Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding
Information associated with HEERF, including CARES act, CRRSAA and ARP.
Manchester University has applied for and received funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, and has used at least 50 percent of those funds to provide emergency financial aid grants to students, as mandated by the Act under Section 18004(a)(1). The university has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the Department. In accordance with this agreement, the institution received $755,726 to be awarded as Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
Manchester University understands that our students have incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the Coronavirus. An estimated 1200 students were determined to be eligible to receive a grant. In awarding the funds we prioritized students with the greatest need while ensuring that the funds were distributed as widely as possible. As of September 30, 2020 the university had awarded and distributed $755,726 of these funds. Grants were distributed to 1,200 students enrolled in seated classes and who had filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) for the academic year or could prove eligible to file a FASFA, when the university moved to online classes March 23, 2020. These grants were not applied to existing account balances and were disbursed to students by direct deposit if a direct deposit account was set up, or by check mailed to the student’s billing address.
Initially all students deemed eligible received $250-800 in CARES Act grants. Eligible students received grants based on multiple factors including financial need, information on record for the 2019-2020 academic year, and additional information that helped inform decisions. Those eligible were also given the opportunity to apply for additional funds if their need exceeded what was initially determined. Using the this two pronged approach we distributed our funds over 1,551 emergency grants to students.
Students were given instructions on how to obtain the funds via email on May 14, 2020.
This is an update to the final quarterly report.
Quarterly Reports
- Institutional and SIP final quarterly report
- 6/30/2022 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report
- Q2 HEERF II (CRRSAA) student reporting updated final 3/31/22
- Q1 3/31/2022 HEERF III (ARP) Institutional and SIP
- Student Quarterly Report HEERF III (ARP) quarter 4 12/31/21
- HEERF III (ARP) Institutional and SIP quarter 4 12/31/21
- Student Quarterly Report HEERF II (CRRSAA) and III (ARP)
- Student Quarterly Report HEERF III (ARP) quarter 3 9/30/21
- 9/30/21 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report
- 6/30/2021 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report
- 6/30/2021 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report Corrected
- 3/31/2021 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report
- 12/31/2020 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report
- 9/30/2020 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report
HEERF Components
HEERF was offered in three phases, CARES, CRRSAA and ARP.
Purpose, from U.S. Department of Education:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency Grants for Postsecondary Education: Information for CARES (HEERF I), CRRSAA (HEERF II), and ARP (HEERF III) Grant Recipients.
The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) understands the uncertainty and ripple effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on institutions of higher education, staff, faculty, students, and parents. New federal legislation, funding priorities, and administrative changes emerge quickly. Due to the nature of emergency funding, OPE is diligently working to provide clear and timely information to better inform your decision-making processes.
CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or, CARES Act, was passed by Congress on March 27th, 2020. This bill allotted $2.2 trillion to provide fast and direct economic aid to the American people negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of that money, approximately $14 billion was given to the Office of Postsecondary Education as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF.
CARES information: Link to CARES site
CRRSAA: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II)
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $81.88 billion in support for education, in addition to the $30.75 billion expeditiously provided last spring through the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136.
CRRSAA information: Link to CRRSAA site
ARP: American Rescue Plan (HEERF III)
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.
ARP funds are in addition to funds authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260 and the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136. Emergency funds available to institutions and their students under all emergency funds total $76.2 billion.
ARP information: Link to ARP Site
HEERF Frequently Asked Questions
(updated 10/28/2021)
When and how will I get my money?
The first step is to complete the HEERF III Grant Disbursement Form and select how you would like to receive your money. Students have the option to apply funds to their 2021-2022 academic year balance/student account, through eRefund (direct deposit) or by check to be available for pick up in Student Financial Services (Chinworth 103). eRefunds are typically available two days after processing. Students will receive notification once the check is available for pick up in Student Financial Services during business hours; Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How do I create an eRefund account?
- Log into ChetNet
- Select “Student Account Center” button
- Select “Electronic Refunds” in the right-hand column
- Complete Two-Step Verification
- Select Set-Up Refund Account
- Follow prompts on the screen
Why did I get a different amount than my friend?
Grant amounts were determined based on information available to the University through the financial aid process. Manchester was required to prioritize students with exceptional need.
How will I know when my refund has been disbursed?
Students choosing to have the funds applied to their balance will not receive a notification. Students electing to receive funds through eRefund or paper check will receive an email when the disbursement is made.
What do I do if I change my mind about how I want to receive my grant, but have already completed the HEERF III Grant Disbursement Form?
If you selected to have funds applied to your student account, that process happens immediately and is not reversible. If you selected to receive your funds through eRefund or paper check, as long as the process has not already run to distribute/pay the funds a request can be made by completing the HEERF III Grant Distribution Form again and the most recent request would be honored.
What if I am receiving more money than my outstanding balance with the school?
If you choose to apply your HEERF III funds to your 2021-2022 academic year balance/student account, funds will first be applied to any outstanding balance for fall 2021. Any remaining funds will be applied toward spring 2022 balance/student account.
Can undergraduate students apply for additional money?
All available funds are being distributed to undergraduate students in one round in an effort to help as many students as possible as quickly as possible.
Will there be additional federal aid coming in the future?
At this time, it does not appear so.
What if I don’t complete the HEERF III Grant Disbursement Form?
Students who do not complete the HEERF III Grant Disbursement Form by November 10 will receive grants by eRefund or paper check no later than November 30.
Who do I contact if I have more questions?
For additional questions, please contact health@manchester.edu.