American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) (HEERF III)
The United States Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) in March 2021. As a part of this legislation, colleges and universities were allocated additional federal funds to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Saint Mary’s University was allocated of $2,532,072 from the ARP Act for student emergency grants. In addition, Saint Mary’s University was allocated $2,532,072 for institutional costs.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota distributed $2,520,330 of HEERF III funds to its students. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota disbursed funds directly to eligible students in the Fall of 2021.
The U.S. Department of Education requires Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and all higher education institutions to prioritize the funds to support students with exceptional financial need.
As of November 17, 2021, 2,682 students have received a total of $2,520,330.
1,032 students received $500
563 students received $750
437 students received $1,250
571 students received $1,500
79 students received $2,270
The University has a balance remaining of $11,742 and are currently reviewing a process to distribute those funds.
On December 22, 2021, Saint Mary’s University received $1,787,041 for institutional costs that were used to offset additional lost tuition revenue and cost for faculty development for online instruction.
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II)
The United States Congress passed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) in December 2020, which allocated funds to higher education institutions across the nation. Similar to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act with HEERF I funds, the HEERF II funds are distributed in grants with appropriate use stipulations and require institutions to disburse a portion of these funds in direct support to eligible students. Institutions cannot require students to use funds to pay tuition or past due balances; however, students may choose to apply the funds toward tuition.
Statutory guidance requires Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota to distribute HEERF II funds to students as was distributed in the CARES Act HEERF I, which was $830,548. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota distributed $845,648 of HEERF II funds to its students, which exceeds the required amount and includes $15,100 of HEERF II institutional funds. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota disbursed funds directly to eligible students by disbursing all funds in Spring 2021.
The U.S. Department of Education requires Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and all higher education institutions to prioritize the funds to support students with exceptional financial need.
As of April 23, 2021, 813 students have received a total of $845,648.
In addition, Saint Mary’s University received $2,053,935 for institutional costs that were used to offset the remaining room and board credits, lost tuition revenue and cost for faculty development for online instruction.
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting 06/30/2021 (PDF)
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Fund Reporting
The United States Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. As a part of this legislation, colleges and universities were allocated federal funds to provide student emergency grants for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus. Saint Mary’s University received $830,548 from the CARES Act for student emergency grants.
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting 09/30/2020 (PDF)
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
45-day Report – Sept. 2, 2020 (Final Report)
- On April 28, 2020, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (“Saint Mary’s”) signed and returned to the Department of Education the required Certification and Agreement to receive emergency funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Saint Mary’s has used 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.
- In a notice dated May 5, 2020, the Department of Education confirmed that Saint Mary’s would receive $830,548 pursuant to Saint Mary’s Certification and Agreement pertaining to the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- As of Sept. 2, 2020, Emergency Financial Aid Grants totaling $830,548 were distributed to Saint Mary’s students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- Based on FAFSA submissions, 3,288 Saint Mary’s students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and thus are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. However, 878 of these students were enrolled in fully online programs and therefore ineligible for an Emergency Financial Aid Grant, as stipulated by the terms of the CARES Act.
- As of Sept. 2, 2020, Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act have been distributed to 833 students.
- Saint Mary’s used the following methods to determine which students received the Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they received:
- Saint Mary’s made automatic grants to undergraduate students who are claimed as dependents on their FAFSA form as these students are not eligible for other forms of relief provided by the CARES Act.
- Saint Mary’s allocated student emergency grant awards in amounts ranging from $500 to $2,000 per student based upon the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated by the 2019-20 FAFSA.
- Emergency Financial Aid Grants were disbursed directly to students.
Saint Mary’s communicated information regarding the Emergency Financial Aid Grants through direct email, internal digital newsletters and the university’s intranet. Information will be posted to the Saint Mary’s external website at smumn.edu/about/covid-19-planning.
See 30-day Report (below) for sample email and digital newsletter communications.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
45-Day Report – July 19, 2020
- On April 28, 2020, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (“Saint Mary’s”) signed and returned to the Department of Education the required Certification and Agreement to receive emergency funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Saint Mary’s has used 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.
- In a notice dated May 5, 2020, the Department of Education confirmed that Saint Mary’s would receive $830,548 pursuant to Saint Mary’s Certification and Agreement pertaining to the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- As of July 19, 2020, Emergency Financial Aid Grants totaling $829,500 were distributed to Saint Mary’s students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- Based on FAFSA submissions, 3,288 Saint Mary’s students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and thus are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. However, 878 of these students were enrolled in fully online programs and therefore ineligible for an Emergency Financial Aid Grant, as stipulated by the terms of the CARES Act.
- As of July 19, 2020, Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act have been distributed to 833 students.
- Saint Mary’s used the following methods to determine which students received the Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they received:
- Saint Mary’s made automatic grants to undergraduate students who are claimed as dependents on their FAFSA form as these students are not eligible for other forms of relief provided by the CARES Act.
- Saint Mary’s allocated student emergency grant awards in amounts ranging from $500 to $2,000 per student based upon the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated by the 2019-20 FAFSA.
- Emergency Financial Aid Grants were disbursed directly to students.
- Saint Mary’s communicated information regarding the Emergency Financial Aid Grants through direct email, internal digital newsletters and the university’s intranet. Information will be posted to Saint Mary’s external website.
See 30-day Report (below) for sample email and digital newsletter communications.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
30-Day Report – June 4, 2020
- On April 28, 2020, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (“Saint Mary’s”) signed and returned to the Department of Education the required Certification and Agreement to receive emergency funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Saint Mary’s has used 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.
- In a notice dated May 5, 2020, the Department of Education confirmed that Saint Mary’s would receive $830,548 pursuant to Saint Mary’s Certification and Agreement pertaining to the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- As of June 4, 2020, Emergency Financial Aid Grants totaling $827,000 were distributed to Saint Mary’s students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- Based on FAFSA submissions, 3,288 Saint Mary’s students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and thus are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. However, 878 of these students were enrolled in fully online programs and therefore ineligible for an Emergency Financial Aid Grant, as stipulated by the terms of the CARES Act.
- As of June 4, 2020, Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act have been distributed to 831 students.
- Saint Mary’s used the following methods to determine which students received the Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they received:
- Saint Mary’s made automatic grants to undergraduate students who are claimed as dependents on their FAFSA form as these students are not eligible for other forms of relief provided by the CARES Act.
- Saint Mary’s allocated student emergency grant awards in amounts ranging from $500 to $2,000 per student based upon the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated by the 2019-20 FAFSA.
- Emergency Financial Aid Grants were disbursed directly to students.
- Saint Mary’s communicated information regarding the Emergency Financial Aid Grants through direct email, internal digital newsletters and the university’s intranet. Information will be posted to the Saint Mary’s external website.
Message sent by Cardinal Central after grants are disbursed and funded on May 14, 2020.
Greetings,
The United States Congress recently passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. As a part of this legislation, colleges and universities have been allocated federal funds to provide student emergency grants for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus. Saint Mary’s received an allocation of $830,548 for student emergency grants.
The Federal Department of Education provided guidance and parameters for distributing the emergency grants for students under the CARES Act as follows:
- Funds are restricted to Title IV eligible students, demonstrated by filing a completed FAFSA, a completed verification if required, and not being on Satisfactory Academic Progress Probation.
- Funds are for students who have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.
- Housing – expenses related to moving off-campus or to a permanent residence
- Food – unanticipated grocery bills due to cancellation of a meal plan
- Course materials or technology – expanded internet connectivity or computer hardware/software/equipment necessary to complete coursework online
- Other expenses directly related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus
- Funds cannot be allocated to students who were exclusively enrolled in distance education courses when the declaration of national emergency related to coronavirus was declared on March 13, 2020.
- Funds are not taxable as income to the recipients.
- Funds cannot be retained on student accounts by colleges and universities and must be paid directly to students.
Saint Mary’s University directed its student emergency grants to undergraduate students who are claimed as dependents on their FAFSA form as these students are not eligible for other forms of relief provided by the CARES Act.
Saint Mary’s is allocating student emergency grant awards in amounts ranging from $500 to $2,000 based upon a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated by the 2019-20 FAFSA.
As a recipient of this message, you have been allocated a student emergency grant from the CARES Act.
To facilitate federal reporting requirements, the funds were applied to your student account in two equal payments and then disbursed directly to you by check and mailed to your home address. Disbursements were completed today so you should receive your payment within the next week. If you are a student worker, your disbursement will be sent via direct deposit to the account on file in the payroll office and should be available no later than Monday, May 18.
There are no reporting requirements or restrictions which govern your use of your emergency student grant. The funds are designated for your use to assist with expenses as outlined above.
It is our hope that these funds, provided by the federal government, assist you with the expenses you have incurred related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have any questions, please contact Cardinal Central at 507-457-6655 or cardinalcentral@smumn.edu.
Published in May 18 CommUNITY Student Newsletter and May 19 Cardinal Update
Saint Mary’s allocates emergency grants to students under the CARES Act
Ben Murray, SVP for Finance and Operations
The United States Congress recently passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. As a part of this legislation, colleges and universities have been allocated federal funds to provide student emergency grants for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus. Saint Mary’s received an allocation of $830,548 for student emergency grants.
The Federal Department of Education provided guidance and parameters for distributing the emergency grants for students under the CARES Act as follows:
- Funds are restricted to Title IV eligible students, demonstrated by filing a completed FAFSA, a completed verification if required, and not being on Satisfactory Academic Progress Probation.
- Funds are for students who have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.
- Housing – expenses related to moving off-campus or to a permanent residence
- Food – unanticipated grocery bills due to cancellation of a meal plan
- Course materials or technology – expanded internet connectivity or computer hardware/software/equipment necessary to complete coursework online
- Other expenses directly related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus
- Funds cannot be allocated to students who were exclusively enrolled in distance education courses when the declaration of national emergency related to coronavirus was declared on March 13, 2020.
- Funds are not taxable as income to the recipients.
- Funds cannot be retained on student accounts by colleges and universities and must be paid directly to students.
Saint Mary’s University directed its student emergency grants to undergraduate students who are claimed as dependents on their FAFSA form as these students are not eligible for other forms of relief provided by the CARES Act.
Saint Mary’s is allocating student emergency grant awards in amounts ranging from $500 to $2,000 based upon a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated by the 2019-20 FAFSA.
Student emergency grants were disbursed to 833 eligible students on May 15.