HEERF III (ARP) Student Emergency Grant
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund lll (HEERF lll) is authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). This fund allows SUNY New Paltz to provide emergency grants to students for expenses related to 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 childcare.
SUNY New Paltz has been allocated $9,542,155 in HEERF lll funds under section 2003(7) of the ARP for the purpose of providing grants to students. This program, with some changes, provides supplemental funds to the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) program. SUNY New Paltz has signed and returned to the Department of Education a Certification of Agreement as required under the CARES Act. We acknowledge that by drawing down the ARP Student Aid Funds, our institution agrees to be bound by the conditions set forth in the ARP Supplemental Agreement including using 100% of these Student Aid Funds to provide emergency grants to students.
Eligibility
Colleges are mandated to prioritize students with highest need, such as students who receive Pell Grants or undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances. Two awarding methodologies will be used to meet that objective.
SUNY has determined that a minimum of 80% of ARP Student Aid funds will be distributed as block grants to students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) between 0 and 14,615 on the 2021-2022 FAFSA. These HEERF lll block grants will be awarded during the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters.
The remaining funds make up the discretionary pool from which grants may be awarded through an application process. All other enrolled, matriculated students not receiving a block grant may be considered for a discretionary award. This includes non-FAFSA filers, DACA students, undocumented and international students. Discretionary awards cannot be greater than the lowest block grant award for full-time and part-time students.
Eligibility for either the block grant or discretionary award requires that students are matriculated and enrolled in a degree granting program as of the census date of the semester in which the grant is awarded. In addition, block grant recipients must have a final, valid EFC on the 2021-2022 FAFSA at the time of disbursement.
Students receiving a block grant will not be eligible to apply for a discretionary award.
An estimated 3,250 students qualified for a HEERF lll block grant award for the Fall 2021 semester.
An estimated 3,022 students qualify for a HEERF lll block grant award for the Spring 2022 semester.
Allowable Expenses
HEERF lll grants may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or emergency costs that arise due to COVID-19 including:
- Tuition
- Food
- Housing
- Health care (including mental health care)
- Childcare
Application
Students determined to be eligible for an emergency grant under the block grant methodology will not need to submit an application. They will be notified via campus email of their eligibility.
Students determined to be eligible to apply for a discretionary emergency grant will receive an announcement/application link via campus email beginning in April 2022. The deadline for priority consideration is April 22, 2022. Applications received after that date will only be considered if funding remains available after all other applicants have been awarded.
Award Determination
Award amounts for block grants are determined by EFC and enrollment level at the census date of the semester. For the purpose of HEERF lll distribution, SUNY has defined graduate students as full time with registration of at least 9 credits, while undergraduates are defined as full time with registration of at least 12 credits. The amounts for each level were calculated according to a formula provided by SUNY. The chart below shows the awards for each level:
Fall 2021 Block Grant Award Distribution
Update: Discretionary awards for students not eligible for block grants were distributed in May 2022. Award amounts were $334 if full time and $236 if part time.
Award Distribution
Disbursements will be made via direct deposit and mailed checks. Students who do not have direct deposit set up will have checks mailed to the permanent address on file with the Registrar. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Office of Student Accounts if they did not have pandemic related expenses that were equal or greater than the amount of their grant. The entire award amount will be refunded regardless of account balance. All awards issued via check must be cashed within 240 days of being issued or the award will be forfeited.
Fall 2021 block grant distribution began November 18, 2021.
Spring 2022 block grant distribution began March 14, 2022.
Discretionary award distribution to begin May, 2022.
Repayment/Impact on Financial Aid
Federal HEERF Grants do not need to be repaid and have no impact on student financial aid packages as they are not considered to be financial aid.
Questions
Questions regarding HEERF lll Grants available through the ARP Act may be submitted to covid19questions@newpaltz.edu.
Federal Disclosures
First Quarterly Report
As of June 30, 2021 SUNY New Paltz distributed $0 in HEERF lll Grants.
Second Quarterly Report
As of September 30, 2021 SUNY New Paltz distributed $0 in HEERF lll Grants
Third Quarterly Report
As of December 31, 2021 SUNY New Paltz distributed $3,851,054 in HEERF lll Grants to 3,249 students.
Fourth Quarterly Report
As of March 31, 2022 SUNY New Paltz distributed $4,571,005 in HEERF III Grants to 3,056 students.
