American Rescue Plan (SSARP) Student Reporting

CARES Act reporting

Student funding portion – HEERF III Supplemental Support under the American Rescue Plan (SSARP) – October 2022 FINAL REPORT…revised 1.5.2023

Oct. 24, 2022

Under the Absolute Priority 5 of the Supplemental Support under the American Rescue Plan Program (SSARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine has received additional support to serve our students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The school has received $176,010 for direct student awards. This is the total required to be provided to students in the form of emergency financial aid grants. 

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Public Law 117-2 of the Supplemental Support under the American Rescue Plan as of the date of submission of this report.
As of Oct. 24, 2022, Geisinger Commonwealth has distributed total grants in the amount of $176,010 to 572 students. The average grant provided to students was $307.71 and the highest grant was $375.46. 

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Public Law 117-2 of the SSARP.
Per the criteria below, the number of students eligible to receive funding equals 572 students. Geisinger Commonwealth enrolled 650 students as of Oct. 21, 2022, the fall semester/quarter.

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Public Law 117-2 of the SSARP.
As of Oct. 24, 2022, Geisinger Commonwealth has processed grants for 572 students.

The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Public Law 117-2 of the SSARP.
Geisinger Commonwealth distributed the funding received directly to medical and graduate students (including exclusively distance education courses) who, as of the date the awards are determined, had a 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or supplied financial information in order to determine financial need, and demonstrated financial need as determined by Geisinger Commonwealth’s Financial Aid Office. As a proxy to prioritize students with exceptional need, the expected family contribution (EFC) was used by Geisinger Commonwealth’s Financial Aid Office to determine level of award with a range of $153.15 to $375.46 for eligible students. Students did not need to directly apply to be eligible.

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
Since the eligibility for this supplemental grant was the same as the eligibility for the previous ARP grant, students who were eligible for the SSARP grant received an email explaining the grant funding and how it was going to be applied to their accounts. Students were also given financial aid and bursar contact information for questions.