CARES Act Emergency Grant

HEERF – Student

1. Maharishi International University signed and returned to the Department of Education 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.
2. The total amount of funds that Maharishi International University will receive or has received from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $204,073 (latest update: February 7, 2021).
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 is $204,073 (latest and final update: February 7, 2021). The funds were distributed to students in two rounds; the first took place in the Spring 2020 semester ($142,397) and the second in the Fall 2020 semester ($61,676).
4. The estimated total number of students at Maharishi International University 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 is 429 (the eligibility of online Master’s students with an on-campus portion is being considered, as MIU continues to follow and implement updates in the CARES Act guidelines).
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 is 170 (latest and final update: February 7, 2021).
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 are as follows:
   • Document and identify eligible grant applications from title-IV eligible students attending on-site degree programs. Title-IV aid eligibility was then verified for each grant applicant through their ISIR.
   • Uphold and pay close attention to upholding the “disruptions to on-campus operations” criterion in examining each student’s request.
   • Set awarding categories and criteria:
     1. Computer purchase (set amount)
     2. Technology expenses for online learning (subject to professional judgment with a set cap for each of the two rounds)
     3. Room and Board assistance (subject to professional judgment, with MIU’s standard room and board rates as a guideline, in cases that are related to a disruption of on-campus operations)
     4. Childcare (subject to professional judgment, for parents of children who attend the K-12 Maharishi School on the MIU campus)
     5. Travel expenses (subject to professional judgment, in cases that are related to a disruption of on-campus operations)
     6. Other expenses related to a disruption of on-campus operations (for example: temporary loss of non-FWS on-campus employment, and health-related expenses due to the unavailability of on-campus services)
   • A Scholarship Review Board (SRB), made of four representatives from three different university departments (Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and Student Life), reviewed all eligible applications and allocated aid according to the above criteria. The SRB’s final recommendations were then reviewed and approved by the MIU General Counsel.
7. Instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants:
   • On April 18, 2020, the MIU Student Life department sent a mass email inviting students to apply for the Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act (Spring 2020 semester).
   • On October 26, 2020, the MIU Student Life department sent a second mass email inviting students to apply for the Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act (Fall 2020 semester).
   • Students were instructed to apply by emailing FinAid@miu.edu (first round) and CARES@miu.edu (second round) from their respective MIU email accounts, and including their full name, MIU student ID number, the exact dollar amount requested, and the reason (in detail) for the requested amount(s).
   • The Financial Aid department received the requests, documented them, and provided answers to students’ questions in a timely manner.

HEERF II and HEERF III – Student

1. Maharishi International University signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
2. The total amount of funds that Maharishi International University will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs is $914,313 (latest update: October 10, 2021).
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of submission is $914,313 (latest update: October 10, 2021). The funds were distributed to students in two rounds during the Spring 2021 semester. The first round targeted undergraduate Pell-eligible students (as a need-based priority population), and the second targeted undergraduate Pell-ineligible and graduate students.
4. The estimated total number of students at Maharishi International University eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs is 1,010 (285 undergraduate Pell-eligible, and 725 undergraduate Pell-ineligible and graduate students).
5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs is 555 (latest update: October 10, 2021).
6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs are as follows:
   • Document and identify eligible HEERF II&III (CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4)) applications from title-IV eligible students attending on-site, low residency, and online degree programs. Title-IV aid eligibility was verified for each grant applicant through their ISIR.
   • Uphold and pay close attention to the “exceptional need” criterion in examining each student’s request (regardless of Pell eligibility, all applicants were requested to indicate whether they consider themselves “an individual who encountered “exceptional needs” during the COVID-19 pandemic” or not).
   • Set areas of need for applicants to choose from (choose one or more):
     1. Difficulty paying tuition
     2. Difficulty paying for school-related books and supplies
     3. Difficulty paying for food
     4. Difficulty paying for housing
     5. Difficulty paying for health care (including mental health care)
     6. Difficulty paying for childcare
     7. Difficulty paying for transportation
     8. Difficulty paying for basic personal expenses
     9. None of the above
   • A Scholarship Review Board (SRB), made of four representatives from three different university departments (Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and Student Life), decided to first reach out and invite Pell-eligible undergraduate students to apply (round one). A $4,000 cap was placed on grants to Pell-eligible undergraduate students. Later (round two), the SRB invited Pell-ineligible undergraduate as well as graduate students to apply. A $1,300 cap was placed on grants to Pell-ineligible undergraduate as well as graduate students.
   • The SRB reviewed all eligible applications. The SRB’s final recommendations were then reviewed and approved by the MIU General Counsel.
7. Instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants:
   • On June 14, 2021, the MIU Financial Aid department sent a mass email inviting Pell-eligible undergraduate domestic students (both on-site and online) to apply for the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs. Simultaneously, an invitation was posted on the official University app. On June 18, 2021, a reminder email was sent along with a second University app reminder post. The application deadline was set for June 21, 2021, and funds were disbursed to students on June 30, 2021.
   • On June 29, 2021, the MIU Financial Aid department sent a mass email inviting Pell-ineligible undergraduate domestic students, as well as domestic graduate students (both on-site and online), to apply for the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs. Simultaneously, an invitation was posted on the official University app. On July 4, 2021, a reminder email was sent along with a second University app reminder post. The application deadline was set for July 7, 2021, and funds were disbursed to students on July 26, 2021.
   • In both rounds, students were invited to apply by filling out and submitting a Google form. The form included each student’s full name, University ID, degree program delivery method (on-site vs. online), a statement regarding “exceptional need,” a list of life areas that may have been affected due to COVID-19, and a dollar amount evaluation (by the student) to be applied toward COVID-related difficulties.
   • The Financial Aid department received the requests, documented them, and provided answers to students’ questions in a timely manner.