CARES Act

August 21, 2020

Overview

Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act” or the “Act”), Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (March 27, 2020), directs institutions receiving funds under Section 18004 of the Act to submit (in a time and manner required by the Secretary) a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”).

On May 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, posted their reporting requirements for HEERF participating institutions.

Each HEERF participating institution is responsible for providing this information in report format (the “30-day Fund Report”). In addition, these participating institutions are required to post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website. Accordingly, the following information will be easily accessible to the public and made available 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation under 18004(a)(1) and updated every 45 days thereafter.

Musicians Institute (MI) hereby addresses questions for the “45-Day Fund Report”:

1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

Musicians Institute completed and submitted the Funding Certification Agreement on May 15, 2020, with the intention of using 50% of the funding to provide Emergency Grants to students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

Musicians Institute, as a part of the CARES Act, has received $427,253 for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

 3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

• First 30 days (As of May 22, 2020, $355,628.40  of Emergency Financial Aid Grants has been distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act).
• Next 45 days (As of July 6, 2020, $10,548.30 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants has been distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act).
• Next 45 days (As of August 21, 2020, $61,076.58 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants has been distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act).

4. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

The total number of students eligible to participate in the program under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) was 245.

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

As of August 10, 2020, the total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was 295.

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Per guidance from the US Department of Education, Musicians Institute utilized the 2019-2020 & 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  to determine student eligibility. The school decided to use 85% of HEERF funds to allocate to students who were eligible as of the date of first payment installment to students, and reserve the rest for other potentially eligible students who completed a FAFSA after this date.  The grant amount was determined by taking the total number of eligible students enrolled in the spring term at the time (241) and dividing by 85% ($363,165.0499) of the total grant amount ($427,253), which resulted in total grant payments of $1,506.90. 

Some students became ineligible after this determination as it was discovered that some had not actually started, which then led us to our second round population of students 

(7 total) for the 2019-2020 school year who applied after the initial round.

The final round of disbursements carried over to the 2020-2021 school year (SU20 quarter). The remaining funds left of the CARES Grant were disbursed to 50 eligible students at $1,197.58 each .

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

Communications to students include email notifications and information posted to the newly created CARES Act webpage.

Musicians Institute has distributed the full amount of the CARES Act Grant for students of $427,253, and will not have any further information to report.

July 07, 2020

Overview

Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act” or the “Act”), Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (March 27, 2020), directs institutions receiving funds under Section 18004 of the Act to submit (in a time and manner required by the Secretary) a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”).

On May 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, posted their reporting requirements for HEERF participating institutions.

Each HEERF participating institution is responsible for providing this information in report format (the “30-day Fund Report”). In addition, these participating institutions are required to post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website. Accordingly, the following information will be easily accessible to the public and made available 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation under 18004(a)(1) and updated every 45 days thereafter.

Musicians Institute (MI) hereby addresses questions for the “45-Day Fund Report”:

1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

 Musicians Institute completed and submitted the Funding Certification Agreement on May 15, 2020, with the intention of using 50% of the funding to provide Emergency Grants to students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

 Musicians Institute, as a part of the CARES Act, has received $427,253 for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

• First 30 days (As of May 22, 2020, $355,628.40  of Emergency Financial Aid Grants has been distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act).
• Next 45 days (As of July 7, 2020, $10,548.30 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants has been distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act).

4. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. 

The total number of students eligible to participate in the program under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) was 245.

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

As of June 22, 2020, the total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was 245.

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Per guidance from the US Department of Education, Musicians Institute utilized the 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  to determine student eligibility. The school decided to use 85% of HEERF funds to allocate to students who were eligible as of the date of first payment installment to students, and reserve the rest for other potentially eligible students who completed a FAFSA after this date.  The grant amount was determined by taking the total number of eligible students enrolled in the spring term at the time (241) and dividing by 85% ($363,165.0499) of the total grant amount ($427,253), which resulted in total grant payments of $1,506.90.  

Some students became ineligible after this determination as it was discovered that some had not actually started, which then led us to our second round population of students 

(7 total) for the 2019-2020 school year who applied after the initial round.

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

Communications to students include email notifications and information posted to the newly created CARES Act webpage.

Musicians Institute will continue to update this information every 45 days.  Next Report date will be provided August 27  forward unless and until the Department of Education provides further guidance on institutional reporting requirements for CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

May 22, 2020

OFFICIAL REPORTING AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

CARES Act Reporting Requirement (30 Days)

To keep students and the general public informed, and to be in compliance with Section 18004 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Musicians Institute publishes the following seven required information areas.

1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.Musicians Institute acknowledges that they signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and intend to distribute 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act 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.Musicians Institute, as a part of the CARES Act, has received $427,253 for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).
   • First 30 days (As of May 22, 2020, $355,628.40 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants has been distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act).
   • Next 45 days:TBD
4. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

   The total number of students eligible to participate in the program under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) was 241.

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.As of May 27, 2020, the total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was 238.
6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.Per guidance from the US Department of Education, Musicians Institute utilized the 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine student eligibility. The school decided to use 85% of HEERF funds to allocate to students who were eligible as of the date of first payment installment to students, and reserve the rest for other potentially eligible students who completed a FAFSA after this date. The grant amount was determined by taking the total number of eligible students enrolled in the spring term at the time (241) and dividing by 85% ($363,165.0499) of the total grant amount ($427,253), which resulted in total grant payments of $1,506.90.
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

The following Emergency Financial Aid Grant information was emailed to students and also made available on our website:.

Notification message send to students on May 7, 2020 with the following information:

CARES ACT STUDENT RELIEF PROGRAM

OverviewMusicians Institute has received funding through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Funding will be used to provide direct emergency checks to college students whose lives and educations have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak.

A Committee has been established and has determined that relief funding will be provided to every eligible student, currently enrolled in the spring 2020 term. The College will then review eligible FAFSA applications for eligibility to provide grants until all funds are spent. As part of the CARES ACT, Colleges and Universities are required to spend its share of the CARES Act funds in one calendar year.

Musicians Institute, however, will disburse its funds beginning Monday, May 18th and anticipates all funds being disbursed by Friday, July 31, 2020.

Eligibility

• Enrollment in a certificate or degree-seeking program
• Eligible as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• U.S. citizenship or *eligible noncitizen
• A valid Social Security number
• Registration with Selective Service (if the student is male)
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in their course of study, and
• Do not owe a refund on grants previously received or in default on any federal student loans.
• Additional eligibility requirements are listed in the Q&A’s below.

This funding may not be provided for students enrolled in online only classes.
If you already filed a FAFSA and received Title IV aid, you may be eligible for CARES Act funds. If
you have not filed a FAFSA, please apply at studentaid.gov/FAFSA in order to be considered.
Even if your family chose to not file a FAFSA because of your income, you should file a
FAFSA now to be considered for the CARES Act Grant.

*See FAQ below.

Qualifying SituationsMusicians Institute’s CARES Act funds for students will be used to cover expenses related to
the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. This includes, but is not limited to,
eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course
materials, technology, health care, and child care expenses.

Grant funds may be used to help with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due
to coronavirus. This includes, but is not limited to, eligible expenses under a student’s cost of
attendance as determined by the Financial Aid Office, such as food, housing, course materials,
technology, health care, and childcare.

• Food Expenses
• May include unexpected grocery expenses for a resident student who was
  depending on their meal plan to eat for the semester, or increased grocery expenses
  for a student supporting dependent children now home due to their school or
  childcare closure
• Course Materials
• May include but not limited to general use supplies such as writing utensils and
  notebooks; course specific supplies such as calculators, and other materials
  unexpectedly required to be purchased due to campus disruption of regular
  operations
• Technology Expenses
• May include computer equipment, internet access expenses, printer supplies, etc.
  required for student success when transitioning to an online format from the
  traditional in-person class structure
• Healthcare Expenses
• May include the cost of unanticipated or unusual medical expenses due to
  coronavirus or its effects
• Child Care/Dependent Care Expenses
• May include the cost of unanticipated or unusual care expenses for a student’s child
  or other dependents in the independent (based on FAFSA) student’s household.
• Transportation Expenses
• May include the cost of unanticipated or unusual travel expenses related to the
  disruption of campus operations. This may include additional trips to the College to
  retrieve personal belongings or difficulty in making car payments due to income loss
  from this economic disruption
• Housing Expenses
• May include unanticipated expenses in securing housing and/or rent for residential
  students after the transition to remote delivery of courses. This may also include
  difficulty in making rent or mortgage payments due to income loss from this
  economic disruption.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is considered an eligible noncitizen?Generally, you are an eligible noncitizen if you are (1) a permanent U.S. resident with a Permanent
Resident Card (I-551); (2) a conditional permanent resident with a Conditional Green Card (I-551C);
(3) the holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security
showing any one of the following designations: “Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Parolee” (I-94
confirms that you were paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired), T-Visa holder
(T-1, T-2, T-3, etc.) or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant;” or (4) the holder of a valid certification or eligibility
letter from the Department of Health and Human Services showing a designation of “Victim of
human trafficking.

Do I need to complete an application to be considered for CARES Act funds?Not immediately. The College will disburse approximately 85% of the funds immediately to all eligible
students on Monday, May 18th. The College will then open an application process to disburse the
remaining 15%.

How did Musicians Institute determine the amount of funding for each student?The Department of Education provided guidance stating that only students who are or could be
eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965,
as amended (HEA), may receive emergency financial aid grants. Under this guidance, the
committee created a report of all currently enrolled students with an active FAFSA on file to develop
our first eligible group that disbursements will be made to.

Why do I need to complete the FAFSA to be considered for CARES Act funds?Per the guidance from the Department of Education, only students who are eligible to participate in
Federal Title IV programs may receive CARES Act funds. Therefore, if you already filed a FAFSA
and are receiving Title IV aid, then you are eligible to receive CARES Act funds. If you have not filed
a FAFSA, please apply at studentaid.gov/FAFSA in order to be considered.

How much emergency grant aid will I receive?The amount of your grant is projected to be $750 to $1,200. All students in the first group will
receive the same amount. The second group will be based on the total number of eligible applicants.

Do I need to pay back these funds?No, these funds are considered to be grant awards and do not need to be repaid.

Can the College apply these funds directly towards my student account?No, the College cannot apply any CARES Act funds towards an outstanding balance on a student’s
account. These cash grants must be disbursed directly to the student.

Can I make a payment to the College towards my outstanding balance using a
portion or all of the emergency grant aid I received?You can make a payment on your outstanding balance at any time. However, please note that the
intent of the CARES Act emergency cash grants be used by students to cover their emergency
personal expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare.
Musicians Institute will not withhold any CARES Act funds to cover balances.

What are my options if I lost my job?CARES Act funds cannot be used to offset lost income, but can be used to help towards expenses
incurred due to that lost income if those expenses were due to the disruption of campus operations
due to coronavirus.
If you are in the US, you may also contact your local state Employment Development Department
(EDD) to determine your eligibility for Unemployment Benefits.
Confirmation message to HEERF Emergency Grants awardee was sent on :

Dear Student,

An email was sent out earlier in the week regarding the CARES Act Grant and the requirements for eligibility.

You are receiving this email because you have been identified as an eligible recipient for the CARES Act Grant at this time based on your active enrollment status, and FAFSA results for the 2019/20 award year.

All checks will be made to the address on file. If you have not updated this with us recently or are residing at a temporary residence, please respond to this email by Wednesday, May 13th to update this information with me directly. If for some reason we discover you are not eligible before checks are mailed off, an email will be sent to you with the reason for this status.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send me an email. Please do not call, as I cannot guarantee I will get to your call right away.

Thank you for your commitment to your education.

We wish you all the best and hope you are staying safe!