CARES Act Emergency Funds to Students
The CARES Act make emergency funds available to students affected by the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. Find out if you are eligible and how funds will be distributed.
The CARES Act, which established and funds the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) has set aside funding to help educational institutions and their students. These funds were established to cover “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.’’ The University of Northwestern has been allocated $569,055 for COVID-19 pandemic relief using a formula based on student enrollment. This has been designated to provide students with emergency financial aid grants to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.
The CRRSAA, which established and funds the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) has set aside additional funding of $569,055 for a broader population of the institution to help cover expenses related to the continued disruption of campus operation due to COVID-19. Students do not need to qualify for Title IV funding to be eligible and Distance Learning students are now eligible.
ARPA, which established and funds the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) has set aside additional funding of $1,955,567 for a broader population of the institution to help cover expenses related to the continued disruption of campus operation due to COVID-19. Students do not need to qualify for Title IV funding to be eligible and Distance Learning, International and DACA students are now eligible.
Who is eligible for CARES HEERF I/HEERF II/HEERF III Grants?
Students who were registered for the University of Northwestern spring semester courses on March 13, 2020 and who are not specifically excluded under the terms of the CARES Act are eligible for the HEERF I funds.
Students who were enrolled in the University of Northwestern 2021 spring semester on 3/1/21 and who are not specifically excluded under the terms of the CRRSAA are eligible for the HEERF II funds.
Students who were enrolled in the University of Northwestern 2021 fall semester and 2022 spring semester and who are not specifically excluded under the terms of the ARPA are eligible for the HEERF III funds.
The University has set aside $488,199 to grant additional Financial Aid to students in significant need and having difficulty registering for the upcoming semester. It is the University’s intent to provide assistance to those in need that might give them the extra push for them to finish their degree. If you are in this situation, please complete the Application for Grant – ARP as soon as possible to allow you to move ahead on the upcoming registration. (Update: Effective May 2,2022 applications are no longer being accepted.)
Who is not eligible under the terms of the CARES Act HEERF I/HEERF II/HEERF III Grants?
HEERF I – Concurrent high school students, postsecondary enrollment option (PSEO) students, those enrolled in non-credit courses or less than ½ time, international students, DACA students, those enrolled fully online prior to March 13, 2020.
HEERF II- Concurrent high school students, postsecondary enrollment option (PSEO) students, those enrolled in non-credit courses, international students, DACA students.
HEERF III- Concurrent high school students, postsecondary enrollment option (PSEO) students.
How will eligible students receive their cash payment?
If you are eligible, you will receive payment through our normal refund process, ACH direct deposit or check. The disbursements for HEERF I will occur starting May 27, 2020. If eligible for the HEERF II funds your disbursements will occur starting March 25, 2021.
CARES Act – HEERF I/HEERF II/HEERF III Awards Plan
HEERF I:
| Amount Awarded | Number of Student Awards | Total Amount Awarded | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pell Recipients enrolled in 2020 Spring as of March 13, 2020 | $ 500.00 | 466 | $233,000 |
| Non-Pell Recipients enrolled in Spring as of March 13 | $ 275.00 | 922 | $253,550 |
| Nursing Students – Summer (Cohorts 11 and 13) | $500.00 | 70 | $ 35,000 |
| Non-FAFSA Students who have not completed a FAFSA and complete a FAFSA now | Various | 21 | $ 6,950 |
| Pell Recipients enrolled in Spring 2021 as of March 1, 2021 – Full Time | $389.00 | 94 | $ 36,566 |
| Pell Recipients enrolled in Spring 2021 as of March 1, 2021 – Part Time | $254.50 | 16 | $ 3,989 |
| Total HEERF I Grants | 1,589 | $569,055 |
HEERF II:
| Amount Awarded | Number of Student Awards | Total Amount Awarded | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time Students | $389.00 | 1,347 | $523,983.00 |
| Part-Time Students | $254.50 | 177 | $ 45,129.50 |
| Total HEERF II Grants | 1,524 | $569,112.50 |
HEERF III:
| Amount Awarded | Number of Student Awards | Total Amount Awarded | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time Students | $ 913.00 | 1,442 | $1,316,546.00 |
| Part-Time Students | $ 598.50 | 252 | $ 150,822.00 |
| Financial Aid Grants – Need Based | Various | 164 | $ 488,199.00 |
| Total HEERF III Grants | 1,858 | $1,955,567.00 |
Total eligible students to receive CARES Act – HEERF I Emergency Financial Aid is 1,589.
Total eligible students to receive CRRSAA – HEERF II Emergency Financial Aid is 1,524.
Total eligible students to receive ARPA – HEERF III Emergency Financial Aid is 1,858.
Please contact Financial Aid at [email protected] for questions about the grants and if you have questions about the receipt of your funds, contact UNW Student Accounts at [email protected].
Current Statistics:
HEERF I:
| Amount Awarded | Adjusted Total of Students awards Received | Amount of Student Awards Received | Total Amount of Awards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pell Recipients enrolled in 2020 Spring as of March 13, 2020 | $ 500.00 | 466 | $ 233,000.00 | $ 233,000.00 |
| Non-Pell Recipients enrolled in Spring as of March 13 | $ 275.00 | 922 | $ 253,550.00 | $ 253,550.00 |
| Nursing Students – Summer (Cohorts 11 and 13) | $ 500.00 | 70 | $ 35,000.00 | $ 35,000.00 |
| Non-FAFSA Students who have not completed a FAFSA and complete a FAFSA now | Various | 21 | $ 6,950.00 | $ 6,950.00 |
| Pell Recipients enrolled in Spring 2021 as of March 1, 2021 – Full Time | $ 389.00 | 94 | $ 36,566.00 | $ 36,566.00 |
| Pell Recipients enrolled in Spring 2021 as of March 1, 2021 – Part Time | $ 254.50 | 16 | $ 3,989.00 | $ 3,989.00 |
| Total HEERF I Grants | 1,589 | $ 569,055.00 | $ 569,055.00 |
HEERF II:
| Amount Awarded | Adjusted Total of Students Awards Received | Amount of Student Awards Received | Total Amount of Awards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time Students | $ 389.00 | 1,347 | $ 523,983.00 | $ 523,983.00 |
| Part-Time Students | $ 254.50 | 117 | $ 45,129.50 | $ 45,129.50 |
| Total HEERF II Grants | 1,524 | $ 569,112.50 | $ 569,112.50 |
HEERF III:
| Amount Awarded | Adjusted Total of Students Awards Received | Amount of Student Awards Received | Total Amount of Awards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time Students | $ 913.00 | 1,429 | $1,316,546.00 | $1,316,546.00 |
| Part-Time Students | $ 598.50 | 252 | $ 150,822.00 | $ 150,822.00 |
| Financial Aid Grants – Need Based | Various | 164 | $ 488,199.00 | $ 488,199.00 |
| Total HEERF III Grants | 1,858 | $1,955,567.00 | $1,955,567.00 | |
| Total HEERF Funds Awarded as of 06/30/22 | 4,971 | $3,093,734.50 | $3,093,734.50 |
Reporting
| June 30, 2020 | September 30, 2020 | December 31, 2020 | |
| March 30, 2021 | June 30, 2021 | September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2021 |
| March 31, 2022 | June 30, 2022 |
HEERF Institutional Reporting
| 2021-Q1 DOE Institutional Report | 2021-Q2 DOE Institutional Report |
| 2021-Q3 DOE Institutional Report | 2021-Q4 DOE Institutional Report |
| 2022-Q1 DOE Institutional Report | 2022-Q2 DOE Institutional Report |
Selection Criteria:
A tiered system was used to determine eligibility for CARES Act Grants and how much each student could receive. For the majority of the funds, students must have been enrolled in spring 2020 on March 13 at least half time. Students must be eligible for Title IV funds under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and must not be enrolled in an online program of study on March 13. A small portion of the funds was reserved for students in the summer nursing cohorts.
A broader system was used to spread across the entire University enrolled population for the HEERF II/HEERF III distribution giving consideration of all the students in contrast to the first stimulus that was focused on the students with greater financial need (PELL). Part-time students received 65% of what a full time student received. A portion of the HEERF III student aid (25%) was set aside for students with significant need based on an application process.
Assertion:
The University has received these Federal grants as a result of our application for the CARES Act funds under the Higher Education Relief Funds in the CARES Act. The University has signed and agreed to the CARES Act Certification and Agreement documenting and assuring that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students and to use the same amount for the CRRSAA (HEERF II) Grants. The ARPA (HEERF III) grants were established at a higher level than before and greater than the institutional portion.
