COVID-19
Status:
What’s New8/26: Campus Community, Thanks to each of you for following the health and safety protocol as we start the semester. Given the fact we are seeing new cases associated with campus and the positivity rate continues to be a concern locally, McPherson County recommends that we extend wearing face coverings inside until at least October 1. 8/3: Campus Community, We look forward to welcoming you back to campus over the next week. As COVID-19 community spread in McPherson county increases, the McPherson County Health Department has recommended we modify our health and safety protocol to require face coverings for all individuals in campus buildings. Through the first two weeks of classes, face coverings will be required for all individuals in campus buildings, regardless of one’s vaccination status. Much like during the spring, this includes any public areas within buildings. Individuals may remove face coverings when in private spaces. This policy will be in place August 4 – August 27 and could be extended based on federal, state, or local rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. Based on guidance from McPherson County, if transmission rates are low and student vaccination rates increase, we will likely be able to reconsider guidelines. Employee vaccination rates are well over 80% and we expect to know more about student rates within the next week. Thanks to each of you for doing your part to keep us safe in classrooms, labs, studios, shops and playing fields. |
FAQ:
NOTE: This is a complex, challenging, and fluid situation which continues to evolve rapidly. All information is subject to change as deemed necessary by college leadership in accordance with guidance and recommendations issued by federal, state, and local public health and government officials.
Fall 2021
McPherson College is offering all students cash incentives for receiving the vaccination and all vaccinated students are eligible for a $2,500 cash prize. Email ask@mcpherson.edu with questions.
People who are fully vaccinated do not need to undergo routine COVID-19 screening testing. If a fully vaccinated person is exposed to someone with COVID-19 they do not need to be tested unless they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Any person who experiences COVID-19 symptoms should get a COVID-19 test.
Rapid PCR testing is available at the college’s on-campus clinic, located at 1800 E. Gordon. Masks are still required anytime you seek treatment at the clinic.
- Masks
- Social distancing
- Modified mealtimes
- Reduced gatherings
- Limited contact sports
- Remote learning
Guidance for Prospective Students
General Information
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), was signed into law on December 27, 2020. CRRSAA provides the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) funds to distribute to institutions of higher education in order to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus through a second round of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF II). Institutions accepting CRRSAA funding must commit to providing a portion of the funds in the form of financial aid grants to students.
McPherson College’s minimum required allocation to students is $397,688.
In determining Emergency Financial Aid Grants, the college requires students to complete an application for aid.
The grant funds will be distributed to students with exceptional need who have struggled to meet expenses due to COVID-19. Eligible expenses include:
- tuition
- food
- housing
- course materials
- technology
- health care
- childcare
Students may apply for the grant to communicate about their situation. The college uses these forms to help in determining exceptional need.
Students who are Pell eligible will receive priority and a higher level of funds than those that are non-Pell eligible. A student is not required to be Pell eligible in order to receive the grant. Students who previously received HEERF I funds that totaled $750 or more will receive a lesser amount than students who have not received funds in the past. At no time will total HEERF funds awarded exceed the maximum Pell grant amount.
In accordance with guidance from the DOE on the distribution of these funds, students have the option of applying the funds onto their student account. They must make that selection when completing the application for aid. If that option has not been selected, the funds are distributed to the student in the form of a check.
Communications via emails, student newsletter, website presence, and campus groups, assisted in educating students of this opportunity.
At this time, the U.S. Department of Education has yet to issue guidance on the question of whether undocumented, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), or international students may qualify for HEERF II grant awards. Therefore, McPherson College will not be issuing grant funds to these students.
Students may apply for the grant using the link: https://mcstudentlife.formstack.com/forms/cares_grant
1) enrolled on/after March 13, 2020, attending in-person courses at McPherson College;
2) degree-seeking student; and
3) eligible to receive Title IV federal aid as evaluated through the completion of the FASFA
4) experienced expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19
Book Voucher—Student completes request with Business Office, if approved, student will receive a voucher to purchase through online bookstore.
Laptop Grant – Student must be recommended by MC Staff or Faculty, if student is approved they may choose to purchase a laptop from MC or pick up a check and purchase it elsewhere. https://mcstudentlife.formstack.com/forms/cares_technologygrant
COVID 19 Relief Funds—student completes online form, if approved students can choose to apply funds directly to their student account or pick up a check from the business office. https://mcstudentlife.formstack.com/forms/cares_grant
Quarterly Report for Quarter Ended June 30, 2021
Updated July 6, 2021
McPherson College acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for the use of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The institution has used use no less than 50 percent of the funds to support students. This portion of the grant has been fully distributed to students. The College also received funds through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) that was authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on December 27, 2020. As of the date of this report, this portion of the grant has been fully distributed to students. The College also received funds through Section 2003 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP).
McPherson College has been notified of a total allocation of $1,229,981 under the CRRSAA. Of this amount, $397,688 is reserved exclusively for distribution to students for grants. The College received $2,165,102 through the ARP grant. Of this amount, $1,082,552 will be used exclusively to provide pandemic related support to students. The College may use the remainder of both of these grants for institutional support. The College portion of the funds will be used to cover the costs of off-campus housing for student isolation, subsidizing food service to reduce density in eating facilities, expenses to promote social distancing in classrooms, campus safety and operations, obtaining additional equipment to reduce the number of students sharing supplies, replacing certain lost revenues, etc.
For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, McPherson College has distributed $101,669 to 107 students. The college estimates that 764 students are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants.In determining Emergency Financial Aid Grants, the College requires students to complete an application for aid. The grant funds are distributed to students who have experienced difficulty covering expenses due to COVID-19. Eligible expenses include tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. Students apply for the grant and self-report what they are struggling with and communicate about their situation. The College uses these forms to help in determining exceptional need. Students who are Pell-eligible will receive priority and a higher level of funds than those that are non-Pell eligible. As student does not have to be Pell eligible in order to receive the grant. In accordance with guidance from the Department of Education on the distribution of these funds, students have the option of applying the funds onto their student account. They must make that selection when completing the application for aid. If that option is not selected, the funds are distributed to the student in the form of a check. Communications via emails, student newsletter, website presence, and campus groups, assisted in educating students of this opportunity.
Quarterly Report for Quarter Ended March 31, 2021
Updated April 8, 2021
McPherson College acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for the use of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The institution intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds to support students. The College also received funds through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) that was authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on December 27, 2020.
McPherson College has been notified of a total allocation of $1,229,981 under the CRRSAA. Of this amount, $397,688 is reserved exclusively for distribution to students for grants. The College may use the remainder for institutional support. The use of these funds has not yet been determined.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, McPherson College has distributed $337,634 to 286 students. The college estimates that 781 students are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
In determining Emergency Financial Aid Grants, the College requires students to complete an application for aid. The grant funds are distributed to students who have experienced difficulty covering expenses due to COVID-19. Eligible expenses include tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child cared. Students apply for the grant and self-report what they are struggling with and communicate about their situation. The College uses these forms to help in determining exceptional need. Students who are Pell-eligible will receive priority and a higher level of funds than those that are non-Pell eligible. A student does not have to be Pell eligible in order to receive the grant. In accordance with guidance from the Department of Education on the distribution of these funds, students have the option of applying the funds onto their student account. They must make that selection when completing the application for aid. If that option is not selected, the funds are distributed to the student in the form of a check. Communications via emails, student newsletter, website presence, and campus groups, assisted in educating students of this opportunity.
Quarterly Report for Quarter Ended December 31, 2020
Updated January 6, 2021
McPherson College acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for the use of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The institution intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds to support students.
The institution has received from the Department of Education, pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, $795,375.
As of the quarter ended December 31, 2020, McPherson College has distributed $136,601 to 129 students. The college estimates that 781 students are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
In determining Emergency Financial Aid Grants, the College requires students to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for verification of eligibility to participate or complete a certification form verifying that they meet the requirements. As required under the CARES Act, the College will identify students with the most need based on food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, childcare and other possible expenses due to the disruption of campus operations. The College does this through an automatic grant to students known to have additional housing and food costs and a self-reporting application for everyone else. To identify funding limits, an analysis of the cost of attendance used for packaging aid was used to identify the average expected costs of the applicable expenses for the duration of the campus shutdown. Grants for room and board were standard amounts based on the funding limit. Students must self-report the amount of expenses they incurred for the remaining categories of expenses subject to the determined limits. Pell-eligible students received larger grants than non-Pell eligible students. Communications via emails, student newsletter, website presence, and campus groups, assisted in educating students of this opportunity.
Quarterly Report for Quarter Ended September 30, 2020
Updated October 1, 2020
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting under CARES Act Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion, 18004(a)(2), and 18004(a)(3), if applicable
McPherson College acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for the use of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The institution intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds to support students.
The institution has received from the Department of Education, pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, $795,375.
As of September 30, 2020, McPherson College has distributed $246,323 to 174 students. The college estimates that 605 students are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
In determining Emergency Financial Aid Grants, the College requires students to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for verification of eligibility to participate or complete a certification form verifying that they meet the requirements. As required under the CARES Act, the College will identify students with the most need based on food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, childcare and other possible expenses due to the disruption of campus operations. The College does this through an automatic grant to students known to have additional housing and food costs and a self-reporting application for everyone else. To identify funding limits, an analysis of the cost of attendance used for packaging aid was used to identify the average expected costs of the applicable expenses for the duration of the campus shutdown. Grants for room and board were standard amounts based on the funding limit. Students must self-report the amount of expenses they incurred for the remaining categories of expenses subject to the determined limits. Pell-eligible students received larger grants than non-Pell eligible students. Communications via emails, student newsletter, website presence, and campus groups, assisted in educating students of this opportunity.
45-Day Report
Updated July 10, 2020
McPherson College acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for the use of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The institution intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds to support students.
The institution has received from the Department of Education, pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, $795,375.
As of July 11, 2020, McPherson College has distributed $174,859 to 126 students. The college estimates that 605 students are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education. In determining Emergency Financial Aid Grants, the College requires students to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for verification of eligibility to participate or complete a certification form verifying that they meet the requirements. As required under the CARES Act, the College will identify students with the most need based on food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, childcare and other possible expenses due to the disruption of campus operations. The College does this through an automatic grant to students known to have additional housing and food costs and a self-reporting application for everyone else. To identify funding limits, an analysis of the cost of attendance used for packaging aid was used to identify the average expected costs of the applicable expenses for the duration of the campus shutdown. Grants for room and board were standard amounts based on the funding limit. Students must self-report the amount of expenses they incurred for the remaining categories of expenses subject to the determined limits. Pell-eligible students received larger grants than non-Pell eligible students. Communications via emails, student newsletter, website presence, and campus groups, assisted in educating students of this opportunity.
30-Day Report
Updated May 27, 2020
McPherson College acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for the use of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The institution intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds to support students.
The institution has received from the Department of Education, pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, $795,375.
As of May 27, 2020, 30 days since the funds became available, McPherson College has distributed $91,681 to 59 students. The college estimates that 605 students are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which could qualify them to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) if student eligibility requirements are met as established by the Department of Education.
In determining Emergency Financial Aid Grants, the College requires students to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for verification of eligibility to participate. If a FAFSA was completed in a previous year, a certification form is completed verifying that nothing has changed since the FAFSA was completed. As required under the CARES Act, the College will identify students with the most need based on food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, childcare and other possible expenses due to the disruption of campus operations. The College does this through an automatic grant to students known to have additional housing and food costs and a self-reporting application for everyone else. To identify funding limits, an analysis of the cost of attendance used for packaging aid was used to identify the average expected costs of the applicable expenses for the duration of the campus shutdown. Grants for room and board were standard amounts based on the funding limit. Students must self-report the amount of expenses they incurred for the remaining categories of expenses subject to the determined limits. Pell-eligible students received larger grants than non-Pell eligible students. Communications via emails, student newsletter, website presence, and campus groups, assisted in educating students of this opportunity.
Have a question not answered in the FAQ?
Staying Healthy:
Follow these guidelines to limit exposure to COVID-19:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home if/when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Avoid sharing personal household items
- Practice social distancing and wear a face mask if you are not vaccinated
- Follow the City of McPherson ordinance requiring face masks for indoor and outdoor public spaces
Resources:
- For more specific information on Coronavirus (COVID-19), including travel alerts, please visit the CDC’s website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
- Travel Alerts: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
- KDHE Travel and Exposure Related Isolation: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/175/Travel-Exposure-Related-Isolation-Quaran
- McPherson Area COVID Response Hub: https://mcpherson-area-coronavirus-response-mcpks.hub.arcgis.com/