Utilization of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF II) Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA): July 2021Quarterly Report/Final Report
1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the initial Certification and Agreement Grant Award Notification (GAN) required for participation in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the assurance that the institution shall provide at least the same amount of funding in emergency financial aid grants to students as was required to be provided under sections 18004(a)(1) and (c) of division B of the CARES Act.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø (IUP) received notification on January 15, 2021 of receipt of supplemental CRRSAA HEERF II funds pursuant to Section 314(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021.
No signature action was required on the part of the university as the additional funds were amended to the original Grant Award Notification (GAN) signed by the institution on April 14, 2020. Draw down of these funds indicates IUP’s commitment to use no less than $5,025,231 of the funds (per sections 18004(a)(1) and (c) of division B of the CARES Act) received through the CRRSAA Act to provide financial aid grants to students 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 (including mental health care), or child care.
2. The total dollar amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Financial Aid Grants to students.
IUP received a total of $5,025,231 from USDE for the sole purpose of providing financial grants to our students. Priority was given to those students who demonstrate exceptional need, such as Pell Grant recipients. Funds were also utilized to provide emergency grants to assist with emergency costs that arose due to the coronavirus such as tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and childcare.
3. The total dollar amount of Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA. This also includes any unspent grant funds awarded previously pursuant to Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act which are used consistent with the provisions of the CRRSAA Section 314(c)(3) for obligations incurred on or after March 13, 2020, subject to the requirements in the CRRSAA Section 314 (d)(5).
As of July 1, 2021, IUP has distributed a total of $5,025,231 to eligible students. This exhausts IUP’s Emergency Financial Aid Grant Funding under Section 314 (a)(1) of the CRRSAA.
4. The estimated number of students at the institution enrolled for at least one credit in either degree or non-degree programs who meet U.S. citizenship eligibility criteria and are thus eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA.
As of February 8, 2021, IUP determined that there were 8,776 students, both undergraduate and graduate level, eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA.
5. The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA.
As of July 1, 2021, 6,899 IUP students received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA. This number is not expected to increase since funding has been exhausted for this program.
6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive financial aid grants and how much they would receive under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA.
The university CRRSAA Act Committee, comprised of representatives from Student Affairs, Institutional Research, University Advancement, Financial Aid, Student Billing and IT Services, created an initial distribution plan to provide assistance to students who were enrolled in at least one class for the Spring 2021 semester, filed a 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and met U.S. citizenship eligibility requirements.
Since federal guidelines for awarding the CRRSAA funds require universities to prioritize students with “exceptional need,” the decision was made to utilize students’ Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to ensure an equitable distribution of CRRSA funds. Students’ EFC’s are calculated by USDE upon submission of their FAFSA application at .
Students who appeared to meet the CRRSAA eligibility requirements but who had not yet completed a 2020-21 FAFSA application were notified by email of the need to complete their application no later than March 17th in order to receive automatic consideration for the emergency financial aid grant.
Approximately 75% of IUP students received some amount of CRRSAA funding without the need to apply for grant assistance. The distribution breakdown is as follows:
- 0 EFC: $1,200 grant
- 1-5,711 EFC: $1,000 grant
- 5,712-7,000 EFC: $800 grant
- 7,001-16,000 EFC: $400 grant
- 16,001+ EFC: $300 grant
CRRSAA funding remaining after March 17th was allocated to the Student Assistance Fund to support students who experience emergent financial needs related to the pandemic. As of July 1, 2021, $153,531 was allocated to this fund for use in awarding individual student applications. This exhausts all program funds. IUP students applied for these funds via the Emergency Response Fund/Student Assistance Fund. The form was located in MyIUP.
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
Students were provided this guidance from Tom Segar, Vice President of Student Affairs.
Email Samples
The Financial Aid Office sent this email notifications to U.S. citizens who were enrolled for one or more credits and had not yet completed their 20-21 FAFSA application.
Previous Utilization of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds Reports
HEERF II Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) Institutional Portion
In addition to the federal dollars offered as emergency funds to students who have experienced unexpected educational expenses, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) also provided institutions funds to cover any costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction (including interruptions in instruction) due to the coronavirus, for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus, and to defray costs incurred including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, faculty and staff trainings, and payroll. The following Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reports, provide information on the amounts of HEERF II (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), funds expended.
University Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Committee, Distribution Plans
The University Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Committee, comprised of representatives from Student Affairs, Institutional Research, University Advancement, Financial Aid, Bursar's Office and IT Services, has created an initial distribution plan to provide assistance to students from CRRSAA funds. IUP anticipates distributing more than $5 million to approximately 6,854 students in CRRSAA funding.
To qualify, students must be enrolled in at least one class in a degree program or clock hour certificate program which is eligible for federal financial aid assistance. Students must also have a valid 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the IUP Office of Financial Aid and must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.
Federal guidelines for awarding these funds require universities to prioritize students with "exceptional need" To equitably distribute CRRSA funds, IUP will utilize students' Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is calculated when students file their 2020-21 FAFSA application at . Students can view their EFC via MyIUP by accessing their2020-21 Financial Aid Award Overviewon theFinances page.
Approximately 75% of IUP students will receive some amount of CRRSAA funding. The distribution breakdown is as follows:
- 0 EFC: $1,200 distribution
- 1 to 5,711 EFC: $1,000 distribution
- 5,712 to 7,000 EFC: $800 distribution
- 7,001 to 16,000 EFC: $400 distribution
- 16,001+ EFC: $300 distribution
No application is necessary to receive this funding. Disbursements to students' university accounts will begin February 26, 2021.
CRRSAA funds will not be applied to any student account balances; instead, funds will be paid to students through direct deposit if the student has signed up for this option through MyIUP. Otherwise, a paper check will be mailed to the student's address of record. Students who want to use these funds to pay university charges can make a payment directly to their student account via EasyPay. Questions regarding payment towards your university charges should be directed to the Bursar's office at bursars-office@iup.edu.
Students who have not yet filed a 2020-21 FAFSA application but would like to be considered for CRRSAA funding should no later than March 17. Funds will be awarded until the university's CRRSAA allocation is exhausted.Any funding remaining after March 17 will be allocated to the Student Assistance Fund, which is available to students who face financial hardships due to the pandemic.
For questions or more information about CRRSAA, please email financial-aid@iup.edu.