Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Information and Reporting

What is HEERF?

To provide econoimc relief for those impacted by COVID-19, the federal government exacted HEERF (Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund). Through HEERF programs inlcuding HEERF I (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act), HEERF II (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)) and HEERF III (American Rescue Plan (ARP)), the federal government provided funds to institutions of higher learning and the students they serve.

Below is a summary of each program (HEERF I, HEERF II and HEERF III), including eligibility requirements, how funds were distributed and how students receiving funds were notified. Reporting required by the federal government can be found at the bottom of the page.

HEERF I: Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act - CLOSED

At this time, all funds under HEERF I have been distributed.This program is now closed.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress with overwhelming, bipartisan support and signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. Part of the funding package was marked for colleges and universities to provide direct cash assistance to students who were impacted by the reduced on-campus services resulting from the COVID-19 health emergency. In accordance with the statutory requirement, the funds may only be used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance resulting from lost wages because you are not able to work on campus such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).

Please see below for information on eligibility requirements, how funds were distributed and how students receiving funds were notified. Reporting required by the federal government can be found at the bottom of the page.

How is eligibility determined?

In accordance with the Secretary of Education, the following criteria must be met:

Students must be eligible to participate in Title IV (federal) financial aid programs. International, undocumented or students with temporary immigration statuses do not qualify.
Current degree-seeking students enrolled in on-campus classes during the spring 2020 semester as of March 13, 2020 (date of federal emergency declaration) who are eligible to apply for federal financial aid are eligible to apply for CARES Act funds. Students enrolled in online programs or all courses this semester online, do not qualify.

Students who meet these criteria must also demonstrate that they incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations.

How were students notified?

Students that were approved for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants were sent an email notification.

FAQ for Stockton CARES Emergency Grant Program

How do students apply?

Students were required to fill out an online application to apply. All funding has been disbursed to students. The program is closed.

What expenses will be considered?

Expenses you incurred as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 health emergency such as housing, food, technology, childcare, medical/healthcare, transportation expenses. Here are some examples:

You lived on campus or used a meal plan and now you are experiencing housing or food insecurity
You routinely used the computer labs to do your schoolwork, but now need a computer to continue your education remotely

Note: If you need to purchase a laptop and would like to use these funds to do so, you can include an estimate in the technology question within the application.

Our IT department suggests the following minimum specifications for a laptop: https://stockton.edu/information-technology/stockton_laptop_program_for_students.html

And they have these discount programs available when shopping: https://stockton.edu/information-technology/technology-discounts.html

You needed to purchase a hotspot or internet access for your home
You received health services through our wellness center and now need to seek treatment elsewhere that is not covered by your insurance
The childcare center your dependent attended closed and you’ve had to hire alternative care so that you can continue your coursework
You incurred transportation expenses returning home or storing your personal belongings because you could not return to campus to retrieve them
You incurred nonrefundable expenses related to study abroad travel that was either cancelled or shortened unexpectedly
You have lost wages because you are no longer able to work on campus

How much funding can I receive?

Awards will be determined on a case-by-case basis and relative to available funding at the time of the request. Funds are limited and will be distributed on a first-come basis.

If approved, when will students receive their funding?

Once your application is reviewed and approved, you will see the funds disburse through your student account and processed as a refund. If you are already signed up for direct deposit, the funds will be deposited in your account within 14 days. If you are not registered for direct deposit through the Bursar’s Office, you will receive a paper check in the mail to your permanent address.

How will Stockton determine which students receive emergency grants and the amount of each grant?

Institutions must identify students who have incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the novel coronavirus. Students who are currently enrolled during the spring semester are eligible to apply.

The amount of each grant will be determined on a case-by-case basis of need and the extent the loss of services impacted the student’s continued pursuit of their education.

Grant funding is available on a first-come basis and as funding is available. Our intention is to assist as many students as possible while being sensitive to need, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance.

Do I have to have to file Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to receive funds?

You are not required to complete the FAFSA, but having one on file with our university will allow us to process your request for funds much more quickly.

If you do have a FAFSA on file, and you or your family’s financial circumstances have changed, we may be able to assist you with increased financial aid through an income adjustment process. We will review your financial aid file during the processing of the Stockton CARES application and may request additional documentation so that we can help you to the best extent possible.

Without the FAFSA, we will need to perform several steps to determine if you meet the applicable eligibility standards to participate in federal financial aid programs. The criteria include but are not limited to the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen; a valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Service (if the student is male); and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting. Additionally, the student must be making satisfactory academic progress, or on an approved SAP appeal/plan.

My application is incomplete, but I did start the process. Will I still be considered?

Once you complete your application, it will be reviewed and processed. Payments will be processed on a weekly basis as applications are completed.

How was the amount of my payment determined?

The CARES payment amount is based on the expenses the student included on their Request form. In accordance with guidance received from the U.S. Department of Education, additional consideration was given to students who demonstrated exceptional need such as unemployment of the student and/or parent and current Pell Grant eligibility.

Why did I receive an amount that is less than I requested?

In some cases, the payments were capped by the limit provided in the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance. In other cases, the expenses were validated against data the University has and payment was reduced to align with that data. Examples are payroll estimates for student workers and study abroad reimbursement requests. In addition, some applicants requested funds for expenses that were not incurred as a result of the disruption in campus operations and so they were disallowed. Examples include requests for funds for new cars or major car repairs.

Can I appeal the decision outcome?

No, there are no appeals regarding the decision or the grant amount.

Can I apply again in future application cycles?

All application cycles are now closed. The committee will continue to review all submitted applications until all funds have been awarded. Applicants should monitor their email for a decision.

Will the funds be applied to the student’s account as a payment against an existing balance?

Funds will flow through the account and be issued as a cash grant to the student without regard to the balance owed. The University may not apply the funds to your balance owed, even with your permission and request to do so. You, however, may use the funds to pay your balance once you receive the disbursement.

Once funds are disbursed are there restrictions on how the money can be used?

The funds should be used to meet the expenses that will support the continued pursuit of your education.

Will these funds affect my eligibility for financial aid now, or in the future?

The U.S. Department of Education determined that any aid received by victims of an emergency by either a federal or state entity for purposes of providing financial relief will not be counted as income for the calculation of financial aid eligibility or as aid received.

The State of New Jersey will consider this as income when evaluating a student’s eligibility for state Tuition Aid Grants (TAG) and other state aid programs administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA).

Will there be CARES funds for 2020-2021?

Right now, we are concentrating on spring emergency aid and monitoring federal and state economic conditions, as well as the prospects for additional federal emergency funding for universities and students. We will decide later this spring about remaining CARES funds we can use to support students in 2020-21, including for students enrolled in summer courses. We will update these FAQ as we make later decisions on the use of these funds.

How do I donate to help students?

Make a gift at stockton.edu/give

HEERF II: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) - CLOSED

At this time, all funds under HEERF II have been distributed. This program is now closed.

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) designated an additional $21.2 billion in higher education support funds under the CRRSAA, which are available to institutions impacted by the coronavirus. Stockton University participated in HEERF II and allocated funding to students affected by COVID-19.

Eligibility

How is eligibility determined?

Stockton University created the following methodology to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants:

Enrolled student for the Spring 2021 semester
Fully matriculated
U.S citizen or eligible non‐citizen
Completed 2020‐2021 FAFSA
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) less than or equal to 15,000

Stockton University used the following tiered approach using the EFC to determine how much they would receive under the CRRSAA (a)(1) programs:

EFC	Financial Aid Grant Amount
0‐3000	$1,145
3001‐6000	$900
6001‐10,000	$700
10,001‐15,000	$500

Students who were not eligible under the methodology above or needed additional funding were considered on a student‐by‐student basis that demonstrated a high level of financial need.

How were students notified?

Students that were approved for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants were sent an email notification from the Bursar’s Office.

As of June 30, 2021, Stockton has processed payments to students totaling $5,020,619.

HEERF III: American Rescue Plan (ARP):

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, providing $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stockton University participated in HEERF III and allocated funding to students affected by COVID-19.

Eligibility

How is eligibility determined?

Stockton University created the following methodology to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants:

Enrolled student for the Spring 2021 semester
Fully matriculated
U.S citizen or eligible non‐citizen
Completed 2020‐2021 FAFSA
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) less than or equal to 15,000

Stockton University used the following tiered approach using the EFC to determine how much they would receive under the ARP (a)(1) program:

EFC	Financial Aid Grant Amount
0‐3000	$2,000
3001‐6000	$1153.63
6001‐10,000	$940

Round II (Spring 2022 Enrollment)

EFC	Financial Aid Grant Amount
0‐3000	$2,000
3001‐6000	$1,100
6001‐10,000	$762

Note: All AGIs across all EFC ranges are < or = to $120K (undergraduate and graduate).

Students who were not eligible under the methodology above or needed additional funding were considered on a student‐by‐student basis that demonstrated a high level of financial need.

How were students notified?

Students that were approved for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants were sent an email notification from the Bursar’s Office.

Total ARP HEERF III payments to students through March 31, 2022, totaled $13,672,681.34.