Frequently Asked Questions

Emergency Financial Aid Grant to Students

Under the American Rescue Plan

Overview

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, providing $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ARP funds are in addition to funds authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260 and the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136. Emergency funds available to institutions and their students under all emergency funds total $76.2 billion.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Q: Which students are eligible to receive HEERF III student emergency grant funds?

A: Priority for the emergency grant was given to students who successfully completed a 2021-22 FAFSA by the Fall 2021 semester to ensure the funds go to those with the greatest need. SVA is developing a procedure for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III to calculate an award for additional eligible students in compliance with federal guidelines. One prerequisite is that eligible students must have incurred additional expenses due to campus disruptions due to the pandemic, such as food, housing, technology, course materials, health care, and childcare. After confirming a student meets all requirements (TBD), the institution retains discretion over which students will receive HEERF III student emergency grant funds and the amount of the award.

Q: Are students required to have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file in order to be eligible for the HEERF III student emergency grant funds?

A: Our office is currently developing a procedure for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III to calculate an award for additional eligible students in compliance with federal guidelines. Before funds are distributed, we plan on sending a notification regarding an eligible student's potential to receive emergency aid.

Q: What criteria was used to determine who receives the HEERF III student emergency grant funds?

A: Priority for the emergency grant was given to students who successfully completed a 2021-22 FAFSA by the Fall 2021 semester to ensure the funds go to those with the greatest need. Our office is currently developing a procedure for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III to calculate an award for additional eligible students in compliance with federal guidelines. Before funds are distributed, we plan on sending a notification regarding an eligible student's potential to receive emergency aid.

Q: How much will I receive in the HEERF III student emergency grant assistance and when will it be disbursed?

A: Priority for the emergency grant was given to students who successfully completed a 2021-22 FAFSA by the Fall 2021 semester to ensure the funds go to those with the greatest need. Of that population, students who were Pell recipients would receive an award amount of $500 while the remaining funds were divided among non-Pell recipients at $350 per emergency grant. Our office determined these amounts to ensure the neediest students received assistance. These funds were disbursed on 12/09/2021. Our office is currently developing a procedure for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III to calculate an award for additional eligible students in compliance with federal guidelines. Before funds are distributed, we plan on sending a notification regarding an eligible student's potential to receive emergency aid.

Q: Which students are not eligible to receive HEERF III student emergency grant funds?

A: Other than those FAFSA filer students who already had HEERF III funds disbursed as described above, our office is currently developing a procedure for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III to calculate an award for additional eligible students in compliance with federal guidelines. Before funds are distributed, we plan on sending a notification regarding an eligible student's potential to receive emergency aid.

Q: Which expenses are the HEERF III student emergency grant funds for? And what can students use these funds for?

A: HEERF III student emergency grant funds provide monetary assistance to students whose education has been disrupted because of the coronavirus global pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education has made the emergency grant aid available to students of institutions who need financial support for additional expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, including things like course materials and technology as well as food, housing, health care, and childcare. For example, because the College changed to online courses, a student may have incurred expenses to purchase a web camera, printer, computer software, or faster internet service. For HEERF III, a student has the option to apply their emergency grant funds towards an outstanding balance created on/after March 13, 2020. Our office will provide students who meet this criteria with an electronic form allowing them the option to request a portion/all of their emergency grant funds to be applied towards an outstanding balance created on/after March 13, 2020.

Q: What do students need to do, or what type of application does the student need to complete to participate in the HEERF III student emergency funds?

A: For those FAFSA filer students who already had their HEERF III emergency grant disbursed, no application was required. Our office is currently developing a procedure for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III to calculate an award for additional eligible students in compliance with federal guidelines. Before funds are distributed, we plan on sending a notification regarding an eligible student's potential to receive emergency aid.

Q: Are there additional HEERF III emergency grant funds available to students with higher expenses and special needs?

A: Our office is currently developing a procedure for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III to calculate an award for additional eligible students in compliance with federal guidelines. Before funds are distributed, we plan on sending a notification regarding an eligible student's potential to receive emergency aid.

Q: How will the students receive the funds?

A: For those students receiving an emergency grant, they will be provided the opportunity to sign up for E-refunds if they have not already done so to have their refund deposited directly into their US bank account. Students who have not signed up for direct deposit will receive a check mailed to their current address on file.

Q: Does the HEERF III emergency grant have to be repaid?

A: No, this is grant assistance and does not need to be repaid.