HEERF-CARES Act – Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students Required Quarterly Report (10/10/2021)

On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed the CARES Act (H.R. 748), which provides emergency relief funds to organizations and individuals affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), found in Section 18004 of the CARES Act, provides funding to institutions of higher education “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.” The following information is provided by Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem (MTJ) as required by the Department of Education (“ED”) in order to comply with the Certification and Agreements for the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) funds which provide that each institution applying for HEERF funds must promptly and timely provide a detailed accounting of the use and expenditure of the funds in such manner and with such frequency as the Secretary may require. This information must be updated no later than 10 days after the end of each calendar quarter (September 30, and December 31, March 31, June 30). This is MTJ’s updated quarterly progress report and presents information as of October 10, 2021.

1.  An acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
MTJ signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education for the HEERF Funds for Emergency Financial Aid Grants. In keeping with the terms of the certification, Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

2.  The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.
Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem has received a total of $149,047 under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

3.  The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter).
As of October 10, 2021, $149,047.00 was distributed to students.

4.  The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.
MTJ estimates approximately 85 students are eligible to participate in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

5.  The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.
As of October 10, 2021, the total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs is 49.

6.  The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and(a)(4) programs.
The methodology used for student selection was structured using eligibility determined by the Department of Education. This used student data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as enrollment data to determine student eligibility for the awards. Eligible students must be enrolled for spring, enrolled in an on-campus program, and eligible for the FAFSA.

7.  Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
Emails and direct telephone contact will be used to contact enrolled eligible cohorts, directing them to apply for the Emergency Financial Aid Grant funds using the form that will be included in the email. Any questions are to be directed to Rabbi Eliezer Gold at 212-964-2830.