CARES Act Reporting

Update Published: July 11, 2022

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for all HEERF I, II, and III grant funds

00327500_HEERF_Q22022_071122[55].pdf

Update Published: April 10, 2022

Recommendation for Second Distribution

Recommendation for second Distribution of American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ($2,955,677 - $1,533,704 disbursed in fall 2021 = TOTAL to be spent: $1,421,973)

The committee discussed two possible scenarios:

Open another application to students
Target specific students with a direct grant. Consensus was that there are some students that may be intimidated to apply for the grants while another segment of students, being slow to review university communications in general, may miss the stated application deadline. The committee also recognized the need to get the funds to students quickly, and opening an application would slow the process.

The following data was requested and analyzed to identify eligible students:

Students enrolled in any Spring term;
Academic level;
Academic program;
Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) for the 2021 award year (as determined by their FAFSA);
Owing balance

ARP grants can be used for 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 (including mental health care) or child care. Unlike the CARES Act, ARP requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants (for 2021-22, UG students with EFCs $0 - $5,846 are considered Pell eligible).

After analyzing the data, these are the committee’s recommendations:

Use 91 % of available funds for UG students (1,727 students = $1,293,975):
- Award $875 grant to EFCs $0 - $10,000 (1,033 students = $903,875)
- Award $650 grant to EFCs $10,001-$30,000 (450 students = $292,500)
- Award $400 grant to EFCs $30,001 and greater (244 students = $97,600)
Use 9 % of available funds for GR students (386 students = $127,200):
- Award $350 grant to EFCs $0-$10,000 (228 students = $79,800)
- Award $300 grant to EFCs $10,001 and greater (158 students = $47,400)

This would allow approximately 2,113 students to receive the available $1,421,973 (we will split the remaining $798 between two or three of the UG $0 EFC students).

Students will be sent an email notifying them they are eligible for the grant, and requesting that they respond within 7 days if they prefer the grant be applied directly to their student account. Otherwise, they will receive a direct refund. After the 7 days, the grants will be disbursed.

Second Distribution Email Notifications to Students

Update Published: January 10, 2022

Recommendation for Distribution of: Remaining HEERF 2/CRRSAA (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021) ($9,396 due to uncashed checks) and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ($2,955,677)

TOTAL: $2,965,073

The committee discussed two possible scenarios:

Open another application to students
Target specific students with a direct grant. Consensus was that there are some students that may be intimidated to apply for the grants while another segment of students, being slow to review university communications in general, may miss the stated application deadline. The committee also recognized the need to get the funds to students quickly, and opening an application would slow the process.

The following data was requested and analyzed to identify eligible students:

Students enrolled in any Fall 2021 term
Academic level;
Academic program;
Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) for the 2021 award year (as determined by their FAFSA)
Owing balance

The ARP and HEERF 2 grants can be used for 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 (including mental health care) or child care. Unlike the CARES Act, ARP and HEERF 2 requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants (for 2021-22, UG students with EFCs $0 - $5,846 are considered Pell eligible).

After analyzing the data, these are the committee’s recommendations:

Reserve approximately 48% to distribute after the 1st census of the spring semester (February 11, 2022) ($1,420,698)
Of the 52% allocated for fall distribution:
- Use 47 % of available funds for UG students (1854 students = $1,396,075):
  - Award $875 grant to EFCs $0 - $10,000 (1131 students = $989,625)
  - Award $650 grant to EFCs $10,001-$30,000 (469 students = $304,850)
  - Award $400 grant to EFCs $30,001 and greater (254 students = $101,600)
- Use 5 % of available funds for GR students (414 students = $148,300):
  - Award $400 grant to EFCs $0-$10,000 (241 students = $96,400)
  - Award $300 grant to EFCs $10,001 and greater (173 students = $51,900)

This would allow approximately 2,268 students to receive grants.

Update Published: January 10, 2022

Breakdown of remaining HEERF2 and ARP disbursements

The remaining HEERF2 funding, as well as the first round of ARP funding, have been awarded and disbursed. Below are the totals:

HEERF2 remaining: Disbursed directly to accounts, at the student’s request (disbursed on December 2):

11 students: $ 9,396

ARP first round: Disbursed and refunded directly to students (disbursed December 3, refunds processed December 8):

1,971 students: $1,330,275

Disbursed directly to accounts, at the student’s request (disbursed on December 3):

285 students: $203,429

Total students: 2,266 (one student received HEERF 2 and ARP)

Total dollars:

remaining HEERF2 $ 9,396
ARP: $1,533,704
Total: $1,543,100

Remaining ARP funds to award/disburse in the spring: $1,421,973

Email

Text of ARP HEERF 3 email sent to students:

ARP HEERF 3 Email

Distribution of Remaining CARES Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students ($24,950) and HEERF 2/CRRSAA (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021) ($1,011,979)

Total: $1,036,929

Published: July 29, 2021

Students received a direct grant without the need for an application.

The following data was requested and analyzed to identify eligible students:

Students enrolled in any Fall 2020 term or any Spring 2021 term;
Academic level;
Academic program;
Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) for the 2020 award year (as determined by their FAFSA);
Owing balance

The total number of student eligible for the grant was 3,445 student which we then applied the above criteria.

The HEERF 2 grants can be used for 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 (including mental health care) or child care. Unlike the CARES Act, HEERF 2 requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants (for 2020-21, UG students with EFCs $0-$5711 are considered Pell eligible).

After analyzing the data, these are the committee’s recommendations:

Use 95% of available funds for UG students ($985,083):
- Award $625 grant to EFCs $0 - $10,000 (1286 students = $803,750)
- Award $395 grant to EFCs $10,001-$30,000 (457 students = $180,515)
Use 5% of available funds for GR students ($51,846):
- Award $158 grant to EFCs $0-$10,000 (328 students = $51,824)

This allowed approximately 2,071 students to receive the available $1,036,929 (we will split the remaining $840 between two or three of the UG $0 EFC students).

Students were sent the following email message notifying them they are eligible for the grant, and requesting that they respond within 4 days if they prefer the grant be applied directly to their student account. Otherwise, they will receive a direct refund. After the 4 days, the grants will be disbursed.

$625 UG

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to receive a $625 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Grant (HEERF 2), which was approved as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA).

These grants are being given to undergraduate students enrolled in either Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 with an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) between $0 and $10,000, as determined by your 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The grants are to assist with the Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 semesters and must be used for any component of your cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.

You have 3 options for receiving these funds:

You can have the grant applied directly to your student account balance to offset current charges, (please view Self-Service to see if you have a current balance https://www.holyfamily.edu/self-service).
You can receive the funds via ACH if you are signed up for direct deposit. You can add your direct deposit information in the Bank tab of Self-Service https://www.holyfamily.edu/self-service.
You can receive the funds via a check, mailed to the address the school has on file for you (you can check your address on your Self-Service account https://www.holyfamily.edu/self-service).

$395 UG

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to receive a $395 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Grant (HEERF 2), which was approved as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). These grants are being given to undergraduate students enrolled in either Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 with an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) between $10,001 and $30,000, as determined by your 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The grants are to assist with the Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 semesters and must be used for any component of your cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.

You have 3 options for receiving these funds:

You can have the grant applied directly to your student account balance to offset current charges, (please view Self-Service to see if you have a current balance https://www.holyfamily.edu/self-service).
You can receive the funds via ACH if you are signed up for direct deposit. You can add your direct deposit information in the Bank tab of Self-Service https://www.holyfamily.edu/self-service.
You can receive the funds via a check, mailed to the address the school has on file for you (you can check your address on your Self-Service account https://www.holyfamily.edu/self-service).

If you wish to select option 1, (to have it applied to your student account balance to offset current charges), answer the questions and submit by May 3, 2021.

If we do not receive the request to have it applied to your student account balance to offset current charges by May 3, 2021, we will assume you are selecting option 2 or 3 and there is nothing else you need to do. We will disburse the funds within the next seven to ten days. Please email with any questions you may have.

$158 GR

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to receive a $158 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Grant (HEERF 2), which was approved as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). These grants are being given to graduate students enrolled in either Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 with an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) between $0 and $10,000, as determined by your 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The grants are to assist with the Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 semesters and must be used for any component of your cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.

You have 3 options for receiving these funds:

You can have the grant applied directly to your student account balance to offset current charges, (please view Self-Service to see if you have a current balance https://www.holyfamily.edu/self-service).
You can receive the funds via ACH if you are signed up for direct deposit. You can add your direct deposit information in the Bank tab of Self-Service https://www.holyfamily.edu/self-service.
You can receive the funds via a check, mailed to the address the school has on file for you (you can check your address on your Self-Service account https://www.holyfamily.edu/self-service).

If you wish to select option 1, (to have it applied to your student account balance to offset current charges), answer the questions and submit by May 3, 2021.

Published: May 14, 2020

On April 9, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced that funding would be distributed to colleges and universities to provide direct emergency cash grants to college students whose lives and educations have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. The funding was available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, that was recently signed into law. A formula was used based on student enrollment, that awarded Holy Family University a total of $2,023,957 of which 50%, or $1,011,979, was to be used to support students directly, who have demonstrated need and are facing significant financial challenges due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The disbursement of the funds were (are) designed to prioritize students with the greatest demonstrated need and ensure that funds are distributed to as many students as possible.

Holy Family University sent to the US Department of Education on April 14, 2020, the required Certification and Agreement providing assurance that the University intends to use no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. This then triggered the Department of Education to make student support funds available to the University.

According to Department of Education guidelines, only those students eligible to receive Title IV funding are eligible to receive student support payments. As of March 27, 2020, Holy Family University enrolled 1,956 students that were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus were eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

After reviewing how many students received Title IV federal financial aid during the Spring 2020 terms and their Estimated Family Contributions (EFC), which is calculated from their Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA), the following criteria were determined: all students receiving funds through the CARES Act must be receiving federal aid for the Spring 2020 term(s), and students' EFC must be less than $15,000. Approximately 1,575 Holy Family University students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels fit these criteria. Based on the amount of funding we received, it was determined that award amounts will not exceed $1,500 per student, though students may receive partial funding less than $1,500. Students were invited to apply for the funds, with a May 18, 2020 deadline.

Students are able to complete an online application for Emergency Financial Aid Grants through the Holy Family University website. Links to this application are also found on the University’s Learning Management System and were emailed to the student listserv. Submitted applications are first reviewed by the Office of Financial Aid to ensure applicants meet the criteria for the distribution of funds and are complete. Incomplete applicants are emailed and asked to resubmit an application. Ineligible applicants are informed they are not eligible for funding. Complete, eligible applications are then reviewed by teams of two using a three-point scale. When scores disagree, a third reader is assigned to ensure appropriate scoring. Requests for funding are evaluated based on student need and available funding, and we are committed to doing so quickly. If a grant is approved, students will receive an email the week of May 27 at their Holy Family email account letting them know they are approved for a federal emergency grant and the amount. Funds will be disbursed in June via check or ACH deposit. Students who are not eligible, or whose application for emergency aid is not approved, will also be notified via email during the same time period.

Holy Family University students were emailed on May 4, 2020, and the following information was included in that communication. First, students were informed that the University had received approximately $2 million through the CARES Act and that approximately $1 million was now available for student aid in grants of up to $1,500 per student. Students were informed that in order to be eligible for emergency aid, they had to have received federal student aid (if enrolled as an undergraduate student) or federal student loans (if enrolled as a graduate student) and that their Estimated Family Contribution had to be less than $15,000. Students were also advised that the emergency financial aid was intended to offset expenses that resulted from the disruption of campus operations.

A link to the application was provided in the email, and the submission deadline of May 18, 2020 was stated. Students were informed that they would hear about grant approval during the week of May 27, 2020. Information about setting up direct deposit was also provided in this email to students.

Similar messaging appeared on the University’s Learning Management System, and an abbreviated message is presented on the University website through a “pop-up” on any University page. After submitting an application, students are also redirected to an information page on the University website.

For further updates, see links below.

CARES Act Reporting