The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, providing $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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. On May 24, 2021 the University of the South (Sewanee) Received the Grant Award Notification (GAN) for the HEERF III Student Funds. Sewanee acknowledge receipt of the GAN on June 7, 2021. Sewanee HEERF III Information as of September 30, 2021 follows.

HEERF III STUDENT FUNDS: $1,425,834

HEERF III STUDENT FUND EMERGENCY GRANTS Disbursed AS of March 31, 2022: $1,425,834

HEERF II STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND AWARDING PROTOCOL

Sewanee’s HEERF III Student Funds were used to award emergency grants (called CARES Act Grants) to students enrolled at Sewanee during the 2021-2022 academic year. The CRRSAA Act specified that when making awards out of the HEERF III 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 listed below.

To qualify for the grant, students must have:

  • been enrolled as an undergraduate student in degree seeking program at Sewanee during the 2021-2022 academic year;
  • filed a FAFSA for the 2021-2022 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 2021-2022 or demonstrated need as calculated by Sewanee using the FAFSA and CSS Profile;
  • met the Title IV eligibility requirements of Section 484 of the Higher Education Act including meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and citizenship requirements.

In prioritizing our Pell grant recipients, 60% of the total grant was allocated to Pell students ($855,500.40) and then 40% of the total grant ($570,333.60) to eligible students with demonstrated need. For both groups the total funding allocated was distributed equally among the eligible students. As of March 31, 2022, 838 students received funding from the CARES III Grant.

Student Eligibility Criteria

HEERF/Care III Grant Amount

Pell Recipients

$3,168.52

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

$1,016.63

 

Student Notification of Eligibility

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

Dear Student,

 

Sewanee is again receiving student grant funding through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund/Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act or HEERF/CARES.

We are pleased to inform you that you have been awarded a CARES III Emergency Grant in the amount of $X,XXX.XX. You do not need to complete an application to receive this grant

These funds may be used to cover any portion of your educational costs and emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus such as:

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

If you would like these funds applied to your University bill, due July 31, you must complete this GOOGLE FORM from your Sewanee email account and formally indicate you want this grant applied to your student account no later than midnight July 31. For students who do not complete the google form, or do not want this applied to your Sewanee student bill, grant disbursements will begin the week of September 6.
 

Please discuss the application of this grant to your account with your parents and respond no later than midnight July 29 to have this applied to your bill. If you have additional questions about the CARES III Emergency Grant please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@sewanee.edu or 931.598.1312.

 

On behalf of your Sewanee Financial Aid Team,

Beth Cragar

 

UPDATED April 10, 2022, Final HEERF/CARES3 Student Report.