Compass College of Cinematic Arts
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)HEERF II Grants - Student Portion
Quarterly Report – April 1 to June 30, 2021
Final Report
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 included additional COVID-19 relief funding through theCoronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). This new COVID-19
stimulus bill included $23 billion for higher education institutions and students, using the same
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) model established in the Coronavirus Aid, Reliefand Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA does not require that 50% of an institution's funds be spent
on student grants. It does, however, require that institutions spend at least the same dollar
amount on student grants as they were required to spend under the CARES Act. In addition, theallowable uses of funds are more flexible than in the CARES Act. Institutions may award
student grants for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise
due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health) andchildcare. In addition, students are no longer required to be eligible for Title IV student financial
aid in order to receive HEERF grants to students.
Compass College received the HEERF II Student Funds on March 8, 2021, in the amount of$93,476. The college notes that drawing down any amount of these supplemented funds
constitutes its acceptance of the applicable terms and conditions under the CRSSAA for thefunds and is allocating the required amount of funds received to provide HEERF grants tostudents.
A team of Compass College staff, which included the Financial Aid Manager, the Director ofFinance and Administration, and the Director of Student Affairs met and developed a plan for
distributing the HEERF II grants. Compass College determined that 75 students were eligible toreceive HEERF II grants. On March 2, 2021, The Financial Aid Manager sent an email to allenrolled students informing them that the institution had Emergency FSEOG funds availableand asked student to provide the college with information if they were experiencing
unexpected costs related to the qualifying emergency (COVID-19). The college used theinformation provided to help determine the dollar amounts both for Emergency FSEOG grants
and for allocating HEERF II funds. The HEERF II award amounts were based on this rationale:
1.
2.
3.
4.

All students with zero EFC received a $1500 grant (13 students)
Students with an EFC between 1 – 600 received a $1450 grant (2 students)
Students with an EFC between 601 – 5711 received a $1400 grant (14 students)
Students that indicated that they had additional/exceptional costs due to COVID-19
received a $1400 grant (they were not Pell eligible) (6 students)
5. All remaining students receive an $1100 grant (40 students)

A total of 75 students received a HEERF II grant. The total CRSSAA HEERF II student grants
amounted to $94,400. This total includes the full $93,476 from the Student portion of HEERF II
and an additional $924 from the Institutional portion of the HEERF II funds.
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, the Financial AidManager sent an email to all students on April 7, 2021, asking them to complete a form toprovide the necessary authorization for the funds to be applied to their tuition account.
Copy of Email sent April 7, 2021.
Dear Compass student:
Compass College of Cinematic Arts has received these additional funds from this most recent
COVID stimulus bill to distribute to assist students. Schools are required by the U.S.
Department of Education to prioritize students with exceptional financial need. All students at
Compass College will receive a grant, with amounts ranging between $1,100-$1,500. Thesefunds may be used for expenses related to the coronavirus. These might include paying foryour current tuition balance, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, andchildcare.
Students can voluntarily provide authorization to allow schools to apply student grants to theircurrent account charges for any component of the student’s cost of attendance. Please
complete the HEERF II Authorization Form below by Friday, April 16, if you want to authorize
Compass to apply your HEERF II grant to your current account. If you do not have a current
balance on your account, you are strongly encouraged to save this grant and use it for yoursummer or fall tuition.
Attachment: HEERF II Grant FAQs
HEERF II Authorization Form
Lynne Heerema
Financial Aid Office

Eight (8) students requested that their HEERF II grant be placed on their student account. The
remaining 67 students received checks with their grant funds. Compass processed anddistributed the checks during the week of April 16, 2021.

Compass College HEERF II Grant FAQs
April 2021
1. Will all Compass College students receive a HEERF II grant?
• All students enrolled at Compass College on March 13, 2020, the date that anational emergency was declared, are eligible to receive a grant. HEERF II grants
include no student eligibility requirements, however, institutions are required toprioritize grants to students with exceptional 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 $1100 to $1500.
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 II funds
to my account balance?
• Students are not required to apply the funds to their account balance; it is an
option provided to students. Students who choose to do this should provide
authorization on the HEERF II 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 ofcampus 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 II 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.