The last disbursement of Federal CARES/HEERF funding occurred on August 12, 2022. All CARES/HEERF funding has been expended.
If your CARES check remains uncashed for six months, UVU will attempt to contact you by phone or email. If we are unsuccessful, the CARES funding will be returned to the program. The program ends May 24, 2023. Any requests for this funding to be re-issued must be made prior to this date.
What is the federal CARES Act/HEERF Funding?
The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The act provides financial compensation and support to multiple layers of the U.S. economy, including businesses, individuals, unemployment benefits, and education. The act established and funded HEERF (Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund) for institutions to use a portion of the funds as emergency financial aid grants to students. Additional funding was provided by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) signed into law December 27, 2020. A third act ARP (American Rescue Plan), signed into law March 11, 2021, provided another portion of HEERF for higher education.
How much money will UVU receive?
The CARES Act allocated nearly $14 billion to support colleges and universities around the country. UVU will receive $22,949,207.00. The Department of Education guidelines require at least 50% of received funds be used to provide emergency cash grants for students. CRRSAA provides UVU an additional $11,474,604 for emergency grants for students. ARP provides UVU an additional $40,635,948 for emergency grants to students.
Why is UVU receiving these funds?
As an open-admission institution with a large population of Pell Grant-eligible students, UVU received the largest portion of the federal CARES Act/CRRSAA/ARP funding for Utah public universities. Funds have been provided to support students who have demonstrated financial need and experienced financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why does every school receive a different amount? What factors were considered by the Department of Education?
The Department of Education awarded funds based on a formula prescribed in the CARES Act/CRRSAA/ARP that is weighted significantly by the number of full-time students who are Pell-eligible, but also takes into consideration the total population of the school and other factors.
What direction did UVU receive in determining how to allocate the funds?
The Department of Education provided guidance on how to use a portion of the funds to 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 either for themselves or that would affect their financial circumstances, such as the loss of employment, reduced income, or food or housing insecurity.”
The emergency grants should be prioritized to domestic students, especially undergraduates. A domestic student includes US citizens, permanent residents, DACA, DREAMers, undocumented students, refugees, and asylum seekers. Additionally, it can be provided to international students.
Which students will receive money?
Students may qualify to receive CARES Act/HEERF Emergency grants under ARP in the following ways:
If awarded, how will students be notified and receive funds?
Students will be notified via their UVU Outlook email accounts. If the student has signed up for direct deposit, the funds will go to the student’s bank account. The student will otherwise receive a check. All students are encouraged to set up DIRECT DEPOSIT.
Do students have any limitations on how they can spend the money?
As outlined by the Department of Education, the 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 childcare.
HEERF FINAL QUARTERLY REPORT 9-30-2020
HEERF FINAL QUARTERLY REPORT 9-30-2021
HEERF FINAL QUARTERLY REPORT 6-30-2022 HTML
HEERF FINAL QUARTERLY REPORT 12-31-2020
HEERF FINAL QUARTERLY REPORT 12-31-2021