates will be made in Spring quarter 2022.

Sample Email Communication Made to Students

From: Josh Holloway
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2020 9:55 AM
Subject: CARES Grant funding - application now available!
Importance: High

Good morning!

Peninsula College is here to support you during this COVID-19 Emergency!

We recognize that you are a current financial aid recipient, and may have additional funding needs to help you manage your expenses during educational disruptions due to the COVID-19 national emergency.

The Department of Education has provided funding to colleges to help students manage this crisis: the CARES Grant. This is funding to help students who may have emergency expenses related to campus disruption due the COVID-19 Emergency. Funds may be available for “cost of attendance items”, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare.

As a federal financial aid recipient, you have already met most of the criteria. You must be currently enrolled, and in satisfactory academic standing (SAP), or on approved appeal, for the current term.

If you are in current need, I urge you to submit an application for the CARES Grant as soon as possible: https://pencol.formstack.com/forms/emergency_funding_application_rev3.

(You can also read more about the CARES Grant at https://pencol.edu/emergency-funding/cares-grant.)

If you have recently submitted this application, please do not resubmit. Your application is in process.

Also, be sure to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2020-2021 school year if you have not done so already, and encourage your fellow students to do so as well.

Sincerely,

Josh Holloway

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