Gavilan’s CARES Committee continues student and institutional allocation recommendations
by Jan Janes on Jul 11, 2021
Gavilan College received nearly $2.4 million after the U.S. Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March, 2020.
A college-wide CARES group composed of administrators, directors, faculty, staff and students worked to identify areas of need and recommend allocation of the federal funds. The financial relief was split, 50-50, between direct student aid and institutional funding.
The CARES funding distributed student aid in three installments. The first round of student allocations, distributions in Spring 2020, disbursed $582,400 in direct aid to 832 students. In the Fall 2020, the second round of $440,700 was distributed to 996 students. To receive direct assistance, students needed to have completed a FAFSA application, be enrolled in 6+ units and declare economic family contribution (EFC) of no more than $1,000. Students received the final allocation of more than $350,000 in June of 2021.
The original CARES committee was a recommending body reporting to the President’s Council. They met weekly to draft initial principles, determine policies and recommend disbursement for both student and institutional allocations. Members included Denee Pescarmona, Veronica Martinez, Carina Cisneros, Kyle Billups, Peter Howell, Marie Noriega, Irma Banuelos, Mayra Cortez and Susie Chris.
The institutional portion of the funds were applied to
The CARES 2.0/3.0 Committee added members and expanded the principles of the program to incorporate the federal spending guidelines. Meeting weekly, the committee created a request form for programs and individuals to submit their requests. They offered three workshops (get link to slides) to the campus, explaining the new guidelines and the request form.
The HEERF II student allocation was sent in a single payment in May 20211. Awards of $1275 were distributed to students who had completed either FAFSA or CADAA, were enrolled in 2+ units and reported an EFC of up to $3,000.
The HEERF II institutional allocation of $4.1 million helps the college prepare for a safe return to campus, which began July 1, 2021.
Technology investments include:
The HEERF III institutional allocation for Fall 2021 includes requests received by June 15, 2021; requests for Spring 2022 need to be submitted by December, 2021. Guidelines for institutional funding include defraying expenses associated with coronavirus, lost revenue, technology costs, distance education, faculty and staff trainings, costs from declining enrollment, student support activities, and other COVID-19 retrofits and mitigation.
Listen to the CARES 2.0/3.0 Open Forum to understand more detail about the current funding programs, and download a funding application.
A college-wide CARES group composed of administrators, directors, faculty, staff and students worked to identify areas of need and recommend allocation of the federal funds. The financial relief was split, 50-50, between direct student aid and institutional funding.
The CARES funding distributed student aid in three installments. The first round of student allocations, distributions in Spring 2020, disbursed $582,400 in direct aid to 832 students. In the Fall 2020, the second round of $440,700 was distributed to 996 students. To receive direct assistance, students needed to have completed a FAFSA application, be enrolled in 6+ units and declare economic family contribution (EFC) of no more than $1,000. Students received the final allocation of more than $350,000 in June of 2021.
The original CARES committee was a recommending body reporting to the President’s Council. They met weekly to draft initial principles, determine policies and recommend disbursement for both student and institutional allocations. Members included Denee Pescarmona, Veronica Martinez, Carina Cisneros, Kyle Billups, Peter Howell, Marie Noriega, Irma Banuelos, Mayra Cortez and Susie Chris.
The institutional portion of the funds were applied to
- Enhanced COVID cleaning
- Contract tracing, campus safety, and campus access management software
- Hardware and software for online instruction and student support
- Laptops, mifis, computer software for students and employees
- Faculty training and embedded student support
The CARES 2.0/3.0 Committee added members and expanded the principles of the program to incorporate the federal spending guidelines. Meeting weekly, the committee created a request form for programs and individuals to submit their requests. They offered three workshops (get link to slides) to the campus, explaining the new guidelines and the request form.
The HEERF II student allocation was sent in a single payment in May 20211. Awards of $1275 were distributed to students who had completed either FAFSA or CADAA, were enrolled in 2+ units and reported an EFC of up to $3,000.
The HEERF II institutional allocation of $4.1 million helps the college prepare for a safe return to campus, which began July 1, 2021.
Technology investments include:
- Webcams and headsets for all on-campus workstations
- Wifi in parking lot C for students
- Laptops, mifis, computer software for students and employees
- Software for various programs across campus
- Improved air filtration, MERV 13 air filters and large capacity filters
- Plexiglass installation
- COVID safety signage
- Furniture adjustments for social distancing
The HEERF III institutional allocation for Fall 2021 includes requests received by June 15, 2021; requests for Spring 2022 need to be submitted by December, 2021. Guidelines for institutional funding include defraying expenses associated with coronavirus, lost revenue, technology costs, distance education, faculty and staff trainings, costs from declining enrollment, student support activities, and other COVID-19 retrofits and mitigation.
Listen to the CARES 2.0/3.0 Open Forum to understand more detail about the current funding programs, and download a funding application.