American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Certification and Agreement (ALN 84.425E) ((a)(1) Student Aid Portion) PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT INSTITUTION GRANT FUNDS FOR STUDENTS

Question: Which students are eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants?

Answer: As announced in the Department’s final rule, “Eligibility To Receive
Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students Under HEERF” (May 14, 2021, 86 FR
26608) (final rule), the term “student,” for purposes of the phrases “grants to students,”
“emergency financial aid grants to students,” and “financial aid grants to students” as
used in the HEERF programs, is now defined as any individual who is or was enrolled (as
defined in 34 CFR § 668.2) at an eligible institution (as defined in 34 CFR § 600.2) on or
after March 13, 2020, the date of declaration of the national emergency due to the
coronavirus (85 FR 15337). Thus, students are no longer required to be eligible for Title
IV student financial aid in order to receive HEERF grants to students.
Put more plainly, 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 Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) or are eligible for Title IV. As under the CRRSAA, institutions are
directed with the ARP funds to prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students
who receive Pell Grants or are undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances
in awarding emergency financial aid grants to students.
Beyond Pell eligibility, other types of exceptional need could include students who may
be eligible for other federal or state need-based aid or have faced significant unexpected
expenses, such as the loss of employment (either for themselves or their families),
reduced income, or food or housing insecurity. In addition, the CRRSAA and ARP
explicitly state that emergency financial aid grants to students may be provided to
students exclusively enrolled in distance education provided the institution prioritizes
exceptional need.

May undocumented students and international students receive HEERF?
Answer: Yes.

The Department’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. The Department encourages institutions to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating this funding. This includes citizens, permanent residents,refugees, asylum seekers, DACA recipients, other DREAMers, and similar
undocumented students.

The terms, conditions, and requirements governing your institution’s (Recipient’s) use of these
grant funds awarded pursuant to section 2003 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP)
(Pub. L. 117-2) (award or grant) by the U.S. Department of Education (Department) are
governed by section 2003 of the ARP and section 314 of the Coronavirus Response and Relief
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) (Pub. L. 116-260) and the following terms
and conditions of this Certification and Agreement (C&A):

Use of Grant Funds:
1. Section 2003(7) of the ARP requires Recipient, an institution of higher education as
defined in section 101 or 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
(HEA), 20 USC § 1001 or 1002(c), to provide emergency financial aid grants to students
in an amount equivalent to the sum of two amounts: 50 percent of the portion of its
allocation that is based on formula factors from CRRSAA section 314(a)(1)(A)-(D) and
100 percent of the portion of its allocation that is based on formula factors from
CRRSAA section 314(a)(1)(E)-(F). The amount of funds made available by this award
under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.425E represents the minimum amount that
Recipient must use for making emergency financial aid grants to students.

2. Under section 2003(7) of the ARP and section 314(c)(3) of the CRRSAA, Recipient must
make emergency financial aid grants to students (which may include students exclusively
enrolled in distance education), which may 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.

3. Recipient acknowledges that it retains discretion to determine the amount and availability
of each individual emergency financial aid grant consistent with all applicable laws,
including non-discrimination laws. Recipient acknowledges it must not distribute
emergency financial aid grants in a manner that discriminates against individuals on the
basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or sex. See, e.g., 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.,
(Title VI), 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq., (Rehabilitation Act), 20 U.S.C. § 1681 (Title IX).

4. Recipient further acknowledges that under CRRSAA section 314(c)(3), it must prioritize
grants to students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants.
However, students do not need to be Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell
Grants in order to receive an emergency financial aid grant.

5. Recipient acknowledges that it may not condition the receipt of an emergency financial
aid grant on continued or future enrollment with the Recipient. Recipient also
acknowledges that it may not require a student to consent to the application of the
emergency financial aid grant to the student’s outstanding account balance with Recipient
Public and Nonprofit Institution Grant Funds for Students – Page 2
as a condition of receipt of or eligibility for an emergency financial aid grant. Recipient
also acknowledges that adding preconditions to receiving a financial aid grant that thwart
this requirement may be subjected to oversight and corrective action.

6. In consideration for this award, Recipient agrees that Recipient holds these grant funds in
trust for students and acts in the nature of a fiduciary for students.

7. Recipient acknowledges that the Secretary recommends (a) the maximum Federal Pell
Grant for the applicable award year as an appropriate maximum amount for a student’s
emergency financial aid grant in most cases, and (b) that the Recipient should consider
each student’s particular socioeconomic circumstances in the administration of these
grants.

8. The Secretary strongly encourages Recipient’s financial aid administrator to exercise the
use of professional judgment available under HEA section 479A, 20 USC § 1087tt, to
make adjustments on a case-by-case basis to exclude individual emergency financial aid
grants from the calculation of a student’s expected family contribution. The Secretary
has determined that these individual emergency financial aid grants do not constitute
Federal financial aid under Title IV of the HEA.

9. Recipient acknowledges that it may voluntarily decline all or a portion of its ARP (a)(1)
student funds. The recipient may indicate this by submitting the Voluntary Decline of
HEERF form (OMB Control Number 1840-0856) to the Department by August 11, 2021.
Recipient further acknowledges if it submits this form, it will be ineligible for the future
redistribution of ARP HEERF grant funds to other institutions with greater needs due to
the coronavirus

Unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA/HEERF II requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students. However, students do not need to be only Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants. In addition, the CRRSAA/HEERF II explicitly provides that financial aid grants to students may be provided to students exclusively enrolled in distance education. The CRRSAA/HEERF II includes no student eligibility requirements but students must have a 2020-2021 FAFSA on file and have the greatest financial need based upon their cost of attendance. 

To be eligible, you must meet the the following requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
• Have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with an official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated; and
• As of April 9, 2021, be enrolled in the spring 2021 semester as a regular or online student with at least one credit hour. Dual enrolled students are not eligible for assistance.

Guidance from the U.S. Department of Education indicates that students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), undocumented, or international student status are not eligible for HEERF II emergency aid funding.

Institutions may not:

1. Condition the receipt of financial aid grants to students on continued or future enrollment in the institution
2. Use the financial aid grants to satisfy a student’s outstanding account balance, unless it has obtained the student’s written (or electronic), affirmative consent
3. Require such consent as a condition of receipt of or eligibility for the financial aid grant

No, students are NOT required to complete an application at this time. Students who have filed a 2021 – 2022 FAFSA and who have the greatest financial need will automatically can be considered for these funds.

Students who did not receive an automatic award but have exceptional need due to hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to apply for funding. The application will open shortly until all available funds have been spent. The award amount for applicants will follow the same categorical guidelines used in the automatic awarding and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Grant recipients will be notified by email. 

By accepting the refund from the HEERF II or III award, students are acknowledging they have a need for these funds to help with their educational costs in the Spring 2021 term, Fall 2021 or Spring 2022 or that they have incurred emergency costs arising due to Coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care.

Even if your family chose to not file a FAFSA because of your income, you should file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), if not already filed.

Guidance from the U.S. Department of Education indicates that students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), undocumented, or international student status are not eligible for HEERF II or III emergency aid funding.

This could apply to a variety of financial costs directly tied to the effects of the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. This includes, but is not limited to, eligible expenses under a student's cost of attendance as determined by the Financial Aid Office, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care.

Food Expenses may include unexpected grocery expenses for a resident student who was depending on their meal plan to eat for the semester, or increased grocery expenses for a student supporting dependent children now home due to their school or child care closure.

Course Materials may include but not limited to general use supplies such as writing utensils and notebooks; course specific supplies such as calculators and lab equipment, unexpectedly required to be purchased due to campus disruption of regular operations.

Technology Expenses may include computer equipment, internet access expenses, printer supplies, etc., required for student success when transitioning to an online format from the traditional in-person class structure. Documentation for technology expenses must be uploaded in the application to be considered. Examples would be an estimate, receipt, or bill.

Healthcare Expenses may include the cost of unanticipated or unusual medical expenses due to coronavirus or its effects.

Child Care/Dependent Care Expenses may include the cost of unanticipated or unusual care expenses for a student's child or other dependents in the independent (based on FAFSA) student's household.

Transportation Expenses may include the cost of unanticipated or unusual travel expenses related to the disruption of campus operations. This may include additional trips to the University to retrieve personal belongings.

Housing Expenses may include unanticipated expenses in securing housing and/or rent for residential students after the closure of campus housing in March. 

No, this is a one-time grant.

For students who have signed up for direct deposit with Lasell Student Accounts, the funding will be sent to the student’s financial institution via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Students not enrolled in direct deposit will be issued a check.

If you would like the student grant award applied to your current balance you can make that request. Applying this grant award to your current balance may assist in lifting a current hold or prohibiting future holds so that you may register for your classes and/or receive a transcript or diploma.

Emergency financial aid grants may be used by students for any component of
their 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. Students
determine how they may use their emergency financial aid grant within the allowable
uses.

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

The maximum award for Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 is up to $1,500; maximum includes a combination of CARES and CRRSAA - HEERF II. Therefore, students who have already received $1500 in CARES funds for Spring 2021, are not eligible for CRRSAA - HEERF II funds.

The maximum award for Spring 2022 is up to $2,000 based upon 21-22 FAFSA and unmet need. Appeals will be reviewed for additional funding over the $2000 cap. 

Continue to check this website for the most up-to-date information. 

No. Emergency financial aid grants made by a federal agency, State, Indian
tribe, higher education institution or scholarship-granting organization (including a tribal
organization) to a student because of an event related to the COVID-19 national
emergency are not included in the student's gross income. For more information, please
see the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) bulletin Emergency aid granted to students due to
COVID is not taxable (March 30, 2021).

Students who are or were enrolled in an institution of higher education on or
after the date of the declaration of the national emergency due to the coronavirus (March
13, 2020) are eligible for emergency financial aid grants from the HEERF, regardless of
whether they completed a FAFSA or are eligible for Title IV. The CRRSAA requires that
institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell
Grants or are undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances, in awarding
emergency financial aid grants to students.

Beyond Pell eligibility, other types of exceptional need could include students who may
be eligible for other federal or state need-based aid or have faced significant unexpected
expenses either for themselves or that would affect their financial circumstances, such as
the loss of employment, reduced income, or food or housing insecurity. In addition, the
CRRSAA and ARP explicitly state that emergency financial aid grants to students may
be provided to students exclusively enrolled in distance education provided the institution
prioritizes exceptional need.

The Department encourages institutions to prioritize domestic students, especially
undergraduates, in allocating this funding. Domestic students include citizens, permanent
residents, refugees, asylum seekers, DACA recipients, other DREAMers, and similar
undocumented students.

Institutions may not (1) condition the receipt of emergency financial aid grants to
students on continued or future enrollment in the institution, (2) use the emergency
financial aid grants to satisfy a student’s outstanding account balance, unless it has
obtained the student’s written (or electronic), affirmative consent, or (3) require such
consent as a condition of receipt of or eligibility for the emergency financial aid grant.
Institutions should carefully document how they prioritize students with exceptional need
in distributing emergency financial aid grants to students, as the Department is exploring
reporting requirements regarding the distribution of emergency financial aid grants to
students (see 2 CFR § 200.334).

The Department of Education requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who qualify for Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students. Therefore, we must have a 2021-2022 FAFSA on file to properly prioritize students. This provides for the federal requirement of prioritizing students with exceptional need while utilizing all funding. 

Awards will be based on a combination of the EFC as established by the FAFSA and the students unmet need.