CRRSA Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds Report #4

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE AND RELIEF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FUNDS REPORT #4 -- CRRSA (4th Quarter)

While the U.S. Department of Education (ED) develops a process for institutions to directly provide the required reporting data, it has in the meantime called for institutions to make easily accessible to the public — via the institution's website — the following items:

  1. Acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned the certification and agreement form and that the institution has used, or intends to use the funds to provide the mandated amount of at least $6,953,900 of the emergency financial aid grants to students:

On January 15, 2021, Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC chancellor/CEO, signed and submitted to the Department of Education (ED) the Certification and Agreement for a formula grant under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA Act HEERF II). ACC intends to use the maximum amount possible for emergency aid to students. In compliance with ED mandate to provide at least the same amount of funding in financial aid grants to students as was required to be provided under sections 18004(a)(1) and (c) of division B of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The minimum allocated to emergency aid to students is $6,953,900. ACC has elected to exceed this amount with a total allocation of $16,000,00.

  1. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive, or has received under the HEERF student portion.

ACC has received $32,959,121 of which $6,953,900 is to be used for CRRSA Act Student Aid. ACC has elected to exceed this amount with a total allocation of $19,000,00.

  1. (a) The total amount that has been distributed to students as of December 31, 2021: $18,336,183.66

(b) The total amount distributed between July 1 and September 30, the fourth

reporting period: $1,182,454.57

  1. The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

36,215 students

  1. The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant through CRRSA funds:

585 students

  1. How the institution determined which students did, or will receive emergency financial aid grants and how much funding they did, or will receive.

Austin Community College convened a committee with membership from the Chancellor’s cabinet, the Business Office, the Financial Aid Office, the ACC Foundation, Student Affairs Communication, ACC Marketing, Student Support Advocates, and Enrollment Management. The following brief was developed:

Overview: On April 20, 2021, ACC received $6,953,900 from the Department of Education as part of the CRRSA Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. ACC will distribute these emergency funds to students who have experienced or are faced with disruptions of education due to COVID-19. The coronavirus has negatively impacted the health and wellness of ACC students and their families, as well as the regional economy. ACC is keenly aware that the COVID-19 impact has exacerbated pre-existing systemic inequalities and has affected Central Texas’s marginalized communities more deeply than others. In a coordinated effort, ACC will swiftly distribute funds in such a way that it empowers students to use them for their greatest priorities, such as food, housing, health care, child care, learning materials, and more. With the distribution of funding, students will have access to ACC’s full social support resources. ACC has limited the award to $2,500 per student per semester.

CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants or with extraordinary financial circumstances, in awarding emergency financial aid grants to students. Due to limited funding, ACC will prioritize currently enrolled students, Pell eligible students, and other high need populations. ACC prioritized undocumented and DACA students (starting summer 2021 after updated HEERF guidance was provided in May 2021) because these students have faced significant challenges qualifying for financial aid and emergency relief.

Student Eligibility (updated 12/27/20):

● Must have FAFSA on file to determine citizenship status

● Must be actively enrolled in ACC courses

● Excludes dual credit, international, continuing education, adult education, international students, DACA students, and undocumented students

● Students may request funds once per semester

On May 11, 2021, ED issued the following updated guidance regarding student eligibility for any remaining CRRSA HEERF II funds:

  • The definition of “eligible student” for all HEERF funding was changed to be any student who is or was enrolled at an eligible institution on or after March 13, 2020 opening eligibility up to students who were, but may not currently be, enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • ED’s changed it’s opinion about applying the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) to emergency funds making undocumented, international, and DACA students eligible for all HEERF funding.
  •  If students are ineligible for CRRSA Act Student Aid, their application will then be considered for ACC’s Student Emergency Fund. Students will not be required to complete an additional request.
  • FAFSA no longer required

Application:

○ CRRSA Act Student Aid Website: https://www.austincc.edu/students/financial-aid/coronavirus-response-and...

○ The application is hosted on a secure Client Resource Management (CRM) system, Maxient, which our teams use to process and follow-up on requests.

○ ChatBot implemented to answer student questions on a 24/7 basis.

Processing and Distribution of Emergency Funds

○ The new online application for Student Aid is a single point of entry for CRRSA Act and Student Emergency Funds.

○ After a student submits their CRRSA application, it is be routed for funding based on the eligibility status of the student

○ It may take 3 - 5 days for disbursements of funds once an application is complete (during peak)

○ ACC Business Office processes disbursements 5 days a week

 7) Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants.

CRRSA Act Student Aid Design

Below, is an example of the CRRSA Act Student Aid design used across multiple web and social media channels to build awareness of and promote access to the CRRSA Act funds for students.

CRRSA Student Aid - Financial Help During COVID-19

Student Communication

Spring 2021

Communication

Mode

Student Population

#

students

Google Doc Message

Constant Contact Link

Date Proposed to send

Date Sent

Open Rate on CC Email

Email

220F Pell Students: Not registered for S21 (Good standing/Probation)

2,009

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y4YGKhS1DK6qBJQ8w5TUD7BCqdZ2LCGFuxIGGT73Ick/edit?ts=600f4dd0

https://conta.cc/39mhv8R

1/26/2021

  • 1/26 @ 9am
  • Resend to non-openers: 1/29/20 @ 9am

Results: 1/28:

34% Open, 10% Clicks

Email

220F Pell Students: Not registered for S21 (Ineligible SAP - still qualify for CRRSA)

780

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y4YGKhS1DK6qBJQ8w5TUD7BCqdZ2LCGFuxIGGT73Ick/edit?ts=600f4dd0

https://conta.cc/3oopMgG

1/27/2021

1/27 @ 9:30am

Resend to non-openers: 2/1 @ 9:30am

Results: 1/28:

33% Opens - 18% Clicks

Email

Pell-eligible enrolled 221S (eligible & ineligible SAP - still qualify for CRRSA)

6911

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ABb6uyKS6cuMBsea0CnyW0dKUK364NuMBlTI9rTlVWs/edit

https://conta.cc/3oxA7XP

1/27/2021 before 5 pm

1/27 @ 4:45pm

Resend to non-openers: 1/31 @ 4:45pm

Results 1/28:

65% Opens - 48% Clicks

Email

All Spring 21 Trad Students

36,290

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZEF6t3w3c6vtCaEUNvD8BBqfoDrkfwSn1zirQMWfdlw/edit?ts=60104660

https://conta.cc/2M3DJDH

Before 11:00 AM 1/28/2021

1/28 @1:15pm

Resend to non-openers, 2/1

Results: 2/4: 58%

Opens - 7% Clicks

Text

Opt-In Text - Financial Aid Students

8,547 total (3,547 pell eligible)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bsdNGTbTfeEfLfacOmNaS_i_uMTn8AAFZm7gAr-TlW0/edit

NA

From 10AM - 2PM (in batches) 1/28/2021

From 10AM - 2PM (in batches) 1/28/2021

Results:

366 Inbound texts on 1/28 (4% of population)

SA NL

All Spring ‘21 Students

36K

https://conta.cc/3bz7qH9

1/30/2021

Results: 40.3% Open Rate

Email

Zero EFC Students enrolled 221S (have not applied for CRRSA or CARES)

150

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gUi_YOceDFk8IIJQJLTMhrCWbGeqB55KDAKUCGwsQ3c/edit

Through Colleague

4/12/2021

4/12/2021

NA

Email

Zero EFC Students enrolled 221S (have not applied for CRRSA or CARES)

300

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gUi_YOceDFk8IIJQJLTMhrCWbGeqB55KDAKUCGwsQ3c/edit

Through Colleague

4/13/2021

4/13/2021

NA

Email

Zero EFC Students enrolled 221S (have not applied for CRRSA or CARES)

300

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gUi_YOceDFk8IIJQJLTMhrCWbGeqB55KDAKUCGwsQ3c/edit

Through Colleague

4/14/2021

4/14/2021

NA

Email

Zero EFC Students enrolled 221S (have not applied for CRRSA or CARES)

800

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gUi_YOceDFk8IIJQJLTMhrCWbGeqB55KDAKUCGwsQ3c/edit

Through Colleague

4/21/2021

4/21/2021

NA

Mass Comms
(Shared by Jessica)

External Community / Prospective Students

Ongoing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UgPo1So-s7zBVEnMHRzlFpsCtZiWbPXX8-y2G1zF2no/edit#

Summer 2021

Communication

Mode

Student Population

#

students

Google Doc Message

Constant Contact Link

Date Proposed to send

Date Sent

Open Rate on CC Email

Email

THECB Cohort (Fall 2018)

168

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Pl8VL7vlPP-80pkOQ67y4S5sYZPZO_TemYO6yvrYoA/edit

https://conta.cc/3ukQGdf

4/28/2021

5/4/2021

Results: 49.1% Open Rate

1.2% CTR

Email

THECB Cohort (Fall 2019)

752

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Pl8VL7vlPP-80pkOQ67y4S5sYZPZO_TemYO6yvrYoA/edit

https://conta.cc/2RhRxwg

4/28/2021

5/4/2021

Results: 54.8% Open Rate

3.7% CTR

Email

THECB Cohort (Fall 2020)

1,643

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Pl8VL7vlPP-80pkOQ67y4S5sYZPZO_TemYO6yvrYoA/edit

https://conta.cc/3uc5oD5

4/28/2021

5/4/2021

Results: 54.6% Open Rate

7.0% CTR

Call

Pell Eligible THECB Cohorts (Fall 2018, 2019, & 2020)

913

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bmXV5RGuA9vRrmNaDElLEKUGUba6SLnq/edit?rtpof=true

NA

4/28/2021

5/5/2021

There were 913 total calls, we spoke with 226 students and 10 others.

91 had registered, 70 no interested in registering,45 interested in registering

Email

Pell-eligible enrolled 221U (eligible & ineligible SAP - still qualify for CRRSA)

3,303

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ABb6uyKS6cuMBsea0CnyW0dKUK364NuMBlTI9rTlVWs/edit

https://conta.cc/3fm9J1I

5/26/2021

5/26/2021

Results:

75.0% Open Rate

54.0% CTR

Email

Undocumented Students (TASFA/DACA)

387

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11UjINOtm443s8cm_70x7cMk2DF2LkRWXc_eyvCKlRBc/edit

https://conta.cc/3up6nPr

5/26/2021

5/26/2021

Results:

59.0% Open Rate

48.0% CTR

Fall 2021 (CRRSA)

Communication

Mode

Student Population

#

students

Google Doc Message

Constant Contact Link

Date Proposed to send

Date Sent

Open Rate on CC Email

Email

Pell-eligible enrolled 221F (eligible & ineligible SAP - still qualify for CRRSA)

3,437

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ABb6uyKS6cuMBsea0CnyW0dKUK364NuMBlTI...

https://conta.cc/3hIbPtH

7/15/2021
Resend
7/19/2021

7/15/2021
Resend
7/19/2021

Results:

86% Open Rate

58% CTR

Email

Non-Pell eligible FA students enrolled 221F

1,910

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ABb6uyKS6cuMBsea0CnyW0dKUK364NuMBlTI...

https://conta.cc/2Uqgt6V

7/20/2021
Resend
7/23/2021

7/20/2021
Resend
7/23/2021

Results:

75% Open Rate

47% CTR

Email

Undocumented Students (TASFA/DACA)enrolled 221F

139

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ABb6uyKS6cuMBsea0CnyW0dKUK364NuMBlTI...

https://conta.cc/3kCLSO4

7/20/2021
Resend
7/23/2021

7/20/2021
Resend
7/23/2021

Results:

65% Open Rate

29% CTR

Email

BRASS/Ascender enrolled 221F

147

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ABb6uyKS6cuMBsea0CnyW0dKUK364NuMBlTI...

https://conta.cc/3iwpOlt

7/20/2021
Resend
7/23/2021

7/20/2021
Resend
7/23/2021

Results:

75% Open Rate

36% CTR

Email

Dual Credit enrolled 221F

4,070

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ABb6uyKS6cuMBsea0CnyW0dKUK364NuMBlTI...

https://conta.cc/3zbyCUI

7/20/2021
Resend
7/23/2021

7/20/2021
Resend
7/23/2021

Results:

32% Open Rate

3% CTR

Email

CE enrolled 221F

415

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ABb6uyKS6cuMBsea0CnyW0dKUK364NuMBlTI...

https://conta.cc/3kz4Jtn

7/20/2021
Resend
7/23/2021

7/20/2021
Resend
7/23/2021

Results:

49% Open Rate

32% CTR

Text

Opt-In Text - Financial Aid Students

3,262

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LFKEvs3oKLJqJgUP-1toFYC2LvY91Ml8gXZFaNYAuc/edit

NA

11/4/2021
Resend

11/5/2021

11/4/2021
Resend

11/5/2021

NA

Email

Opt-In Text - Financial Aid Students

3,220

NA

https://conta.cc/3bJMXhm

11/5/2021
Resend
11/8/2021

11/5/2021
Resend
11/8/2021

Results:

62% Open Rate

7% CTR

Email

Pell-eligible enrolled 221F (eligible & ineligible SAP - still qualify for CRRSA)

4,123

NA

https://conta.cc/2ZQotQZ

11/5/2021
Resend
11/8/2021

11/5/2021
Resend
11/8/2021

Results:

61% Open Rate

9% CTR

Email

All Fall ‘21 Students

22,294

NA

https://conta.cc/3ks4csl

11/11/2021
No Resend Date

11/11/2021

Results:

40% Open Rate

2% CTR

Analysis:  The overall page views for the information on all pages is 25,933 for the period which is a decrease of 24.12%. We see a spikes in mid-late December after periods of lower traffic volume that correlates with messaging and promotions on available funds/application open/close dates as previous patterns have shown.

 How they found it: Inbound Google search query traffic:

Inbound Google search query traffic

Analysis: This chart displayed the volume of search queries using the Google search engine which displayed results with ACC ARP information. Impressions are defined as a result displayed, a click would be a click on that result. This chart loosely matches the traffic pattern result above with an exception for a spike in queries in mid-October.

Top Search Queries:

Query

Clicks

Impressions

acc arp

279

537

156

111

350

arp acc

105

175

acc american rescue plan

73

111

acc arp fund

68

116

american rescue plan acc

67

94

acc cares act

60

90

arp austin community college

35

62

acc covid relief fund

30

66

Media Advisory

Advisories/Pitches

  1. August 9, 2021: More money for financial aid than ever before
  2. August 23, 2021: More money for financial aid than ever before
  3. September 3, 2021: Get extra financial support right now through the new American Rescue Plan

Media Coverage

  1. September 16, 2021: ACCENT | Financial Aid for Beginners

http://sites.austincc.edu/accent/financial-aid-for-beginners/