HEERF III – Student Aid Portion under the American Rescue Plan (ARP)
Erikson values our students and we are invested in your success. We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has created some very challenging circumstances for our students. To assist students who have been impacted financially, Erikson Institute is distributing Student Emergency grants. This grant is from Erikson’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund Support Program and is funded by the American Rescue Plan (“ARP”), signed into law on May 11, 2021, and represents the third stream of funding for HEERF.
Under ARP, HEERF III Student Share Grant funds 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.
The ARP requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need and authorizes grants to students exclusively enrolled in distance education. On May 14, 2021 the Department of Education provided a broader definition of “student” to include students enrolled in an institution of higher education on or after March 13, 2020, regardless of whether they completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or are eligible for Title IV. International students may also receive HEERF grants.
The ARP requires all colleges and universities participating in the program to provide access to the following information. This is the Institute’s final progress report regarding the HEERF III Student Share Grants and presents information as of December 31, 2021.
- Erikson Institute signed and returned the certification and agreement form as of April 20, 2020. This document is an assurance that Erikson Institute 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. The ARP authorized supplemental awards to existing Student Aid Portion and Institutional Portion grantees. As such, the Institute was not required to submit a new or revised application to the U.S. Department of Education.
- The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received under the HEERF III student portion is $59,683.
- Of those funds, the total amount that has been distributed to students as of the date of reporting is $59,683.
- The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in HEERF III Student Share Grants Funds, including students who are or were enrolled on or after March 13, 2020 under the updated definition of student provided by the U.S. Department of Education is 500.
- The total number of students who have received HEERF III Student Share Grants is 34.
- Erikson Institute determined which students did or will receive emergency financial aid grants and how much funding they did or will receive based on the U.S. Department of Education’s updated definition of “student” and follows its guidance that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need. The institute utilizes data provided by the most recent FAFSA/ISIR for eligible students. Data utilized is Expected Family Contribution, Household Size, NSLDS Debt and adjusted gross income. A point system was established to scale awards and prioritize students with exceptional need. Grants were available for an amount up to $3,000.
- Erikson Institute provided instructions, directions, and guidance to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants via emails with a link to the online application form. First round applications for HEERF III student grants were available with a deadline of August 25, 2021, a copy can be found here. Erikson then opened the application to additional students in need in November 2021.