Fall 2022 SSARP Grant Funding
On August 1, 2022 UA-PTC was informed that the U.S. Department of Education approved the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Supplemental Support under the American Rescue Plan (SSARP) Program grant application that was submitted. The college was allocated $801,604 for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students and $801,604 for the Institutional Portion for a total SSARP allocation of $1,603,208. In addition, UA-PTC submitted the required budget narrative to the U.S. Department of Education that was approved and authorized UA-PTC to use the total SSARP allocation ($1,603,208) to provide students with emergency financial aid grants during the Fall 2022 semester. In addition, UA-PTC prioritized grants to students with exception need, such as students who receive Pell grants.
UA-PTC identified 2,309 students enrolled for Fall 2022 as having exceptional need. In addition, as recommended by the Office of Postsecondary Education with the United Stated Department of Education, having exceptional need was determined to be only those students who had a valid 2022-2023 FAFSA on file with UA-PTC and who had a determined Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that documented the student to be Pell Grant eligible.
The amount of each financial aid grant provided to students from the SSARP appropriation is based on the following chart:
| ARPA Fall 2022 Awards/Methodology | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment Status | Award Amount | Number of Students | Total Amount |
| Full-Time (12+ hrs) | $852 | 1,309 | $1,115,268 |
| 3/4 Time (9-11 hrs) | $639 | 390 | $249,210 |
| 1/2 Time (6-8 hrs) | $426 | 511 | $217,686 |
| < Than ½ Time (1-5 hrs) | $213 | 99 | $21,087 |
| Totals | 2,309 | $1,603,251 | |
Special Circumstances Request
Students who are pell eligible will automatically qualify for CARES funding. Students who are not pell eligible can request reconsideration for special circumstances. To apply for special circumstances, visit www.uaptc.edu/special-circumstances-request (please allow approximately 30 days for notification of eligibility after applying).
Student Debt Discharged
In July of 2022, UA-PTC awarded a one-time HEERF Supplemental Grant to 1,448 students. The average grant award was $1,055 for a total of $1,528,098. The grant funding was applied to the institutional charges students incurred while attending UA-PTC between Spring 2020 and Summer 2021. Students who receive an award can check the status of their student account on the Campus Portal to confirm the grant has been applied. This is a one-time grant and there are no strings attached or obligations for the student. The grant can only pay off outstanding balances and no personal payments were made.
This HEERF Supplemental Grant was made possible through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), which are federal funds provided to the University as part of the American Recue Act of 2021 (ARPA).
Paying off account balances may remove the financial barrier students have experienced during the pandemic. As a result, students may be eligible to re-enroll at UA-PTC to continue their education and achieve their goals. Please note that students will be responsible for any future tuition and fees incurred.
Students can inquire about continuing their education at UA-PTC by completing the following two steps:
1. Contact Admissions at (501) 812-2231 or e-mail admissions@uaptc.edu
2. Make an appointment to register by calling (501) 812-2220 or email advising@uaptc.edu
2021-2022 ARPA Grant Funding (Summer 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022)
On May 14, 2021, UA-PTC was notified that the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 would provide UA-PTC with an allocation of $7,728,631 to “provide students with financial aid grants which may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.” ARPA requires that institutions “prioritize students exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants in awarding financial aid grants to students.”
The Arkansas General Assembly enacted a specific appropriation to be utilized for these funds for FY22 in the DFA – Disbursing Officer Act, 997 of 2021, Section 38. Pursuant to special language in Section 39 of Act 997, “All appropriation and expenditures for funding received for the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 shall be expended using the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Appropriation Sections as authorized in this Act.” This special language required UA-PTC to submit a request for appropriation through the DFA – Office of Budget for prior PEER/ALC approval, which has been approved in order for UA-PTC to process emergency financial aid grant refunds for eligible students during the Summer 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022 semesters.
UA-PTC identified 859 students enrolled for Summer 2021; 2,483 students enrolled for Fall 2021; and 2,109 students enrolled for Spring 2022 as having exceptional need as required by ARPA. In addition, as recommended by the Office of Postsecondary Education with the United Stated Department of Education, having exceptional need was determined to be only those students who had a valid FAFSA on file with UA-PTC and who had a determined Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that documented the student to be Pell Grant eligible.
The amount of each financial aid grant provided to students from ARPA appropriations is based on the following charts:
| ARPA Spring 2022 Awards/Methodology | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment Status | Award Amount | Number of Students | Total Amount |
| Full-Time (12+ hrs) | $1,845 | 1187 | $2,190,015 |
| 3/4 Time (9-11 hrs) | $1,384 | 381 | $527,304 |
| 1/2 Time (6-8 hrs) | $923 | 426 | $393,198 |
| < Than ½ Time (1-5 hrs) | $661 | 115 | $76,015 |
| Totals | 2109 | $3,186,532 | |
| ARPA Fall 2021 Awards/Methodology | |||
| Enrollment Status | Award Amount | Number of Students | Total Amount |
| Full-Time (12+ hrs) | $1,845 | 1471 | $2,713,995 |
| 3/4 Time (9-11 hrs) | $1,384 | 421 | $582,664 |
| 1/2 Time (6-8 hrs) | $923 | 478 | $441,194 |
| < Than ½ Time (1-5 hrs) | $661 | 113 | $74,693 |
| Totals | 2483 | $3,812,546 | |
| ARPA Summer 2021 Awards/Methodology | |||
| Enrollment Status | Award Amount | Number of Students | Total Amount |
| Full-Time (12+ hrs) | $1,845 | 158 | $291,510 |
| 3/4 Time (9-11 hrs) | $1,384 | 151 | $208,984 |
| 1/2 Time (6-8 hrs) | $923 | 399 | $368,277 |
| < Than ½ Time (1-5 hrs) | $661 | 151 | $99,811 |
| Totals | 859 | $968,582 | |
2021 CRRSAA Grant Funding
On January 24, 2021, UA-PTC was notified that the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) would provide UA-PTC with an allocation of $2,238,058 to “provide students with financial aid grants which may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.” “CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants in awarding financial aid grants to students. In addition, the CRRSAA explicitly provides that financial aid grants to students may be provided to students exclusively enrolled in distance education.”
UA-PTC identified 2,246 students who were enrolled for the Spring 2021 semester and confirmed as having exceptional need as required by the CRRSAA Act. As recommended by the Office of Postsecondary Education with the United Stated Department of Education, having exceptional need was determined to be only those students who had a valid FAFSA on file with UA-PTC who had a determined Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that documented the student to be Pell Grant eligible.
The amount of each financial aid grant provided to students from the CRRSAA Act appropriations was based on the following chart:
| CRRSAA Act Awarding Methodology | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment Status | Award Amount | Number of Students | Total Amount |
| Full-Time | $1,220 | 1256 | $1,532,320 |
| 3/4 Time | $915 | 426 | $389,790 |
| 1/2 Time | $610 | 476 | $290,360 |
| < Than ½ Time | $305 | 88 | $26,840 |
| $2,239,310 | |||
2020 CARES Grant Funding
UA-PTC signed and returned the Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement form for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and intends to use the funds to provide the mandated amount of at least 50% of the emergency financial aid grants to eligible UA-PTC students who were enrolled during the Spring 2020 semester. Please note that the following information serves as the final report that covers all remaining HEERF fund expenditures for Section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion Funds.
As of December 15, 2020, UA-PTC has disbursed $2,254,350 to 1,733 students . UA-PTC initially estimated that about 3,000 students would be eligible to participate in the programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and therefore eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant.
The total amount UA-PTC received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) student portion was $2,238,058. These funds were for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the Coronavirus.
How to Apply for CARES Grant Funding:
The application for CARES has closed. The deadline was Wednesday, June 10, 2020.
Disbursement of Emergency Financial Aid Grants
The amount of each award was based on the number of credit hours a qualified student was enrolled in on March 1, 2020, and the student’s Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by their completed 2019-2020 FAFSA.
UA-PTC distributed grants to eligible students who were enrolled for the Spring 2020 semester, had a 2019-2020 FAFSA on file, and completed the UA-PTC Emergency Grant Certification Form by June 10, 2020. Funds were disbursed to students via direct deposit and mail. Students were able to sign up for direct deposit by logging in to the UA-PTC Campus Portal at www.uaptc.edu/portal, selecting the “Student” tab, selecting "Nelnet Enterprise" and clicking "Student Choice Refunds." If students had questions about direct deposit or the funds being mailed, they could have contacted Student Accounts at studentbilling@uaptc.edu or (501) 812-2278.
Students who had a completed FAFSA on file and those students who had been determined to be eligible for Federal Student Aid were be awarded the grant. The criteria to participate in programs under Section 484 of the HEA include, but are not limited to, the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen; a valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Service (if the student is male); and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved home school setting.
The CARES Act expressly required that institutions provide the emergency financial aid grants directly to students “for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare)”. Funds were not to be used for other purposes.
The initial amount of each grant awarded, the 2nd award amount awarded, and the total amount awarded were based on the following chart:
| CARES Grant Award | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SPRING 2020 |
Initial CARES Grant Award per Student |
2nd CARES Grant Award per Student |
Total CARES Grant Awarded |
| Pell Eligible Full-Time Students (12 or more hours) | $1023 | $818 | $1,841 |
| Pell Eligible Three-Quarter-Time Students (9-11 hours) | $767 | $614 | $1,381 |
| Pell Eligible Half-Time Students (6-8 hours) | $512 | $410 | $922 |
| Non-Pell Eligible Full-Time Students (12 or more hours) | $250 | $200 | $450 |
| Non-Pell Eligible Three-Quarter-Time Students (9-11 hours) | $185 | $148 | $333 |
| Non-Pell Eligible Half-Time Students (6-8 hours) | $125 | $100 | $225 |
| Pell & Non-Pell Eligible Less Than Half-Time Students (1-5 hours) | $100 | $80 | $180 |
*Once the deadline of June 10, 2020 to submit the certification passed, the remaining “advanced funds” were equally redistributed to all eligible students to ensure fifty (50) percent of the formula grant funds (the “advanced funds”) were used for the sole and exclusive purpose of providing emergency financial aid grants to students for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to Coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
Letters from the Chancellor
2nd CARES Grant Award Notification
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reports
ARPA Grant Notification
