COVID-19 Resources & Webinars On March 13, 2020, Career Education Colleges and Universities launched an information webpage for institutions responding to Coronavirus (COVID-19). CECU’s Coronavirus webpage includes a multitude of helpful resources to assist higher education leaders understand the various legal and operational implications of temporarily closing a campus or adapting courses to online learning. View all past webinars here. Guide for the Distribution of Student Grants under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, the proprietary school sector has a unique opportunity. The federal government has included our schools in the Emergency Stabilization Fund for institutions of higher education. Starting the week of April 13, 2020, institutions will be given the opportunity to direct critical Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund grants to those students at your institutions most impacted by the pandemic. This guide, developed with the quick help from sector leaders, will support institutions in understanding what they should know regarding the emergency financial aid grants, potential formulas for the distribution of such grants, and a sample grant application form. The guide will be updated regularly based on ongoing stakeholder feedback and federal updates so check back often. View the guide here. Upcoming Webinars Unemployment, Layoff and Furlough Wednesday, April 22 | 2:00PM ET Presenters: Gregory Gragg, CEO and Chairman of Lever 1 and Gragg Advertising Erica Brune, President of Lever1 Danielle Bearden, Director of Human Resources at Lever 1 What are the differences and what is best for my company? Lever1’s seasoned HR Director walks through the best course of action to avoid discrimination pitfalls when selecting employees for reduction of work as well as how to manage their unemployment claims and health coverage. Key takeaways: - Who to select and which choice is right for my business - How claims are processed - Employee Assistance Programs - COBRA and other healthcare issues through this process - How to take advantage of payroll tax credits using these methods Accessing and Using Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds for Students and Institutions Friday, April 24 | 12:00PM ET Presenter: Nicholas Kent, Senior Vice President of Policy and Research, CECU On April 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education posted the process by which institutions of higher education could access and distribute approximately $6.2 billion in emergency financial aid grants to students that were made available under the CARES Act. Earlier today, the Department issued new guidance that clarifies some of the most common questions related to an institution’s 50 percent direct-to-student allocation as well as announcing that institutions can now apply for the remaining $6.2 billion institutional share of funds. Join CECU for an overview of the most recent Department guidelines on how to access and use the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, as well as best practices institutions should consider when managing these critical stabilization supports. Although time is allotted for live Q&A, attendees are encouraged to submit questions ahead of time through the webinar registration. Reboot: Getting Your Marketing Ready for the Restart. Wednesday, May 6 | 2:00PM ET Presenters: Gregory Gragg, CEO and Chairman of Gragg Advertising Darryl Mattox, President of Gragg Advertising Lisa Olmedo, VP of Business Development at Gragg Advertising If you haven’t outlined a plan to reboot your marketing, you are behind the curve. The time to start planning and launching recruitment campaigns is upon us. In Case You Missed It
CECU Readout of the U.S. Department of Education’s Briefing on COVID-19 and CARES Act – Career Education Colleges and Universities CECU Senior Vice President of Policy and Research Nicholas Kent was invited to Tuesday afternoon’s briefing with several senior U.S. Department of Education officials, including Secretary Betsy DeVos, Acting Under Secretary Diane Auer Jones, and Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education Bob King. The call focused on providing new clarifying guidance regarding the use of the emergency financial aid grants to students as well as announcing that the Department is making immediately available to postsecondary institutions the remaining $6.2 billion for the institutional share of funds made available under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. CECU is highlighting several pieces of valuable information. Legal and Regulatory Issues Secretary DeVos Delivers $6 Billion in Additional Grant Funding to Support Continued Education at America’s Colleges, Universities – U.S. Department of Education After quickly making available more than $6 billion for colleges and universities to provide direct emergency cash grants to students, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced an additional $6.2 billion is now available to higher education institutions to ensure learning continues. The funding is available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump less than one month ago. Member Spotlight Pima Medical Institute’s Chula Vista Campus Wins Prestigious Community Services Award The Chula Vista campus was recognized for the outstanding work done by the students, faculty and staff to enrich the lives of both the two and four-legged members of San Diego County. Facing the Frontline Today the role of the respiratory therapist couldn’t be more vital. Respiratory therapists lead the way against pulmonary insult and are responsible for delivering aerosolized medications, airway management, lung expansion therapy and oxygen while responding to every code blue resuscitation. Summit College Campuses to Issue CARES ACT Grants to Students With three campuses in Southern California, Summit College, is honored to announce that it will use the CARES ACT to support its students by providing grants to help cover expenses related to disruptions to their educations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, including things like course materials and technology as well as food, housing, health care, and childcare. CARES Act ICYMI - Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-Institutional Portion – OPE You must complete and submit the CARES HEERF Certification and Agreement Student’s Portion before submitting the CARES HEERF Certification and Agreement for the Institution’s Allocation of HEER Funds. Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Update – Duane Morris Now that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has funded the first wave of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), borrowers need to be mindful of the PPP use-of-proceeds requirements for forgiveness and the penalties for the unauthorized use of proceeds. Durbin, Warren Seek to Exclude For-Profit Colleges from Next Stimulus Package – Politico Sens. Dick Durbin and Elizabeth Warren today are calling on Senate leaders to cut out for-profit colleges from any additional stimulus money as Congress looks toward another round of relief legislation amid the pandemic. ED Releases Further Guidance on Use of CARES Act Emergency Funding for Students, Institutions – NASFA The guidance addressed several outstanding questions, such as clarifying that students who were enrolled exclusively in online programs on March 13 (the date of President Donald Trump’s national emergency proclamation) are not eligible to receive the emergency grants, that institutions may not use the student portion of funding to reimburse themselves for tuition or room and board refunds, and that the student grants may not be used to cover outstanding balances on a student account. Colleges Have Been Waiting for Guidance on How They Can Send Stimulus Money to Students. Here It Is. – The Chronicle of Higher Education In newly released guidance, the U.S. Department of Education informed administrators that they are only allowed to issue funds to students who are eligible for Title IV financial aid. Coronavirus Education News Can Public College Systems Stave Off Closures? – Inside Higher Ed Some public colleges are already on the chopping block. But as college and university systems brace for incoming state budget cuts, they can streamline services and work cohesively to save money, experts say. Coronavirus pandemic closes Urbana University campus permanently – cleveland.com Urbana University seems to be the first Ohio college to permanently shut its doors due to financial pressure from the coronavirus pandemic. Lambda School Cuts Staff and Salaries Amid ‘Uncertainty in Hiring and Financial Markets’ – Ed Surge Lambda School, the San Francisco-based operator of online coding bootcamps, has laid off 19 employees. The executive team, including CEO and co-founder Austen Allred, will also be taking a 15 percent pay cut, he wrote in a blog post announcing the moves. Additional Coronavirus Coverage Coronavirus poses serious financial risks to US universities – Brookings; Ed Dept releases 2nd round of coronavirus aid for colleges, clarifies who qualifies – Education Dive; This Cal State Campus Is One of the First to Commit to Online-Only Classes for Fall 2020 – EdSurge. Financial Aid/Student Loans Issues Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement – Operational Guidance for Schools and Additional COD System Information – IFAP However, while we plan to implement most of the functionality explained in this announcement, we will delay the requirement that borrowers complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement prior to disbursement for the 2020–21 Award Year. Comments are closed.
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