Tennessee Wesleyan University
45 Day Updated Fund Report
July 9, 2020
to the
Secretary of the Department of Education
This report is required per the Higher Education Emergency Relief Act-Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. The report requires that the University respond to the seven areas noted below. The University’s information must appear in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation under Section 18004(a)(1) and must be updated every 45 days thereafter.
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.
Tennessee Wesleyan University signed and returned to the Department of Education the following document on April 21, 2020: Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The University assures the Department of Education that no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the act will be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students at Tennessee Wesleyan University.
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.
Tennessee Wesleyan was awarded a total of $1,192,356. Of this total amount, $596,178 (50%) will be utilized to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to 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).
Tennessee Wesleyan began issuing grant awards prior to the 30 day report submission date[GH1] with the first awards issued on May 19, 2020. The total amount awarded as of May 25, 2020, was $278,700.
As of the second required report date of July 9,2020, a total of $535,730 has been awarded.
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.
At the initial report date of May 25, 2020, the University had identified 876 students who met eligibility requirements to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. This eligibility qualified these students as eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
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.
At the initial report date of May 25, 2020, 481 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant.[GH2]
As of the second required report date of July 9, 2020, a total of 740 students had received the Emergency Financial Aid Grant.
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.
Tennessee Wesleyan University used the following methodology to determine student eligibility for Emergency Financial Aid Grants as well as the intended monetary amount to be received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act:
· The institution utilized the spring 2020 census file in addition, but not limited to, student enrollment and attendance files prior to the institution enacting the approved SACSCOC emergency relocation of instruction to online on March 18, 2020.
· The Office of Institutional Effectiveness in conjunction with the Student Financial Services Department verified eligible students under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Students who did not meet the eligibility requirements under this section were excluded from consideration. Eligibility requirements were:
· U.S. Citizen
· Spring 2020 active enrollment, part-time and/or full-time
· Degree-seeking student at the post-secondary level
· Eligible FAFSA Filer
· Enrolled in a program that is not exclusively distance education
· The institution determined, based on the availability of funding, that all full-time students would be awarded an initial grant of $600. Part-time eligible students would be awarded an initial grant in the range of $100-$300, based upon the number of credit hours enrolled in at the time of the relocation to online instruction.
· Funds remaining after the initial grants are awarded will be distributed based on a separate application process whereby eligible students can address their additional financial needs due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Funds awarded to eligible students shall not be granted in an amount to exceed the maximum Pell limits.
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
Tennessee Wesleyan University has posted information concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants at http://tnwesleyan.edu/tuition-aid/cares-act.php. This page has been and will continue to be updated as needed.
An email was sent to all eligible students concerning their eligibility and requesting a response to the application questions in the email. A follow-up email was sent to students who did not respond to the first email.
A letter was included with each grant check issued.
This letter explains the student’s eligibility and how funding was provided for the grants.
For those students who did not respond to either email, a follow up letter has been sent regarding action they must take to receive their grant award.
