Emergency Financial Aid Grant distribution criteria and methodology - CARES Act

June 2020 award

Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO) is the recipient of funds resulting from a provision in the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The purpose of a portion of the funding is provide emergency financial aid grants to eligible students. This report provides details of MTSO’s process on the allocation and disbursement of the funds received under funding opportunity number ED-GRANTS-041020-0003 and MTSO’s application number P425E203935.

Certification

MTSO will receive $37,536 under section 18004(a)(1) and at least 50% of the funds received, or $18,768, will be distributed to eligible students.

Student eligibility

MTSO has 58 students who are eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants. Eligibility was determined with Federal Title IV Funding Guidelines and verified by:

A. Student completion of FAFSA at time of disruption due to coronavirus

B. Enrolled at least half time at time of disruption due to coronavirus

C. Not enrolled exclusively in online classes

Distribution method

MTSO determined the funds would be distributed to all eligible students. Each eligible student will receive $350.

Instructions to eligible students

MTSO sent an email to all eligible students’ school email address and mailed a letter to eligible students’ on-file home address on May 27, 2020. Each communication informed the student of eligibility for the emergency financial aid grant and the dollar amount of the award, and requested the student to update their mailing address, if needed, in the student information system by June 5, 2020.

This letter was sent via email and U.S. Mail to eligible students:

Dear [Student Name],

MTSO is the recipient of funds resulting from a provision in the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the purpose of which is to provide financial aid grants to eligible students. It has been determined you are eligible to receive a portion of these funds. As an eligible MTSO student, you will receive a check for $350 by the end of June. The funds will be sent to the your home address on file in Populi. In order to ensure that we send your check to the correct address, please log into your Populi account. Using the info tab, confirm that the address listed is your current mailing address. Please make changes as necessary by June 5, 2020.

The CARES Act funds are intended to help you with expenses related to the disruption of campus operation due to coronavirus. As an eligible student, these expenses can include food, housing, technology for online learning, health care or childcare. These federal funds are to be used for your immediate needs, and are not to be used to pay MTSO fees or tuition.

If you have any questions, please contact me at smouch@mtso.edu.

Thank you,

Sarah Mouch
Controller

Check distribution to eligible students

MTSO sent checks to all eligible students on June 17, 2020, accompanied by an explanatory letter. This is the letter that accompanied each check:

Dear Student,

Enclosed is a check for $350. These funds are from a grant MTSO received from a provision in the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the purpose of which is to provide financial aid grants to eligible students.

The CARES Act funds are intended to help you with expenses related to the disruption of campus operation due to coronavirus. These expenses can include food, housing, technology for online learning, healthcare or childcare. These federal funds are to be used for your immediate needs and not to be used to pay MTSO fees or tuition.

If you have any questions, please contact me at smouch@mtso.edu.

Thank you,

Sarah Mouch
Controller

Additionally, eligible students were notified via email that the checks had been sent. This is the email that was sent:

Hello,

A check for $350 was mailed to you on June 17, 2020, using your address in Populi. These funds are from a grant MTSO received from a provision in the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the purpose of which is to provide financial aid grants to eligible students.

The CARES Act funds are intended to help you with expenses related to the disruption of campus operation due to coronavirus. These expenses can include food, housing, technology for online learning, healthcare or childcare. These federal funds are to be used for your immediate needs and not to be used to pay MTSO fees or tuition.

If you have any questions, please contact me at smouch@mtso.edu.

Thank you,

Sarah Mouch
Controller