Responding to Coronavirus:
Important Information for Our College Community
Our conservative approach to on-campus operations will remain in place until public health experts and authorities relax social distancing requirements in our region and deem it safe to fully reopen our campuses.
We’re Here to Help
Our academic and student support teams have worked remotely since March 2020 to comply with heightened social distancing requirements mandated by New York and neighboring states. Faculty and staff remain available and ready to assist students with whatever they may need by phone, email, text, and video-calls. Essential personnel are on campus to maintain College operations and security.
Any questions or concerns may be addressed to the President’s Office:
Marc Jerome / President
914.740.6803 or mjerome@monroecollege.edu
Jackie Ruegger / Vice President, Public Affairs
914.740.6455 or jruegger@monroecollege.edu
Our Response
CARES Act HEERF Allocation
On April 28th, Monroe received access to approximately $5.7 million in CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) earmarked for student aid. Within 10 days, we distributed the first round of emergency relief grants to students. Eligible full-time students received a $1,000 cash grant, with part-time students receiving a pro-rated amount based on their course load. More than $2.6 million was distributed at that time to nearly 79% of students who met the government guidelines. (see sidebar for specific HEERF details and disclosures). More grants were distributed since then, and will continue to be distributed as eligible students complete their required certification forms.
“Our team worked incredibly hard to get these much-needed funds into the hands of our students as quickly as possible,” said Marc Jerome, president of Monroe College. “More than 90% of the grant recipients live near our New York campuses in the Bronx and New Rochelle – two of the pandemic’s hardest hit areas. We know that their families are struggling and that we had to do everything we could to help them.”
In addition to the above distribution, we created a second, supplemental grant program to provide additional student aid to eligible students who experienced financial hardship not covered by the initial $1,000 grant (or the pro-rated amount for part-time students).
Disclosure Information
Click below to see the institutional funds disclosure report for the period ended:
As of December 31, 2020:
When did Monroe College sign and return the HEERF Certification and Agreement?
April 14, 2020
Will Monroe College distribute at least 50% of the funds allocated under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students?
YES
How much was allocated to Monroe College for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students?
$5,704,039
What is the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act through the date above?
$5,988,199 (the College is allocating a portion of its institutional funds)
How many students at Monroe College meet the eligibility criteria to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act (as defined under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965)?
5,019
How many eligible students at Monroe College have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant through the date above?
4,333
How did Monroe College determine which students would receive an Emergency Financial Aid grant under Section 1800(a)(1) of the CARES Act and the amount they would receive?
Given the demographics of our student population and our location in two communities hardest hit by the pandemic, the College determined that all of our eligible students had significant need for financial relief. The amount each student received was based on enrollment status.
We created two internal funds to distribute the emergency grants to students. One fund is called the COVID-19 STUDENT RELIEF FUND and the second is called the CARES STUDENT SUPPLEMENTAL RELIEF FUND. The latter provides additional student aid to eligible students who experienced financial hardship not covered by the initial $1,000 grant (or pro-rated amount for part-time students) through the COVID-19 STUDENT RELIEF FUND.
What information was provided to students about the availability of the Emergency Financial Aid Grants and the process to obtain one?
Eligible students learned about the Emergency Financial Aid Grants through an email, text, and voice message campaign that shared a link to complete the required Student Certification Form on our website.
Students who received the $1,000 (or prorated amount) certified that:
“I am requesting a one-time Emergency Financial Aid Grant from the COVID-19 STUDENT RELIEF FUND to help cover the cost of expenses incurred or to be incurred due to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
By completing the form below, I certify that:
The grant funds provided to me by the College through the COVID-19 STUDENT RELIEF FUND will be used for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, including one or more eligible expenses under the cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care expenses.”
Students who received a grant through the second, supplemental fund we created certified that:
“I am requesting a one-time Emergency Financial Aid Grant from the CARES SUPPLEMENTAL RELIEF FUND to help cover the cost of eligible expenses incurred or to be incurred due to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
By completing the form below, I certify that:
1. I have or will incur expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus, including one or more of the following areas (check all that apply):
- __Unexpected housing expenses (such as having to contribute to rent)
- __Unplanned travel expenses to return home
- __Increased food expenses
- __Overdue bills (including medical, utility, rent)
- __Expenses relating to coursework, including technology expenses like laptops and wifi access to attend the virtual classrooms
- __Doctors’ bills and other medical costs
- __Loss of childcare services or extra expenses to obtain childcare
I understand that the maximum amount of supplemental relief I may be awarded from the CARES SUPPLEMENTAL RELIEF FUND is $4,000 and Monroe College may determine that my need for eligible expenses is below this maximum amount.
2. The grant funds provided to me by the College through the CARES SUPPLEMENTAL RELIEF FUND will be used for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, including one or more eligible expenses under the cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care expenses.”