St. Francis College students may be eligible to receive up to $3,000 through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds III (HEERF III). The emergency grants require no repayment.
To be eligible, student must:
- Must be or have been enrolled at St. Francis College on or after March 13, 2020
Unlike with previous emergency student financial aid grants through the CARES Act and CRRSAA, students do not need to be Title IV eligible to receive HEERF III grants. Additionally, undocumented and international students may receive HEERF III grants. This includes refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, DREAMers, and similar undocumented students.
Exceptional need:
Under the American Rescue Plan, SFC is required to prioritize students with exceptional need. Eligible students with exceptional need (as defined below) are eligible to receive grants of up to $3,000. All other eligible students are eligible to receive grants of up to $1,500.
In accordance with issued guidance, SFC defines “students with exceptional need” as:
- Undergraduate students who receive Pell Grants.
- Graduate students with an expected family contribution (EFC) of less than or equal to $5,700.
Emergency financial aid grants may be used by students for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care. Students must certify that they have eligible expenses in the amount of the grant they receive. Students determine how they may use their emergency financial aid grant within the allowable uses.
About the HEERF III & Rescue Plan
Signed into law on March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) includes aid to assist higher education institutions in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) includes aid to students and institutions.
St. Francis College was allocated $7,544,020 in ARP funding through the U.S. Department of Education. This allocation was determined by the federal government using a formula based on the total student enrollment weighted for the number of Pell-eligible students. At least $3,775,506 of this allocation must be awarded to students for emergency financial aid grants.
In accordance with the ARP, SFC will prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial needs as defined above. Eligible students with exceptional needs will receive an HEERF III grant of $3,000 and other eligible students will receive an HEERF III grant of $1,500. Students with eligible expenses of less than the applicable grant amount will receive a grant in the amount of their eligible expenses.
As of 1/18/2021, students who receive Federal Pell grants are eligible to receive an additional $831.54 emergency grant through HEERF III. Eligible students received a certification email with a link to a short survey that must be completed to receive this grant.
Reports:
- Federal Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Q4 2022 Report
- Federal Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Q3 2022 Report
- Federal Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Q2 2022 Report
- Federal Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Q1 2022 Report
- Federal Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Q4 2021 Report
- Federal Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Q3 2021 Report
Frequently Asked Questions
How many student will receive HEERF III grants?
The final number of students who receive a grant will be determined by the number of students who complete applications. Eligible students with exceptional need (as defined above) will receive a HEERF III grant of up to $3,000. Other eligible students will receive a HEERF III grant of up to $1,500.
- As of November 1, 2021
- Number of Recipients: 1174
- Amount Awarded: $2,764,500
How quickly can students receive HEERF III grant?
All students are encouraged to enroll in direct deposit. Students enrolled in direct deposit will receive their funds within 5 days of the award. Due to disruption in mail distribution, it may take a few weeks for students to receive paper checks.
Can I apply HEERF III grant to my balance?
On the HEERF III grant application, students can choose if they would like the grants issued directly to them in the form of a refund or if they would like the grant applied directly to their student account. HEERF III grants can be applied directly to a student account balance only for charges posted after March 13, 2020.
Will the HEERF III grant be taxable?
It is SFC’s understanding that HEERF III grants are not treated as taxable income or untaxed income for Title IV federal student aid purposes. However, we advise you to consult with your tax advisor when filing your 2021 returns.
How do I sign up for electronic refund?
- Login to your MYSFC student account
- On the left hand side (the Launch Pad section) click on “TN Pay Tuition/Payment Plans”
- Log into the TouchNet website (with your SFC Log In and Password)
- On the top you will see a section titled “Refunds” select this link and then follow all corresponding prompts.