HEERF II Student Emergency Fund Information

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) was passed by Congress and signed into law December 27, 2020, and is the second round of funding under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) during the coronavirus pandemic. The funding package provides aid to higher education students to cover components of cost of attendance and emergency costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The total award made to WPUNJ is $16,332,708. 

The total award amount includes $4,881,678 for student awards, and WPUNJ estimates that approximately 7,000 students are eligible to apply for emergency grants in this pool. 

The total also includes $11,445,097 for Institutional costs and $5,933 in additional allocation towards a minority serving institution (MSI). The use of these funds will be in keeping with allowable costs as defined in CRRSAA Section 314(a)(1) for defraying expenses associated with coronavirus (including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with transitions to distance education, staff and faculty training, and payroll), carrying out student support activities that address needs related to coronavirus and making additional financial aid grants to students. 

Status of Grants Distribution - Student Awards

The HEERF II application process was closed at 11:59pm on 3/12/21 and awards processing was completed by 3/18/21.

*Awards made did not exceed total expense reported in student applications.

Distribution of Funds to Students 
Students may apply for a HEERF II funding grant beginning February 19, 2021. All students who indicate eligible expense in the application form and submit the form by the final application due date will receive aid. 

The application period will be open from 2/19/2021 to 3/12/2021.  

* Funding will be awarded to the pool of students who have applied as of the Final Application Due Date, and all awards will be made at the same time (there will be no rolling award periods). If all eligible students apply, the per-student award amount is estimated to range between $300 and $900. Actual award amounts will be higher if fewer students apply than the currently estimated eligible pool.  

Actual award amounts will be limited to the actual amount of expense in the eligible categories that applicants report. Applicants who submit forms with no amount of expense will not receive an award. 

Unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with “exceptional need”. WPUNJ uses the FAFSA data point of Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as the indicator for exceptional need, whereby all students who are Pell eligible based on their EFC number are eligible for an award in the exceptional need category. This is an acceptable methodology for determination of exceptional need under the CRRSAA.   

Award Amounts 

There are four categories of award amounts: 1) full time and exceptional need; 2) full time and non-exceptional need; 3) part time and exceptional need; and 4) part time and non-exceptional need. The exceptional need award amounts are approximately 50% higher than non-exceptional need, and awards for part time students are approximately half of those for full time.  

Eligibility 

To be eligible to receive a HEERF II award, the following must apply: 

• Students must be enrolled in the spring 2021 semester, registered as of 2/18/21 
• Students must be matriculated (enrolled in a degree-seeking program) 

• Students must have a completed 2020-2021 FAFSA and it must have been received by WPU by 02/18/2021 (used to determine “exceptional need” award recipients) 
• Students enrolled in WP Online are eligible 
• Full time and part time students are eligible 

“Exceptional need” is defined as demonstrating via the FAFSA an expected family contribution (EFC) number within the Pell eligible range. For the current academic year, that EFC range is 0-5,711.  

Student Application Process 

To apply for the HEERF II Emergency Grant, students must complete the application form by the final application due date of March 12, 2021.

HEERF Institutional Portion and Minority Serving Institutions Grants

HEERF II (a)(1) and (a)(2) Institutional Grants

WPUNJ was allocated a total of $16,326,775 under Section 314(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). The Certification and Agreement for the Institutional Portion allows the non-student portion of $11,445,097 to be used for institutional costs associated with the coronavirus. During April 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021, WPU applied $11,445,097 of the non-student portion of the award to lost revenue of tuition and room and board (Spring 2021) and to defray payroll expenses associated with coronavirus and the associated indirect costs.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) participating institutions who receive funds from the HEERF-Minority Serving Institutions under Section 18004(a)(2) of the CARES Act (grants for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)) must post the information that follows on the institution’s primary website in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public. WPUNJ acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement.

Section 18004(a)(2) funds may be used to defray expenses incurred, including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with a transition to distance learning, faculty and staff training, and payroll.

WPUNJ was awarded another $5,993 under Section 18004(a)(2) of the CARES Act.  These funds were applied to a portion of Lost revenue for Room and Board, Tuition and Auxiliary Revenue.

The Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for the quarter ending 6/30/2021 for HEERF II and HEERF III Award Numbers F425F20119 and P425L200311 can be viewed HERE