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Columbia College Chicago provides this information as a service to prospective and enrolled students, their families and others and in compliance with the U.S. Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA).
This page is one source of information about Columbia. More information from Columbia for prospective students, enrolled students, and parents are at these links. The Illinois Board of Higher Education provides consumer information about private and public college and universities in the state, including Columbia College Chicago.
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Columbia College Chicago – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting
Original Publication Date: May 22, 2020
Updated: June 30, 2020 and August 13, 2020, October 1, 2020, and January 8, 2021
As required by the U.S. Department of Education (the Department), Columbia College Chicago is providing the below information regarding the college’s receipt and distribution of funding received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
- Columbia College Chicago signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that Columbia has used 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.
- Columbia College Chicago has received $3,170,771 from the Department pursuant to our Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- As of the date of publication of this notice, we have distributed $3,160,271 to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- Columbia College Chicago estimates that 5,500 students at Columbia are 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.
- As of the date of publication of this notice, 5,112 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- To determine which students received Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, Columbia completed the following:
- a. Identified students who were Title IV eligible by reviewing students enrolled for the Spring 2020 term with a valid FAFSA on file with successful database matches for 2019/20 or 2020/21. Students were also required to be degree-seeking and meeting the published standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students had until May 8, 2020 to demonstrate that they are Title IV eligible by submitting a FAFSA for either academic year.
- b. Awarded and refunded a $250 one-time grant to the 5,110 students who met the standards of Title IV eligibility. The $250 amount was provided with the understanding that all enrolled students experienced expenses related to the disruption of the Spring 2020 term.
- c. Provided an Emergency Grant application in which Title IV eligible students who had more significant expenses could apply for additional funding. Students were provided a link to an online application in which they described their expenses related to the disruption of the Spring 2020 term. A committee of student services professionals reviewed the applications and made decisions on individual Emergency Grants which depended on the expenses described by the applicants and the overall funding available to award. The Emergency Grant application was due by May 8, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.
- d. Because the funding was not exhausted by the first round of applications, the application was re-opened on May 26, 2020, and potentially eligible students were notified that applications would be accepted until the funding was exhausted.
- The following instructions were provided to students:
- a. In a college-wide announcement on April 28, 2020, students were provided the following instructions to receive CARES Act funding:
- i. Ensure that they remain enrolled in at least one credit hour for the Spring 2020 term and have a valid FAFSA on file for 2019/20 or 2020/21 no later than May 8, 2020
- ii. Update their direct deposit or mailing address in their student portal to ensure timely delivery of the funds.
- iii. All students who remained enrolled and demonstrated Title IV eligibility would receive a one-time grant of $250 and did not need to take any further steps to receive the grant. Students who were awarded these funds were sent an email explaining the award.
- iv. All students who remained enrolled and demonstrated Title IV eligibility and needed to request additional funding for their expenses related to the disruption of the Spring 2020 term were provided the option to complete an electronic application for an Emergency Grant. Emergency Grant applications had to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on May 8, 2020 to be considered. Students were informed that a committee would review their grant applications and make final decisions regarding awards. Students will be notified of the outcome of these committee decisions via email no later than May 22, 2020.
- b. On May 26, 2020, potentially eligible students received an email notifying them that the Emergency Grant application was re-opened and that applications would be accepted until the funding was exhausted. The application website was updated on June 26, 2020, to state that no further Emergency Grant applications would be accepted because the funding was exhausted. Because some students did not cash the checks they were sent and did not respond to follow up from the college, a limited amount of funding remains. These funds will be awarded to students who notify Columbia Central that they have experienced unexpected expenses due to COVID-19.
- a. In a college-wide announcement on April 28, 2020, students were provided the following instructions to receive CARES Act funding:
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