HEERF Reporting

CARES Act

May 17, 2020- 30-day reporting date
July 1, 2020 - 45-day reporting date
August 15, 2020 – 45 day reporting date – no changes
September 30, 2020 – 45 day reporting date – changes reported below - Final Report

The Certification and Agreement directs each institution applying for HEERF funds to comply with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act and submit an initial report (the “30-day Fund Report”) to the Secretary thirty (30) days from the date of the institution’s Certification and Agreement to the Department. The Department will provide instructions for providing the required information to the Secretary in the near future. In the meantime, each HEERF participating institution must post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website. The Department would like to receive the most current information from the date when the institution received its allocation for emergency financial aid grants to students, and the institution should have received its allocation within a few days after submitting the Certification and Agreement. Accordingly, the following information must appear in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation under 18004(a)(1) and updated every 45 days thereafter:

An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution 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.

EMU signed the certification agreement on April 17, 2020. The University intends to use no less than 50% of the funds for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

EMU was allocated $446,713 on April 25, 2020 from the Department for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. EMU received $414,150 of funds for dispersal in May 2020, and $32,563 in September 2020.

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

As of May 17, 2020 (30-day submission date), EMU had not drawn on the available funds or distributed them to students. On May 29, 2020, EMU distributed $414,150 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. On September 18, 2020, EMU distributed the remaining allocation $32,563 to students.

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

There were approximately 800 students eligible to participate at EMU.

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

EMU awarded grants and mailed checks to 764 students on May 29, 2020 and 70 students on September 18, 2020.

The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

EMU awarded Emergency Financial Aid Grants to all degree-seeking students enrolled at least half-time as of March 13th of the spring 2020 semester with a valid 2019-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at EMU. In most cases, award amounts were determined based on a sliding scale of financial need as determined by FAFSA data with awards up to $1,000 (maximum). Students enrolled in programs 100% on-line were not eligible to receive these funds.

Awards in September 2020 were based on financial appeals from students adversely affected by COVID-19, and who were enrolled at least half time as of September 16, 2020 for the Fall semester with a valid 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at EMU.

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

The following email was sent to students concerning emergency funds on May 26, 2020:

Dear Students,

Recently Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which specifically allocated funds to support higher education. EMU has been allocated funds through the CARES Act to provide eligible students with emergency student aid for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Education has defined expenses as “food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care expenses.”

Eligibility to receive assistance through the CARES Act is defined by the Department of Education as students eligible to receive federal financial aid funds. EMU is interpreting this to mean students who have a valid 2019-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submitted to EMU and meet Title IV eligibility requirements.

Based on these eligibility requirements, EMU will be awarding CARES Act emergency funds to all degree-seeking students enrolled at least half-time as of March 13th of the spring 2020 semester with a valid 2019-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at EMU. In most cases, award amounts are determined based on a sliding scale of financial need as determined by FAFSA data with awards up to $1,000 (maximum). Students enrolled in programs 100% on-line are not eligible to receive these funds.

EMU will send checks made payable to the student at the end of May. Students should go to MyEMU and update their mailroom summer address, otherwise the checks will be mailed to the student’s Legal Home Permanent address of record at EMU. If you have questions, please contact the financial assistance office at 540-432-4137 or email at finaid@emu.edu.

We hope you and your family are well and remain safe.
Tim Stutzman
VP for Finance & Operations, EMU

CRRSAA Notices

July 1, 2021
August 15, 2021
September 30, 2021
December 31, 2021 - Final Report

Section 314(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAAA) requires institutions to use “the same amount” in CRRSAAA financial aid grants to students as was required under the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). Accordingly, the following information must appear in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation under 314(a)(1) and updated every 45 days thereafter:

An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, the same amount of the funds from the Section 314(a)(1) CRRSAA grant that were received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

EMU signed the original HEERF/CARES Act certification agreement on April 17, 2020, and no additional acknowledgements or signatures were required for CRRSAA. The University intends to use the same amount of the funds from Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students as were received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

EMU was awarded $446,713 on January 17, 2021 from the Department for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

As of February 17, 2021 (30-day submission date), EMU had not drawn on the available funds or distributed them to students. On March 22, 2021, EMU distributed $395,050 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. For the period ending September 30, 2021, EMU distributed an additional $23,000 of CRRSAA funds to students. For the period ending December 31, 2021, an additional $18,000 was distributed.

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA

There are approximately 800 students eligible to participate at EMU.

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA.

EMU awarded grants to 762 students on March 22, 2021 and 7 students in the latest period ending September 30, 2021.

The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA.

EMU awarded HEERF II grants to degree-seeking students enrolled at least half-time in the Spring 2021 semester with a valid 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file indicating they meet citizen or eligible non-citizen requirements. Award amounts were determined based on a sliding scale of financial need as determined by FAFSA data with awards up to $1,000 (maximum).

Further awards were based on financial appeals from students adversely affected by COVID-19, and who were enrolled at least half time with a valid 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at EMU.

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

The following email was sent to students concerning emergency funds on March 19, 2021:

Subject Line: Higher Education Emergency Relief

This email has information related to emergency student aid from the coronavirus relief act passed by Congress. Please read the entire email carefully.

On December 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), which authorized Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) grants to support higher education. EMU has been allocated $446,713 to provide eligible students with emergency student aid which can be used for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care or child care.

EMU will be awarding HEERF II grants to degree-seeking students enrolled at least half-time in the spring 2021 semester with a valid 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file indicating they meet citizen or eligible non-citizen requirements. In most cases, award amounts are determined based on a sliding scale of financial need as determined by FAFSA data with awards up to $1,000 (maximum).

Please visit your EMU student account online to view current account balance and to determine if you received a HEERF II grant. If you would like the grant to remain on your account, an email must be sent by you, the student, to businessoffice@emu.edu by 3/28/21 with your request to keep the funds on your account.

Otherwise, Harrisonburg students with a campus mailbox will receive their check in campus mail. Students without a campus mailbox will receive their check at their legal/home permanent address. Please email businessoffice@emu.edu if you would like to specify a different mailing address.

ARP Notices

December 31, 2021
March 31, 2022

Section 2003(a)(1) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act requires institutions to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received from ARP to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). Accordingly, the following information must appear in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public after the date when the institution received its allocation under 2003(a)(1) and updated quarterly thereafter:

An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

EMU signed the original HEERF/CARES Act certification agreement on April 17, 2020, and that certification carried forward for CRRSAA and ARP. The University intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

EMU was awarded $1,334,731 on May 18, 2021 from the Department for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of this quarterly Report and every quarter thereafter).

For the period ending September 30, 2021, EMU had not drawn on the available funds or distributed them to students. For the quarter ending December 31, 2021, EMU distributed $843,700 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. For the quarter ending March 31, 2022, EMU distributed an additional $488,675 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act.

There are approximately 1200 students eligible to participate at EMU.

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act.

EMU awarded grants to 806 students in November 2021 and 936 students in February 2022.

The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act.

EMU awarded HEERF III/ARP grants to UG & graduate degree-seeking students in the Fall 2021 and Spring 2002 semesters. Award amounts were determined based on a sliding scale of financial need as determined by FAFSA data with awards up to $1,600 (maximum), while non-FAFSA filers were provided flat amounts due to a lack of information to assess financial need.

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

The following email was sent to students concerning emergency funds in November, 2021:

Subject Line: Higher Education Emergency Relief

This email has information related to Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grants authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Please read this entire email carefully.

Congress passed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) which authorized Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) grants to support higher education. EMU has been allocated funds to provide eligible students with emergency student aid for expenses related to COVID-19.

EMU will be awarding HEERF III grants to degree-seeking students in the fall 2021 semester. Funds will be awarded on a sliding scale with priority to students with financial need. You are eligible to receive (enter amt). HEERF III funds will be posted to students’ accounts on Friday, November 12 th . Please view your student account online for current account balance and to verify you received a HEERF III grant.

If you would like the grant to remain on your account, an email must be sent by you, the student, to businessoffice@emu.edu by Tuesday, November 16th with your request to keep the funds on your account. Otherwise, Harrisonburg students with a campus mailbox will receive their check in campus mail on Wednesday, November 17 th after 1:00 pm. Students without a campus mailbox will receive their check at their legal/home permanent address.