HEERF I, II, and III Reporting

2020-2021 Reports: 

2021-2022 Reports: 

2022-2023 Reports: 

Single Audit Reports: 

Please contact Julie Patosky, Continuing Education Coordinator, at (814) 505-1256 and adulted@gactc.edu for more information regarding GACTC use of COVID-19 related HEERF funds.

CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF I): Emergency financial aid grants for postsecondary students

Final Report: June 30, 2020

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed by Congress, provides funding to higher education institutions to assist students that have been impacted financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the CARES Act, the GACTC is providing emergency financial aid grants for post-secondary students to support students that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CARES Act requires all participating higher education institutions participating to provide access to the following information:

  • The Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center (GACTC) has signed and returned to the Department of Education on April 17, 2020 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.
  • The total amount of funds that the GACTC will receive or has received from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $145,558.
  • 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) is $145,558.
  • The estimated total number of students at the GACTC 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 is 156 students.
  • The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 149 students.
  • The GACTC’s method of determining of student eligibility for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants including the following:
    • The student must be currently enrolled in a for-credit post-secondary program with the GACTC;
    • The student must be Title IV eligible;
    • The student must be a U.S.. citizen or must meet the definition of an eligible noncitizen based on federal financial aid requirements.
  • The CARES Act funding received under Section 18004(a)(1) of $145,558 was divided equally to 149 students that agreed to accept the emergency financial aid grant, as the GACTC determined all students were and are financially impacted by COVID-19.
  • Students received email communications to their GACTC email accounts regarding the emergency financial aid grants. Students were mailed a letter and application via USPS along with a postage paid envelope to return the completed emergency financial aid grant application to the GACTC.

CRRSAA Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II): Emergency financial aid grants for postsecondary students

Final Report: June 30, 2021

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), passed by Congress in December 2020, provides funding to higher education institutions to assist students that have been impacted financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through CRRSAA funds, the GACTC provided emergency financial aid grants for postsecondary students to support students that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CRRSAA requires all participating higher education institutions participating to provide access to the following information:

(1) An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA funds to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

The Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center (GACTC) has signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA funds to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

(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 under the CRRSAA funds.

The total amount of funds that the GACTC received from the Department of Education for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA funds was $145,558.00.

(3) The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA funds (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter).

The total and final amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA funds as of the period ending June 30, 2021 was $145,558.00.

(4) The total number of students at the institution that were eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students via the CRRSAA funds.

The total number of students at the GACTC eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants via the CRRSAA funds was 141 students.

(5) The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students via the CRRSAA funds.

The total number of students whom received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant via the CRRSAA Act was 137 students.

(6) The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive via the CRRSAA funds.

The GACTC’s method of determining of student eligibility for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants included the following:

  • The student must be enrolled in a postsecondary program with the GACTC;
  • The student must be a U.S. citizen or must meet the definition of an eligible noncitizen based on federal financial aid requirements.

The CRRSAA funds awarded for Emergency Financial Aid Grants of $145,558.00 was divided equally to 137 students that completed the application to receive the emergency financial aid grant, as the GACTC determined all students were and are financially impacted by COVID-19. Each student received the grant via a check.

(7) Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

Students received email communications to their GACTC email accounts regarding the emergency financial aid grants which included instructions on how to request the grant. Students were mailed a letter via USPS with the same instructions.

ARP Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III): Emergency financial aid grants for postsecondary students

Final Report: September 30, 2021

The American Rescue Plan (ARP), signed into law in March 2021, provides funding to higher education institutions to assist students that have been impacted financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through ARP funds, the GACTC provided emergency financial aid grants for postsecondary students to support students that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ARP funds requires all participating higher education institutions participating to provide access to the following information:

(1) An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the ARP funds to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

The Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center (GACTC) has signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, the applicable amount of funds designated under the ARP funds to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

(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 under the ARP funds.

The total amount of funds that the GACTC received from the Department of Education for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the ARP award was $456,522.00.

(3) The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the ARP award as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter).

The total and final amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the ARP funds as of the period ending September 30, 2021 was $456,522.00.

(4) The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the ARP award.

The estimated total number of students at the GACTC eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the CRRSAA was 287 students.

(5) The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the ARP funds.

The total number of students whom received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant via the CRRSAA Act was 160 students.

(6) The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive via ARP funds.

The GACTC’s method of determining of student eligibility for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants included the following:

  • The student must be enrolled in a postsecondary program with the GACTC;
  • The student must be a U.S. citizen or must meet the definition of an eligible noncitizen based on federal financial aid requirements.
  • Student must have submitted the application indicating financial need and request to receive the emergency financial aid grant.

To prioritize students with exceptional financial need, the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of students that submitted an application to receive the emergency financial aid grant was considered. Students with an EFC from the most recent FAFSA of zero were given priority and received a higher grant amount than students with an EFC greater than zero. Each student received the grant via a check.

(7) Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

Students received email communications to their GACTC email accounts regarding the emergency financial aid grants which included instructions on how to request the grant. Students were mailed a letter via USPS with the same instructions.