The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) (enacted December 27, 2020) provided additional Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF II). A portion of these funds were designated to be spent as emergency funds for students. The HEERF II allocations were in addition to the initial HEERF I funds received as part of the CARES Act in April 2020. On February 19, 2021, the University of the South (Sewanee) received the Grant Award Notification (GAN) for the HEERF II Student Funds. Sewanee acknowledged receipt of the GAN on February 21, 2021.Sewanee HEERF II Information (as of April 20, 2021)

HEERF II Student Funds: $547,047

HEERF II Student Fund Emergency Grants disbursED April 23, 2021: $547,047

HEERF II Student Emergency Fund Awarding Protocol

Sewanee’s HEERF II Student Funds were used to award emergency grants (called CARES Act Grants) to students enrolled at Sewanee in the Spring 2021 term. The CRRSAA Act specified that when making awards out of the HEERF II Student Fund, schools should prioritize students with exceptional financial need such as students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Sewanee did not require students to complete an application to receive the funds. Instead, grants were paid to eligible students based on the students meeting the eligibility criteria as of April 20, 2021.

To qualify for the grant, students must have:

  • been enrolled as an undergraduate student in degree seeking program at Sewanee for the Easter 2021 semester;
  • not withdrawn from the Easter 2021;
  • filed a FAFSA for the 2020-2021 year that was not rejected, was received by Sewanee, and included a valid Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) number;
  • established eligibility to receive a Pell Grant for the Spring 2021 term or an EFC from FAFSA under your cost of attendance budget;
  • met the Title IV eligibility requirements of Section 484 of the Higher Education Act including meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and citizenship requirements;
  • if required, completed the federal verification process.

In prioritizing our Pell grant recipients, 60% of the total grant was allocated to Pell students ($328,228.20) and then 40% of the total grant ($218,818.80) to eligible students with demonstrated need. For both groups the total funding allocated was distributed equally among the eligible students.

Student Eligibility Criteria

HEERF/Care II Grant Amount

Pell Recipients

$1,238.61

Non-Pell Recipients with an EFC less than their individual cost of attendance budget

$447.48

 

Student Notification of Eligibility

Students who qualified for the HEERF II grants were notified by an email sent to their Sewanee email address.  A sample of the email follows:

Dear Student,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been awarded a CARES 2 Emergency Grant in the amount of $XXX. 

Please note that the grant will be disbursed directly to you even if you have outstanding charges on your student account.  If you choose to use your grant funds to cover charges that you owe to Sewanee, you must complete this google form from your Sewanee email account and formally indicate you want this grant applied to your student account.

This must be completed before April 23 or funds will automatically be disbursed to you.

You do not need to complete an application to receive this grant. The grant funds were provided through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act recently passed by the United States Congress. Grant disbursement will begin Friday April 23 through direct deposit or, if you have not set-up direct deposit, by paper check to your address of record in Banner. It may take several days for the funds to show up in your bank account.

You may use the funds to cover any portion of your educational costs and emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus including things like:

  • Tuition, fees, books, and school supplies
  • Housing, utilities, and food
  • Health care expenses including mental health
  • Child care costs
  • Transportation expenses

If you have additional questions about the CARES 2 Emergency Grant or your financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@sewanee.edu or 931.598.1312.

Your Sewanee Financial Aid Team