HEERF I, II, III: CARES Act, CRRSAA, & ARP Funding Information

How has the money been spent?

Overview: Federal COVID-19 Emergency Relief Funds for UAA Students

Common to all COVID-19 Stimulus and Relief packages, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Act legislation contains the requirement for UAA to offer this assistance to the neediest students, therefore based on federal methodology, use of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is critical in determining need for those without anecdotal or documented proof of economic hardship.  As such, and as with the first CARES Act student tranche of money, UAA  apportioned this money in two separate and distinct means to make distribution as equitable as possible while meeting the spirit of the regulation for financial need.

The following funds fall under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund legislation:

Federal Legislation Title Date Signed Student Block Grants Dean of Students - Emergency Fund
Federal CARES Act (HEERF I) - Open to U.S. Citizens meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Mar. 27, 2020 $1,959,000 (71%) released to 2,447 students

$763,592 (29%) released to 406 students
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA - HEERF II) - Open to both international students and U.S. Citizens - SAP is not a requirement Dec. 27,  2020 $1,861,610 (68%) released to 1,417 students

$860,982 (32%) allocated (corrected figure)

FY21: $570,876 released to 322 students

FY22 - Period 1: $264,193.00 was refunded to 140 students from the HEERF II allocation by September 30, 2021.

FY22 - Period 2: $25,278.00 was refunded to 15 students from the HEERF II allocation by December 31, 2021.

 
American Rescue Plan (ARP - HEERF III) - Open to both international students and U.S. Citizens - SAP is not a requirement

Mar. 11, 2021 

Sept 29, 2021

Feb. 9, 2022

$15,786,349 million was allocated to the University of Alaska Anchorage to support students with exceptional financial need. Of the total...

$5,137,500(51.3%) of the $10 million new allocation has been released to 2,769 students. 

$4,659,500 (46.6%) was released to 2530 students. Award details provided below.

 Of the $15 million, $544,165* was allocated to the DOS programs

FY22 - Period 2: $213,236.22 was refunded to 116 students  from HEERF III allocation by December 31, 2021.

FY22 - Period 3: $218,611.29 was refunded to 155 students from HEERF III allocation by March 31, 2022

(* The original $550,000 allocation was reduced by $5,835.00 and shifted to the student block grant.)

 

American Rescue Plan (ARP) HEERF III - Block Grant Awards

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan was signed into law. This provided an additional $15,786,349 million dollars in emergency financial assistance to award to students for COVID-19 related hardships experienced on or after December 27, 2020. Similar to the HEERF II funds, the HEERF III funds must prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial need, such as those who receive Federal Pell Grants. UAA  apportioned this money in two separate and distinct means to make distribution as equitable as possible while meeting the spirit of the regulation for financial need. Students did not apply for the block grant awards, they were posted automatically to student accounts and refunds occured regardless of the status of the student account after add/drop. Students with uncashed checks after 180 days may lose eligibility for these funds. Any uncashed checks will be canceled and the funds will be reissued to eligible candidates in the next wave of student awards until fully exhausted.

On February 9, 2022 UAA awarded the second block grant of the 2021-2022 academic year for a total of $4,659,500 (46.6%) to 2530 students based on the exceptional need requirement.

All awards were based on the following criteria: 

  • Spring registration, 3 or more credits, prorated based on enrollment
  • UAA or extended campus primary degree program or certificate
  • 2122 FAFSA received by January 30, 2022
  • EFC zero to 2500 ($3000.00 full-time, $1500.00 part-time award)
  • EFC 2501 to 5709 ($2000.00 full-time, $1000.00 part-time award)
  • EFC 5710-10,000 ($1000.00 full-time, $500.00 part-time award)

Additional block grant awards from the remaining $15 million will occur after the Summer 2022 Add/Drop deadline passes, and will be awarded to Federal Pell Grant eligible students only. No additional grants will be distributed through the UAA Dean of Students Office in Period 4 of FY23.

UAA Student Emergency Fund

During Period 3 of FY22 (Jan 1, 2022 and March 31, 2022) a total of $218,611.29 was released to 155 students. This process provided a mechanism, for those students who did not meet the greatest need criteria, to apply for assistance with qualifying expenses due to the coronavirus disruption. To receive assistance under this program, students submitted an Electronic Request Form along with supporting documentation. The final available balance from the DOS allocation  $48,553.71 will be released under the ARP/HEERF III student block grant in Summer 2022.

HEERF III emergency fund awards are based on the following eligibility criteria:

  • UAA or extended campus primary degree program or certificate
  • Were registered between March 13, 2020 and any time during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic years
  • Cannot be used to pay a UA bill directly unless specific request and signed approval from the student.

* Can include food, shelter, medical needs, transportation needs, childcare, equipment/connectivity access, communications.

The UAA Office of Financial Aid is here to help. To speak with a financial aid representative or to schedule an appointment, please call 907-786-1480, and select Option 4 from the main menu. 

 Website Publication Archive

Institutional Funding Allocation

The University of Alaska Anchorage has received an institutional funding allocation of CARES Act funding from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $21,427,950 from CARES Act Section 18004(a)(1) and $1,672,598.00 from CARES Act Section 18004(a)(2).* As of the December 31, 2021 quarterly billing cycle end, these funds continued to have been used to provide additional emergency financial aid grants to students, reimbursements for tuition, housing, room and board, other fee refunds, or to purchase faculty and staff training in online instruction.

HEERF Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reports

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund - CARES Act Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion, 18004(a)(2), and 18004(a)(3)

* *This serves as 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 full amount of the student funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide 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 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, under ARP, is 10,895 based on our Fall 21/22 unduplicated student population as of the census date, as provided by Institutional Research.