White Holy Apostles Logo with crest

Coronavirus/covid-19 Updates

Prayer Requests

During this time the Family of Holy Apostles is praying for you and your loved ones. We want to offer you the opportunity to send us your specific prayer intentions. If you have any specific prayer requests please send them to us using this email address prayers@holyapostles.edu.  All prayer requests will be prayed for by the Holy Apostles Family during our daily Masses and Eucharistic Adoration.  God bless you and Mary, Queen of Apostles, watch over and protect us.   

HACS Community Updates

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Appropriations Act (CRRSA) 2021 under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II – Grants to Students – Disclosure per the Department of Education

1. An acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned the Certification and Agreement form and the assurance that the institution used—or intends to use—no less than the required amount of funds received to provide CRRSA grants to students.

HACS has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement form and has used 100% of the allotted CRRSA funds received for Student grants.

2. The total amount of funds that the institution received from the Department of ED.

The allocated amount of CRRSA funds awarded by the Department of ED to HACS was $78,426 of which $15,365 was the assigned student portion to eligible on campus and online students of exceptional need.

3. The total amount of CRRSA grants distributed to students as of the posting/submission date.

The total amount of CRRSA grants distributed to students as of 06/10/21 is $15,365.

4. The total number of students at the institution that were eligible to receive CRRSA grants.

The total number of students at HACS that were eligible to receive CRRSA grants: 54

5. The total number of students at the institution that have received CRRSA grants.

The total number of students at HACS that have received CRRSA grants: 17

6. The methods used by the institution to determine which students received CRRSA grants and how much they received.

The methods used by HACS to determine which students received CRRSA grants was to execute a query in our system for those eligible students (undergraduates and graduates) who had exceptional need as determined by FAFSAs. We have no other way to determine need as we are a FM school and do not have Institutional aid. Although Title IV eligibility was not a requirement we used all the FAFSAs in our system for the required time period, whether they used federal student aid or not.

Emails were sent to that population explaining HEERF II and those students who “incurred expenses directly related to COVID19 and which are included in their cost of attendance” could elect to self-attest, by signing and returning an attached form on that email confirming this, by a specified date.

At the requested target date of April 6, 2021, 17 of the 54 students had returned the form. The total amount was divided by that many and each was allotted approximately $903 and checks were issued immediately.

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the CRRSA grant.

The cost of attendance in the email to them specified the categories of tuition, food, housing, health care inclusive of mental health care, and child care. They were asked NOT to sign if they did not have expenses in those categories as a result of COVID19.

FUNDS FULLY SPENT

This Disclosure is required by the Department of ED to be updated quarterly. However, as the funds are depleted as of this report date of 06/10/21, this is the final report concerning the Student Portion of the CRRSA (HEERF II) funds.

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III – Grants to Students – 30 Day Disclosure per the Department of Education

1. An acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned the Certification and Agreement form and the assurance that the institution used—or intends to use—no less than the required amount of funds received to provide ARP grants to students.

HACS has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement form and will use the allotted ARP funds received for Student grants.

2. The total amount of funds that the institution received from the Department of ED.

The allocated amount of ARP funds awarded by the Department of ED to HACS is $131,345 of which $79,091 is the assigned student portion to eligible students of exceptional need, especially undergraduates. Those eligible are “not only citizens and permanent residents, but also refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented students. International students may also receive these funds but institutions must ensure priority of funds to domestic students.”

3. The total amount of ARP grants distributed to students as of the posting/submission date.

The total amount of ARP grants distributed to students as of 06/10/21 is $0.

4. The total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive ARP grants.

The total number of students at HACS that are eligible to receive ARP grants: not determined

5. The total number of students at the institution that have received ARP grants.

The total number of students at HACS that have received ARP grants: 0

6. The methods used by the institution to determine which students received ARP grants and how much they received.

The methods used by HACS to determine which students should receive ARP grants has not been determined.

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the CRRSA grant.

A methodology has not been determined at this time.

This Disclosure is required by the Department of ED to be updated quarterly. The next date shall be July 10, 2021.

Best Master’s in Ministry – 2021

Holy Apostles College and Seminary’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS) has been selected by Intelligent.com as one of the Best Master’s in Ministry Degree Programs for 2021.

Our award-winning MAPS program continues to make huge impacts throughout the world. Available exclusively online, the MAPS program puts ministry education and development readily at the fingertips of anyone – anywhere. Our exceptionally affordable tuition makes it possible to study and graduate without taking on debt. Graduates and students in the MAPS program are readily living out the missions of Holy Apostles – Evangelization!

According to Intelligent.com, “The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third-party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 160 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 50 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.” PRWeb Press Release 

Learn more about our amazing MAPS program offering.

Holy Apostles Awarded two new rankings!

Graduates in pew

Best 15 Online Philosophy Degree Programs in 2021

The Best Value Schools has ranked Holy Apostles College & Seminary as one of the Best 15 Online Philosophy Degree Programs in 2021. In fact, Holy Apostles College & Seminary is the ONLY Catholic institution listed.

“Based in Cromwell, Connecticut, Holy Apostles College and Seminary can deliver the challenging (and affordable) philosophy degree that you want! Grapple with the subjects of Logic, Epistemology, and Metaphysics. An incredible, high-value program that challenges your mind!”

Learn more about our Philosophy programs here: https://holyapostles.edu/academics/

Top 20 Accredited Colleges Of Religion

College Cliffs has ranked Holy Apostles College & Seminary as one of the Top 20 Accredited Colleges of Religion.

“Holy Apostles College and Seminary (which also offers an on-campus alternative) offers a “faithfully Catholic, 100% online and on-campus liberal arts degree for undergraduate students”, including graduate programs that can be taken via distance learning modalities. They also offer a fast-track program that allows students to complete their degrees in less than three years. It is also known as the most affordable Cardinal Newman Society Recommended College, so if you’re also working towards a vocation, this will put you at an advantage.”

Learn more about our Theology and Pastoral Studies programs here: https://holyapostles.edu/academics/

Internships at WCAT Radio

Dr. Chiara Simeone-DiFrancesco, Holy Apostles alumna, is looking for some interns to work with her WCAT Radio Special Ministries Division.  This division works to train Christian therapists in integrating their faith with their psychotherapy.  We provide philosophy, logic and scriptural formation in order to help them achieve a rich integration that builds their interventions on the sound foundation of Jesus & His teachings/Word.

The Special Ministries Division also has a non-profit mission of Evangelization, formation and ongoing catechesis through the biblical Books of John.  This fulfills the mission of the late Archbishop Tomas Clavel who desired a school for Domestic Evangelization that would be established using the Biblical books of John, and commissioned Romuald Simeone on their implementation.  Little did the Archbishop foresee that they would become not only a set of published volumes (3 volumes, 4 books), but over 125 videos and WCAT radio programs.  One of WCAT’s Special ministries is to take his vision of 35 years in the developing and turn it into a school of learning that is unlimited geographically by virtue of radio and video.

Specifically, we are looking for interns in the following areas:

1)  Social Media & Marketing; 2) Grant research and development.  3)  Media back-end development: WordPress, Mail Chimp, Video Serializations, etc.

We are happy to help you fulfill practicum requirements for your studies that prohibit competing sources of revenue for your current studies.

If you are interested in this unpaid internship, please contact Chiara@wcatradio.com

Update Jan. 26: CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students – Disclosure per the Department of Education

CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students – Disclosure per the Department of Education

1. An acknowledgment that the school signed and returned the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution used—or intends to use—at least 50 percent of the Cares Act funds received for emergency grants to students.

HACS has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement and has used 100% of the Cares Act funds received for the Institutional Portion.

2. The total amount of funds a school received from ED.

The allocated amount awarded by the Department of Ed to HACS was $22,522 of which $11,261 was scheduled for disbursement by January 10, 2021, to on campus students who experienced sudden disruption, and $11,261 was scheduled for disbursement for institutional technological needs. Those students in our online programs are not eligible due to no disruption in their mode of delivery. 

3. The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students as of the posting/submission date.

The total amount of emergency grants distributed as of 01/10/21 is $11,261 (see below for a description of the disbursement procedures).

4. The total amount for the institutional portion as of the posting/submission date. 

The total amount for the institutional portion spent as of 01/26/21 is $11,261.

The upgrading of the wireless infrastructure to support on campus students engaged in emergency remote learning and connecting through the wireless network cost $10,460

The subscription of several faculty to Zoom services to engage the on campus students in emergency remote learning cost the remainder of the Institutional Portion of $801. 

This Disclosure to be updated quarterly. However, as the funds are depleted as of this report date of 01/26/21 this is the final report concerning the Institutional Portion of the grant.

January 10: CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students – Disclosure per the Department of Education

CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students – Disclosure per the Department of Education

1. An acknowledgement that the school signed and returned the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution used—or intends to use—at least 50 percent of the Cares Act funds received for emergency grants to students.

HACS has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement and will use at least 50% of the Cares Act funds received for emergency grants to students.

2. The total amount of funds a school received—or will receive—from ED.

The allocated amount awarded by the Department of Ed to HACS was $22,522 of which $11,261 will go to on campus students who experienced sudden disruption. Those students in our online programs are not eligible due to no disruption in their mode of delivery.

3. The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students as of the posting/submission date.

The total amount of emergency grants distributed as of 01/10/21 is $11,261.

4. The estimated number of students eligible to participate in the emergency grant program (the number of Title IV eligible students under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act).

The estimated number of students eligible to participate in the emergency grant program is 17.

5. The total number of students who have received emergency grants under the CARES Act.

The total number of students who have received the emergency grants as of 01/10/21 is 10
The total number of students who have declined the emergency grants as of 01/10/21 is 3
The total number of students who have not responded as of 01/10/21 is 4.

6. The method(s) used to determine which students received the emergency grants and how much they received.

The method used to determine which students received the emergency grants was to adhere to the requirement that our on campus students be Title IV eligible under Section 484 of the HEA.

The method of how much they received in the first Award Offers was to divide both undergrad and graduate students into two categories: full time and less than full time. Then using the Pell Chart schedule to assign the full time students the maximum amount of the lowest cell $775 and the less than full time students were assigned half that amount or $388.

The second Award Offer was based on need according to the FAFSA. Students were sent another Award Offer acknowledging that they still had needs according to the criteria previously established. The first checks of this second wave commenced on 7/22/20. The final checks were sent on 11/20/20.

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided to students concerning the emergency grants.

Students who had not submitted a FAFSA had to self attest to eligibility in the first letter issued 5/15. As these letters were returned, the Award Offer was issued with the initial awarded amount. The student again needed to self attest that they had needs that met or exceed the awarded amount related to the disruption of their classes on campus due to coronavirus including expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care. As these letters were returned the checks were issued.

As noted in #6, another Award was offered to eligible students based on need, not enrollment status, according to their FAFSA.

This Disclosure to be updated quarterly. However as the funds are depleted as of this report date of 01/10/21 this is the final report.

COVID19 Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Campus Open to the Public?

Campus Access – The Campus is ONLY open to resident students. This includes but is not limited to the Dining Hall, Chapel, and Library.

Is the Commencement Ceremony/Graduation Postponed?

 

Updated Tuesday, March 31st

Dear Family of Holy Apostles College and Seminary:

After careful consideration and after hearing from you, our students, we have decided to postpone graduation to a later date not canceling it altogether or live-streaming it. We understand how important this time is for you, our graduates.

Unfortunately, we are not sure when this will be, as things are ever-changing due to the Coronavirus. As things become more clear we will communicate with our graduates the information we have. We thank those of you who wrote to us with your concerns about graduation. Your comments and concerns allowed us to better discern about graduation.
Please be assured of our prayers for you and your families.

United in the Lord Jesus,

Fr Peter S. Kucer, M.S.A. S.T.D.
President-Rector

Is the Gratitude Gala Postponed?

The Gratitude Gala – The HACS Gratitude Gala scheduled for April 24th has been postponed. Please watch for information on a future date. 

Are Online Students' Schedules Affected?

Online Students – Your courses will take place as scheduled.

If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact Jennie Murphy at jmurphy@holyapostles.edu