COVID-19 Guidelines

COVID-19 rapid testing is now available free of charge for students and employees at the Sioux City campus Health Clinic (Western Iowa Tech ID required). To schedule an appointment, call the Health Clinic at 712.317.3271 or schedule an appointment online. When you make your appointment, you will be directed to come to the clinic or wait in your car in parking lot 1, outside of entrance 1. Rapid test results are available in 10 minutes.

Western Iowa Tech encourages faculty, staff and students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Students who participate in clinical site patient care areas must follow the requirements of the clinical site. See your program handbook for details.

If you are experiencing symptoms:

• Do not come to campus.
• Take a COVID-19 test. You can schedule a rapid test at the Sioux City campus Health Clinic. Call 712.317.3271 to schedule an appointment or schedule an appointment online. Testing is free of charge for students. WITCC ID is required. Test results are confirmed in ten minutes.
• Notify your instructor. 

If you test positive for COVID-19:

• Remain at home and do not return to class even if you are not experiencing symptoms.
• Notify WITCC Campus Safety / campussafety@witcc.edu / 712.274.6414.
• Notify your instructor or other WITCC employee that you will not be attending class.
• You may return to campus five days after the start of your symptoms if your symptoms have improved (no fever for 24 hours). You must wear a mask for an additional five days upon your return.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19:

• Avoid coming to campus.
• Take a COVID-19 test. You can schedule a rapid test at the Sioux City campus Health Clinic. Call 712.317.3271 to schedule an appointment or schedule an appointment online. Testing is free of charge for employees. WITCC ID is required. Test results are confirmed in ten minutes.
• Notify Jackie Plendl in Human Resources / jackie.plendl@witcc.edu / 712.317.3304.
• Notify your supervisor.

If you test positive for COVID-19:

• Remain at home and do not return to campus even if you are not experiencing symptoms.
• Notify Jackie Plendl in Human Resources / jackie.plendl@witcc.edu / 712.317.3304.
• Notify your supervisor.
• You may return to campus five days after the start of your symptoms if your symptoms have improved (no fever for 24 hours). You must wear a mask for an additional five days upon your return.

Incidents of positive test results in student housing will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. The following guidelines have been established:

• Students who test positive have the option of returning home, but are strongly encouraged to remain in campus housing.
• The college has reserved separate housing facilities for quarantining/isolating. Students who remain on campus may be asked to relocate to these facilities for a period of time.
• Students in quarantine/isolation will be provided meals during normal cafeteria operating hours.

HEERF III-SSARP

The Supplemental Support under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (SSARP) provides additional economic relief from COVID-19.  SSARP provides supplemental awards to educational institutions for funding of emergency financial aid grants to students.

These emergency grants are to be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care or childcare.

Western Iowa Tech Community College has evaluated the eligibility criteria for students enrolled in Fall 2021, Spring 2022, and Fall 2022 credit classes as of October 22, 2022. Awards were prioritized to students with the highest need using the expected family contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Non-high school students that enrolled and completed at least 6 credits for Fall 2021, Spring 2022, and enrolled for at least 6 credits in Fall 2022 semester classes at Western Iowa Tech Community College on October 22, 2022. Western Iowa Tech Community College established three categories for these grants:

• $700 FAFSA on file with a Pell eligible flag of “Yes”.
• $550 FAFSA on file with a Pell eligible flag of “No”.
• $450 No FAFSA on file

The total amount of SSARP emergency grant awards to students was $420,150, with funding of $419,057 provided by SSARP Student Funding and $1,093 provided by College funds.

As of December 31, 2022, Western Iowa Tech Community College expended the full amount of the $419,057 awarded through the Supplemental Support student emergency funding authorized by the Supplemental Support under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (SSARP).

HEERF III

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was passed by Congress and signed into law on March 11, 2021, to provide additional economic relief from COVID-19.  ARPA provides supplemental awards to educational institutions for funding of emergency financial aid grants to students.

These emergency grants are to be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care or childcare.

Awards were prioritized to students with the highest need using the expected family contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Non-high school students enrolled at Western Iowa Tech Community College for fall 2021 semester classes on October 15, 2021, residing in the United States were eligible for a grant.  Western Iowa Tech Community College established three categories for these grants:

• $2000 FAFSA on file with an EFC less-than 5847
• $1700 FAFSA on file with an EFC of 5847 or higher
• $1350 No FAFSA on file

The total amount of HEERF III emergency grant awards to students was $4,844,500, with funding of $4,785,242 provided by ARPA Student Funding and $59,258 provided by ARPA Institutional Funds.

As of November 10, 2021, Western Iowa Tech Community College expended the full amount of the $4,785,242 awarded through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) student emergency funding authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).
 

HEERF II

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) which was signed into law on December 27, 2020, provides funds to institutions of higher education. Half of the emergency grant funds will be awarded directly to students in the form of emergency grants.

These emergency grants are to be used to assist with any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care, or child care.

Funds were awarded to students who:

• Enrolled in a 2021 spring credit class or classes as of March 17, 2021
• Have a valid 2020-2021 FAFSA on file
• Are US citizens or eligible non-citizens
• Not in student loan default

Awards were prioritized to students with the highest need using the Expected Family Contribution from the FAFSA. WITCC students who are Pell eligible based on the 2020-2021 FAFSA (EFC of $0-$5,711) were awarded $550 and students with an EFC of $5,712 or higher were awarded $425. The total amount of HEERF II emergency grant awards to students was $1,031,700, with funding of $1,011,809 provided by CRRSAA Student Funding and $19,891 provided by CRRSAA Institutional Funds.

As of March 24, 2021, Western Iowa Tech Community College expended the full amount of the $1,011,809 awarded through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) student emergency funding authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA).

HEERF I

Western Iowa Tech Community College has completed the necessary paperwork to receive federal funds through Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In compliance with federal guidelines, 50% of the funding received to date, will be distributed directly to Western Iowa Tech students in the form of emergency financial assistance grants. This equates to $1,011,809 in CARES Act funding to support student emergency financial assistance grants.

Based on federal guidelines, 2,001 Western Iowa Tech students are eligible to receive CARES Act emergency financial assistance grants. Emails were sent to all eligible students to notify the student of the CARES Act grant award and how the awards would be distributed. The amount granted to each student is a fixed amount of $500. The initial distribution of funds was processed on May 13, 2020 to all 2,001 eligible students, for a total initial distribution of $1,000,500. Additional grants will continue to be distributed to eligible students as long as funding is available.

Western Iowa Tech is using the following federal eligibility requirements to distribute CARES Act emergency financial assistance grants:

• Be enrolled, as of March 13, 2020, in credit classes (not a high school student taking dual enrollment courses) at Western Iowa Tech for the spring 2020 semester.
• Have a completed 2019-20 FAFSA application on file with a valid expected family contribution (EFC) indicating not in student loan default or overpayment.
• And making satisfactory academic progress for 2020 spring semester.

As of September 30, 2020, CARES Act funding of $33,309 is available for emergency financial assistance grants and additional grants will continue to be distributed to eligible students as long as funding is available.

On November 5, 2020, additional emergency financial assistance grants of $200 each were awarded to 178 students through an application process.   The funding for these grants, totaling $35,600, was provided by CARES Act Student Funding of $33,309 and CARES Act Institutional Funds of $2,291. 

As of December 31, 2020, Western Iowa Tech Community College expended the full amount of $1,011,809 awarded through the Federal CARES Act student emergency funding.

• 00731600 HEERF Year 3 Annual Report 2022
• 00731600 HEERF Q42022 010623
• 00731600 HEERF Q12022 041022
• 00731600 HEERF Q22021 071021 Revised 100721
• 00731600 HEERF Q22022 070722
• 00731600 HEERF Q32021 101021 Revised 040422
• 00731600 HEERF Q32021 101021 Revised
• 00731600 HEERF Q32021 101021
• 00731600 HEERF Q42021 011022
• 00731600 HEERF Year 1 Annual Report 2020
• 00731600 HEERF Year 2 Annual Report 2021
• HEERF I, II, III QBER - Quarter Ending 033121 - Revised 040422
• HEERF 033121 revised
• HEERF 033121
• HEERF 063021
• HEERF 093020
• HEERF 123120

Western Iowa Tech Community College will continue our partnership with the U.S. Department of Education in the delivery of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) for the 2021-2022 academic year, created under The America Rescue Plan (ARP).

Emergency Financial Aid Grants are available to assist students who have had emergency expenses arise due to the Coronavirus while attending Western Iowa Tech. Assistance will be available to help cover any component of the cost of attendance including tuition, fees, other institutional charges, food, housing, transportation, course materials, technology, health care (including mental health) and child care.

Western Iowa Tech has received $4,621,871 in funding available through the student portion of ARP for Emergency Financial aid Grants to students. Students enrolled in Fall 2021-22 may be eligible for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Specific dates and details regarding disbursement and student eligibility will be published in Fall 2021.