The Federal Emergency Grants for spring and summer 2021
The University of Florida was allocated funds from the https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/crrsaa.htmlCoronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). The CRRSAA established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) to provide emergency financial aid grants. These critical funds help eligible UF students cover expenses related to unanticipated travel, additional technology requirements, or other needs related to an emergency situation.
Federal Emergency Aid Grant Reporting:
The University of Florida received $15,523,206.00 on February 16, 2021 for students to fund the Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants. The estimated total number of students potentially eligible to be considered to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants was 52,101. The total amount of Higher Educational Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) grants paid to students as of December 31, 2021 was $15,523,206.00. The total number of students who have received a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) grant as of December 31, 2021 was 18,864.
Information on the institutional portion of CARES funds.
Federal Emergency Aid Grant criteria and eligibility:
1) UF initially made federal HEERF II funds available to undergraduate, graduate and professional students that had submitted a FAFSA with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $7,500 a year or less, and met citizenship requirements.
For these students, grant awards were tiered based on the student’s EFC. Students received an email with the link to the Federal Emergency Aid Certification Form that had to be completed.
2) Federal HEERF II funds were then made available through an online Federal Emergency Aid Application to the following groups of students:
- UF enrolled students who have submitted a FAFSA and have an EFC greater than $7,500 a year, or
- For UF enrolled students without a FAFSA to be considered, students who:
- Are U.S. citizens or nationals, permanent residents, or an https://studentaid.gov/2021/help/citizenhttps://studentaid.gov/2021/help/citizeneligible noncitizen (you may be asked to provide documentation); and
- Have a valid Social Security Number.
Undergraduate, graduate and professional students who met eligibility requirements must have completed an online Federal Emergency Aid Grant Application to be considered for an award. Award amounts were based on emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus or eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare. The maximum award amount was $500.
3) To meet the need of students who were not eligible for Federal HEERF II funds, UF used the https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/aidagator/Aid-a-Gator program for emergency fund requests. While HEERF II did not allow funding to International and DACA students, they could apply for emergency funding through the Aid-A-Gator application.
Award amounts were based on documented expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus up to a maximum of $500.
4) For Summer 2021, UF made federal HEERF II funds available to enrolled undergraduate, graduate and professional students that had submitted a FAFSA with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0 a year, and met citizenship requirements. For these students, block grant awards were made and the selected students received an email with the link to the Federal Emergency Aid Certification Form that had to be completed.
5) Summer funds were then made available to Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars who were enrolled in summer, had submitted a FAFSA with a Pell-eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) above $0 a year, and met citizenship requirements. Block grant awards were made and the selected students received an email with the link to the Federal Emergency Aid Certification Form that had to be completed.
6) The remaining HEERF II funds were awarded in Fall 2021. The funds were made available to residential and online undergraduate, graduate and professional students that had submitted a FAFSA and met all other Title IV eligibility requirements. The grant awards were tiered based on the student’s EFC. Students received an email with the link to the Federal Emergency Aid Certification Form that had to be completed.
SFA is available to help students!
SFA can be reached via the https://www.onestop.ufl.eduOneStop or by telephone at (352) 392-2244 from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding holidays and university closings). If students are experiencing any financial-aid related issues or concerns, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships to discuss financial aid options that might be available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For additional information, visit the spring and summer
https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/federal-cares-act-spring-summer-2021/2021 Federal Emergency Aid Grant Frequently Asked Questions.
