ARP HEERF III Fourth Quarter Fund Report-Posted 01/03/2022

  1. Acknowledgement: The American Rescue Plan(ARP) Sec. 2003(a)(1) included additional COVID-19 relief for institutions of higher education was signed into law March 11, 2021. This new COVID stimulus bill included for higher education institutions and students, using the same Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) model established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Washington State University has received funding as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) via the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). Per sponsor requirements, Washington State University submitted the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution commits to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. This certification was submitted April 14, 2020.  Per sponsor requirements, “for existing private nonprofit and public CARES Act grantees, the ARP authorized supplemental awards to existing Student Aid Portion and Institutional Portion grantees.  These institutions will not be required to submit new or revised applications to the Department to receive these new funds.” Therefore, no new certification was completed for the HEERF III funding to use the funds received under Section 2003(a)(1) of the Act CFDA 84.425E Allocation to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
  2. Total Amount Received: WSU qualified for and received funds from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for HEERF III Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students, in the amount of $31,191,976 (in student-targeted funding). 
  3. Total Amount Distributed: As of December 10, 2021, WSU has distributed to students, under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act, a total of $31,191,976
  4. Total Number of Students Eligible: The estimated total number of students at Washington State University eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act is 20,979. This is based on students who have applied for financial aid and who have or were enrolled for Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or both.  In addition, students who submitted an EFR are considered in this number. 
  5. Total Number of Students Served: As of December 10, 2021, WSU had distributed HEERF III, Emergency Financial Aid Grant support, Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act, to a total of 12,112 students.
  6. Methods: The method(s) used by WSU to determine student recipients of Emergency Financial Aid Grants, and the amount they receive(d), under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act was created by WSU using the following criteria:  Students were initially selected for Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the ARP program based on need as determined through the FAFSA application.  Pell eligible students, undergraduate students with an EFC of $12,000 or less and graduate and professional students with an EFC of $5,711 or less were considered.  Students were required to have been enrolled with 3 or more hours for Summer term, 2021.  Pharmacy and VetMed students involved in summer rotations were also considered for funding for Summer term.  Students selected received $1000 in ARP funding.
    Degree seeking students enrolled in 3 or more credits for Summer, who were not previously funded with HEERF funds for Summer, and who completed an Emergency Fund Request form were considered for a HEERF disbursement of $500.
    Because Fall term was a new academic year, some of the methodology was updated for determining HEERF recipients. Students were initially selected for Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the ARP program based on need as determined through the FAFSA or WASFA application for 2021-2022. Pell eligible students, undergraduate students with an EFC of $15,000 or less and graduate and professional students with an EFC of $5,846 or less were considered.  Students needed to be degree seeking and enrolled in 3 or more hours for Fall term.
    The funding levels were as follows:
    -Undergraduate FAFSA and WASFA applicants with an EFC of 5846 or less (Pell Grant range) were funded at $3000.
    -Undergraduate FAFSA and WASFA applicants with an EFC greater than $5846 and less than or equal to $15000 were funded at $2000.
    -Graduate/Professional FAFSA or WASFA filers with an EFC of $5846 or less were funded at $2000.
    -Degree seeking students who were enrolled in 3 or more Fall 2021 hours at the time of review, who were not previously funded with HEERF for Fall 2021, and who completed an Emergency Fund Request form, were considered for funding at $1000.  Date of Emergency Fund Request form submission was taken into consideration based on remaining funds.
  7. Additional Instructions/Information: Students were notified of being selected for HEERF III funds via email communication from the Student Financial Services Office. On July 12, 2021, a general notice was sent to all enrolled Summer students and all enrolled Fall students, to notify them about HEERF III/ARP and to provide further instruction.  View the general notice that was delivered July 12.  Students were directed to the WSU Student Care Network site where information about selection criteria is listed as well as information on how students not initially selected for ARP/HEERF III emergency funding can apply with the Emergency Fund Request form.  A second message to students on August 30, 2021, informing them of the ARP/HEERF funding, that WSU was in process of assigning this to students, and to let them know about the Emergency Fund Request form for those who did not get funded with HEERF.  Again, students were pointed to the WSU Student Care Network site where information about selection criteria is listed as well as information on how students not initially selected for ARP/HEERF III emergency funding can apply with the Emergency Fund Request form. View the general notice that was delivered August 30.