Emergency Financial Grants for Students (CARES Act)
1. Center for Massage & Natural Health signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement to accept allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP, Public Law 117-2. The ARP established and funded the HEERF funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
2. Center for Massage & Natural Health received $22,276 on July 13th, 2020 (P425E205006), and again received $31,443 on April 4, 2021 (P425Q210729). The School has developed an objective set of criteria for students to participate.
3a. The initial HEERF funds under (P425E205006) were issued in direct student grants. In Q3, 2020, there were 31 eligible students to participate during the Covid-19 emergency period and $8,141 were issued. In Q4 of 2020, there were 20 students eligible and $2,190 was issued. In Q1, 2021, there were 29 students eligible and $6,600 was issued. In the following quarter, Q2, 2021, there were 7 students eligible who received $2,645. The remaining funds in the initial HEERF grant of $22,276 were fully distributed in Q3 2021 with 7 students eligible that received $2,707.51.
3b. The second HEERF funds for student grants, under (P425Q210729) were received on April 4, 2021. In the second quarter of 2021, there were 7 students eligible that received $1,861. In Q3 of 2021, there were 14 students eligible that received $5,760.97. In Q4 of 2021, there were 38 students eligible that received $10,647.86. The remaining funds are anticipated to be fully expended by the end of Q2, 2022. The total amount awarded to students = $40.553.34.
4. The Institution estimates that 125 students will be eligible during the emergency period.
5. As of the end of Q4, 2021, the school has issued 97 eligible students direct checks, totaling $40,808. The average grant per eligible student is $418. There is $0 remaining to be issued from the HEERF (P425E205006) grant funding and at the conclusion of 2021 there is $12,911.61 remaining from (P425Q210729) funding. At this time the school has closed out the Institutional award of $22,275 (P425F204141) and these funds have been applied to campus safety operations, cleaning, and transition from on-site faculty and teaching to online capabilities to allow for continued classes during the emergency. The quarterly reports are available for this Institutional grant funding below and the Education Department provided an updated quarterly PDF to include for 2022. In Q1, 2022, Center for Massage & Natural Health issued $7,100 to 15 additional students and in Q2, 2022, the school issued the remaining $5,811.61 to 11 students and closed out the funding for this program
6. The school policy is that enrolled students are notified of the HEERF grants and are awarded their eligible portions based on being eligible to participate in SFA, applying for the grant and incorporating the individual needs analysis. Awards are issued pursuant to federal guidelines and incorporate need based expenses that arise from events and requirements due to coronavirus. These can include medical expense, housing, health care, children's care, and documented expenses related to the cost of attendance to offset the economic disruption caused by Covid-19.
7. All students are informed that the grant funding is provided to them in a direct check so that they are able to apply the money in the best way that they see fit to use the funding. They are informed that the funds are a direct result of the Cares Act. The students are provided with information about at-home covid testing and about the CDC guidelines and requirements pertaining to protocols related to Covid. In that sense, one could surmise that students are encouraged to be able to have funding for these individual requirements but there are no specifc stipulations or requirements or instructions provided other than recognizing the United States Congress and United States Department of Education for making these grant funds available.
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS / STUDENT WORK OPPORTUNITY
We offer up to $1500 in Academic Scholarships. Scholarships are available to all students and are based on prior education and past GPA. Ask for more information during your enrollment process. Limited work options are open from time-to-time for students based on school needs and individual qualifications.
VETERANS BENEFITS & THE G.I. BILL
The Center for Massage & Natural Health’s Massage Therapy Certification Program is approved by the North Carolina State Approving Agency for the enrollment of persons eligible for education assistance benefits from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Qualifying veterans may be able to have part or all of their tuition paid for by the Veterans Administration. Please contact our Financial Aid Department at FinancialAid@Centerformassage.com for more information.
AMERICORPS EDUCATIONAL AWARDS
Center for Massage & Natural Health is approved to accept America Awards. Each AmeriCorps member who successfully completes a term of AmeriCorps service will receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award*. You can use your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to pay educational expenses at qualified institutions of higher education, for educational training, or to repay qualified student loans. You have up to seven years after your term of service has ended to claim the award. If you successfully complete a term of service in AmeriCorps VISTA, you are eligible to receive either a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or an end-of-service stipend. Please contact our Financial Aid Department at
FinancialAid@Centerformassage.com for more information.
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
You may be entitled to a full scholarship, including tuition, books and supplies, through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
• You have a physical, mental, learning disability, or emotional impairment that affects your ability to find or maintain employment, and
• You require VR services to get ready for, find or keep a job
You and your rehabilitation counselor will develop a partnership and explore your options throughout the rehabilitation process.
Visit the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to find out if you qualify.
Asheville Office 8 Barbetta Dr. Asheville, NC 28806 (828) 670-3377 or Toll Free: 1-877-832-3832.