Compass College of Film and MediaAmerica Rescue Plan HEERF III Funds - Student Portion
Quarterly Report: October 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student financial situation has been significant. Congresshas provided financial relief and support for students through the HEERF grants made available
through the CARES Act in early March 2020 and the CRRSA Act in late December 2020. The mostrecent relief package for institutions of higher education is the American Rescue Plan, passed byCongress in March 2021.
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) included additional COVID-19 relief for institutions of highereducation. This new COVID stimulus bill included $40 billion, available through September 30, 2023,
for higher education institutions and students, using the same Higher Education Emergency Relief
Fund (HEERF) model established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The student HEERF III funds had similar guidelines to the HEERF II funds and included no student
eligibility requirements. Institutions are required to prioritize grants to student with exceptional
financial need, such as those who receive Pell grants.
Compass College received student HEERF III Funds on May 16, 2021, in the amount of $235,717.00.
Compass distributed $73,200 of these funds to students in September 2021
In December 2021, Compass College disbursed another portion of the HEERF III Funds to students.
The college chose the timing of this disbursement to coincide with the students’ spring billing cycle
as it could impact their decision to apply their grant to their student account, reduce their student
loan(s), or request a check. Compass disbursed $72,450 during the first week of December. The
college determined that 73 students were eligible to receive a grant. The college used the samerationale to determine the dollar amounts for the second grant award amount as it did in its
September 2021 distribution:
1. Everyone who filed the 2021-2022 FAFSA and is not Pell eligible received a $900 award(37 students).
2. Those who filed a 2021-2022 FAFSA and are Pell eligible received a $1200 award (27students).
3. Those who did not file a 2021-2022 FAFSA received a $750 award (9 students).
Total student awards: 73
Total amount awarded: $72,450
Colleges were not allowed to apply these funds to a student’s tuition account automatically but
needed authorization from the student. In order to get authorization, Compass asked each student
to complete a Google Form if they wished to apply their grant to their tuition account. See the form
below.
Twenty-two (22) students requested that the money stay on their account. The remaining fifty-one(51) students received checks. In addition, six (6) students requested that their spring loan
disbursements be reduced and/or canceled.

Compass College HEERF III Grant FAQs
December 2021
1. Will all Compass College students receive a HEERF III grant?
• All students enrolled at Compass College on August 23, 2021, are eligible toreceive a grant. HEERF III grants include no student eligibility requirements,
however, institutions are required to prioritize grants to students withexceptional financial need, such as those who receive Pell Grants. Compass
College has reviewed the financial need of its students and has determined that,based on financial need, students will receive grants ranging from $750 to$1200.
2. When and how will I receive my grant?
• Eligible students will receive a check for the amount of the grant. Students canvoluntarily provide authorization to allow schools to apply student grants totheir current account charges for any component of the student’s cost ofattendance.
3. I have a balance due on my student account. Am I required to apply the HEERF III funds
to my account balance?
• Students are not required to apply the funds to their account balance; it is anoption provided to students. Students who choose to do this should provide
authorization on the HEERF III Authorization Form.
• Funds applied directly to tuition charges will first pay for any outstanding tuition
and fees and any remaining credit will be refunded to the student.
• Students receiving a direct refund may still use their funds to help pay any
balance on their student account.
4. How can I use the grant?
• Students may use these grant funds for expenses related to the disruption of
campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and their cost of attendance,such as food, housing, transportation, course materials, technology,
physical/mental health care, childcare, etc.
5. Does this HEERF III grant need to be paid back?
• No. Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds are grants, not loans. These funds
do not have to be repaid.
6. Is this grant includible in my 2021 gross income?
• No. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) posted a notice in March 2021 that madeclear that emergency financial aid grants received by students due to thecoronavirus pandemic will not be counted as taxable income. This grant is notincludible in your 2021 gross income.