Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

 

Recognizing the impact of COVID-19 on students and colleges and universities, the federal government has allocated three rounds of emergency funding to the U.S. Department of Education for distribution to higher education institutions:

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress on March 27, 2020. The bill provided money through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to higher education institutions to distribute emergency grants to eligible students impacted by COVID-19.

PennWest Edinboro submitted a Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES Act to the Department of Education in April 2020. The University was allocated $2,090,834 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

Eligibility and Distribution

PennWest Edinboro used the following method to determine eligibility and distribution amounts:

  • Students enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester;
  • Students who have a 2019-2020 FAFSA on file; and;
  • Students who meet all Title IV requirements for Federal Student Aid.

All eligible students experienced some form of disruption of learning and financial hardship without regard to financial need; however, the University recognized that undergraduate students with financial need should receive a slightly higher distribution. Therefore, the distribution was $800 for undergraduate students with financial need and $750 to graduate level students and undergraduate students without financial need.

The remaining $134,723 of CARES Act funding was awarded to 799 students using the following determination and amounts: Final Round of funding went to the following group of students:

  • Students enrolled in fall 2020 Semester;
  • Students who have a 2020-2021 FAFSA on file;
  • Student who meet all Title IV requirements for Federal Student Aid; and
  • Students who were displaced from housing due to the transition of limited on campus residency.

Students received an average award of $166. The University distributed all CARES Act funding ($2,090,843) as of Sept. 9, 2020, and applications are now closed.

On Dec. 27, 2020, the President signed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), authorizing the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II). The HEERF II funds, which were disbursed by the U.S. Department of Education, are designed to prioritize students with the greatest demonstrated financial need.

PennWest Edinboro received $2,090,843 to directly support students who have demonstrated need and are facing financial challenges because of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligibility and Distribution

The University distributed funds in two ways:

  • Automatic distribution to federal student aid applicants with the greatest identified need; and
  • By application for those who do not qualify for an automatic distribution.

For the automatic distribution, each recipient must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be enrolled for Spring 2021 semester as of February 18, 2021 and must be currently attending classes in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
  1. Non-degree, visiting students and student students who have graduated or withdrawn are not eligible for the emergency funding
  2. Have a completed a 2020-2021 FAFSA with a valid Expected Family Contribution (EFC) by February 18, 2021
  3. Must be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen
  4. Please note that a student doesn’t have to actually receive federal financial aid to be eligible for Emergency Financial Aid Grants. However, priority will be given to those who are documented to be most in need.

Award amounts to eligible students will range depending on financial need.   The highest grant amounts are provided to eligible students who exhibit the highest financial need as determined from their FAFSA. Please see below for the awarding methodology:

Enrollment Type EFC Range from the FAFSA Estimated Award Amount
Undergraduate 0-14,999 $725
Undergraduate 15,000-999,000 $500
Graduate 0-5,499 $725
Graduate 5,500-999,999 $500

 

Students who meet the eligibility criteria will automatically be awarded in the spring 2021 term in the amounts as outlined in the chart above based upon the EFC range as calculated on the FAFSA. The Federal HEERF II Emergency Grant is awarded on a one-time basis, and is not renewable. Due to limited funding, award amounts are not negotiable at this time.             

Spring 2021 disbursements should appear on Students Accounts the week of February 22, 2021 and refunds will be processed automatically.  You should expect to receive this money via direct deposit or a paper check sent to your permanent home address.  Should you have further questions regarding this grant, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 814.732.3500 or finaid-edn@pennwest.edu or the Student Accounts Office at 814.732.3502 or studentaccounts@pennwest.edu.   $1,986,450.00 was awarded to 3035 students in the form of block grants on February 19, 2021. 

The remaining HEERF II funds are available for students who did not qualify for the automatic distribution or have had additional unexpected expenses or incurred hardship because of COVID-19 on or after December 27, 2020.   The funds are limited, so you must apply by Friday, March 5, 2021 by 4:30 p.m., at which time a committee will begin evaluating the level of need among all applicants and commence disbursing funds directly to those students who qualify. The funds must be spent on eligible expenses including outstanding tuition bills, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care.  116 students were awarded $104,393.00 based on application submissions and all funds have been exhausted as of April 6, 2021. 

HEERF II FAQs

Eligible expenses are those expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to Covid-19 including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as tuition, housing, food, technology, healthcare, and child-care expenses.  Applicants are required to confirm that they incurred eligible expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. Normal expenses are not eligible.

No, this fund does not negate nor replace financial aid, and it is a one-time grant.

Students will be sent an email notifying them they are approved for funding. These funds are limited, are not guaranteed, and requests may not be granted.

No, your grant will be issued directly to you through direct deposit or paper check, even if you have a balance.  If you choose to use the money to then pay your balance, that is your choice. Which can be done through the E-bill system.

Because international students are typically not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, they are not eligible for a HEERF II Emergency Grant.

Updated September 28, 2021

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) was authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Public Law 117-2, which was signed into law on March 11, 2021. ARP funds provided $39.6 billion in support to higher education institutions to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. PennWest Edinboro was allocated $5,675,241

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.

Eligibility and Distribution

The University will distribute funds in two ways:

  • Automatic distribution to federal student aid applicants with the greatest identified need; and
  • By application for those who do not qualify for an automatic distribution.

For the first automatic distribution, each recipient must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be enrolled for Spring 2021 and/or Summer 2021 semesters as of June 3, 2021 and must be currently attending classes in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
    1. Non-degree, visiting students are not eligible for the emergency funding.
  2. Have a completed a 2020-2021 FAFSA with a valid Expected Family Contribution (EFC) by June 3, 2021.
  3. Must be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen
  4. Please note that a student doesn’t have to actually receive federal financial aid to be eligible for Emergency Financial Aid Grants. However, priority will be given to those who are documented to be most in need.

Award amounts to eligible students will range depending on financial need. The highest grant amounts are provided to eligible students who exhibit the highest financial need as determined from their FAFSA.

Please see below for the awarding methodology:

Enrollment Type EFC Range from the FAFSA Estimated Award Amount
Undergraduate 0-14,999 $750
Undergraduate 15,000-999,000 $500
Graduate 0-5,499 $750
Graduate 5,500-999,999 $500

 

Students who meet the eligibility criteria will automatically be awarded the funds for each term of attendance (spring and summer only) in the amounts as outlined in the chart above based upon the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) range as calculated on the FAFSA. The Federal HEERF III Emergency Grant is awarded on a one-time basis, and is not renewable. Due to limited funding, award amounts are not negotiable at this time.             

Disbursements should appear on Students Accounts the week of June 14, 2021, and refunds will be processed automatically. You should expect to receive this money via direct deposit or a paper check sent to your permanent home address. Should you have further questions regarding this grant, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 814-732-3500 or finaid-edn@pennwest.edu or the Student Accounts Office at 814-732-3502 or studentaccounts@pennwest.edu.

This round of distributions will assist 3115 students and award $2,735,500 in funds. The remaining HEERF III funds are available for students who did not qualify for the automatic distribution or have had additional unexpected expenses or incurred hardship because of COVID-19 since the national emergency due to coronavirus began on March 13, 2020.  The funds are limited, so you must apply by Friday, July 9, 2021, at which time a committee will begin evaluating the level of need among all applicants and commence disbursing funds directly to those students who qualify. The funds must be spent on eligible expenses including outstanding tuition bills, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care.  These are all items in your cost of attendance. 

For the final round of automatic distribution, each recipient must meet the following criteria:

For the final round of automatic distribution, each recipient must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be enrolled for Fall 2021 as of September 13, 2021, and must be currently attending classes in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
  2. Non-degree, visiting students are not eligible for the emergency funding
  1. Have a completed a 2021-2022 FAFSA with a valid Expected Family Contribution (EFC) by September 13, 2021.
  2. Please note that a student doesn’t have to actually receive federal financial aid to be eligible for Emergency Financial Aid Grants. However, priority will be given to those who are documented to be most in need.

Award amounts to eligible students will range depending on financial need. The highest grant amounts are provided to eligible students who exhibit the highest financial need as determined from their FAFSA. Please see below for the awarding methodology:

Enrollment Type EFC Range from the FAFSA Estimated Award Amount
Undergraduate 0-14,999 $1150
Undergraduate 15,000-999,000 $650
Graduate 0-5,499 $1150
Graduate 5,500-999,999 $650
International Students N/A $180

 

Students who meet the eligibility criteria will automatically be awarded the funds in the amounts as outlined in the chart above based upon the EFC range as calculated on the FAFSA. The Federal HEERF III Emergency Grant is awarded on a one-time basis, and is not renewable. Due to limited funding, award amounts are not negotiable at this time.                      

Disbursements should appear on Students Accounts the week of October 4, 2021 and refunds will be processed automatically.  You should expect to receive this money via direct deposit or a paper check sent to your permanent home address.  Should you have further questions regarding this grant, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 814.732.3500 or finaid-edn@pennwest.edu or the Student Accounts Office at 814.732.3502 or studentaccounts@pennwest.edu.  

This round of distributions will assist 3067 students and award $2,954,670 in funds. The remaining HEERF III funds are available for students who did not qualify for the automatic distribution or have had additional unexpected expenses or incurred hardship because of COVID-19 since the national emergency due to coronavirus began on March 13, 2020.  The funds must be spent on eligible expenses including outstanding tuition bills, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care.  These are all items in your cost of attendance. 

HEERF III FAQs

Eligible expenses are those expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as tuition, housing, food, technology, healthcare and child-care expenses. Applicants are required to confirm that they incurred eligible expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. Normal expenses are not eligible.

No. This fund does not negate nor replace financial aid, and it is a one-time grant.

Students will be sent an email notifying them they are approved for funding. These funds are limited, are not guaranteed, and requests may not be granted.

No, your grant will be issued directly to you through direct deposit or paper check, even if you have a balance. If you choose to use the money to then pay your balance, that is your choice. Which can be done through the E-bill system.

Yes. The Department of Education’s final rule on student eligibility for HEERF states that all students who are or were enrolled in an institution of higher education during the COVID-19 national emergency are eligible for emergency financial aid grants from the HEERF, regardless of whether they completed a FAFSA or are eligible for Title IV. That includes citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers and similar undocumented students.

International students may also receive HEERF. However, institutions must ensure that funds go to students who have exceptional need

Reporting

Per Department of Education requirements, the following reports detail distribution of the funds.

Contact Us

Student Accounts Office
Hamilton Hall
210 Glasgow Road
Edinboro, PA 16444
Email: studentaccounts@pennwest.edu
Phone: 814-732-3502
Fax: 814-732-2991

Financial Aid Office
Hamilton Hall
210 Glasgow Road
Edinboro, PA 16444
Email: finaid-edn@pennwest.edu
Phone: 814-732-3500
Fax: 814-732-2129