Consumer Information

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES ACT – Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281, March 27, 2020), Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College received $1,934,714.00 under Section 18004(a)(1), which provided funds through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).

Northeastern Oklahoma has signed and returned to the Department of Education an agreement that assures that the college will distribute no less than 50 percent of funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Cares Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. A total of $967,362.00 was earmarked for distribution in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

To date, 1,304 students were potentially 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. As of December 31, 2020, 1,168 students received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant, totaling $967,566. All emergency grant funds have been expended.

In order to be eligible to receive funds through an Emergency Financial Aid Grant, students had to meet the following qualifications:

• U.S. Citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen
• Have a valid Social Security Number
• Have a high school diploma, the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, such as a GED certificate; or completed a high school curriculum in a home school setting that satisfies the state’s requirements for homeschooling.
• Be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program.
• Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on a federal student grant or loan overpayment.
• Have not borrowed over the annual or cumulative federal student loan limits.
• Be making satisfactory academic progress in your program of study.
• Not be convicted for the sale or possession of illegal drugs (controlled substances) while receiving federal student aid.
• Live on campus or attended at least one face-to-face class during spring 2020.

Ineligible student groups included international students, concurrent enrollment students, and students who are on financial aid suspension and have not appealed and been approved.

In order to distribute funds, 1,082 students were identified as having completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and met eligibility requirements. These students received a base amount of $250, and each student who was enrolled after March 13^th received $40 per credit hour multiplied by the number of credit hours in which they were enrolled.

In addition, there were 148 students who had not been automatically disqualified and had not filed a FAFSA. These students received a targeted e-mail referring them to certify that they were eligible to file the FAFSA by May 22, 2020. Eligible students received the same funding formula on a first come, first served basis until the remaining funds were exhausted.

Eligible students were given instructions on the use of funds, indicating the grants are to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare.