The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2)
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)
(OCTOBER 2021) Avila University received $2,000,000 for student emergency financial aid through HEERF. Avila is following the Department of Education’s recommendation to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating this funding. All Avila students will receive a payment in the form of a check. The first round of payments will be mailed to the address the University has on record for you beginning November 8, 2021. Please contact HealthyEagle@avila.edu with questions.
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021
Updated: February 18, 2021
Avila University has been awarded funds through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). Similar to the CARES Act the university received in Spring of 2020, this agreement assures that the institution awards their allotment of $695,880 in emergency relief funds to students.
One major difference between the CARES Act and the CRRSAA Act is students with exceptional needs, such as students who receive Pell Grants, must be prioritized in awarding these financial grants to students. Students do not need to be only Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants to receive funds, but these students receive priority over other students. The second major difference is that there will be no student application needed for receiving CRRSAA grants.
Using the CRRSAA guidelines, Avila University will distribute grants to all enrolled students. Award amounts will vary based on the student’s Federal EFC (Expected Family Contribution) which is on record in the Office of Financial Aid. Higher grant amounts will go to students with lower EFC scores. Payments will be made directly to students in the form of a check.
CRRSAA financial aid grants may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or childcare.
Fund Description: The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 is available to all students prioritized to those with exceptional financial need. This emergency fund originates from limited federal stimulus funds.
Fund Guidelines: The CRRSAA Fund is not intended to be a means of ongoing regular support. All enrolled, full-time traditional undergraduate students at Avila University will receive a portion of the fund based on their Federal EFC. The maximum amount awarded per student is $775 based on exceptional need.
Exceptions: If the student’s family financial situation has significantly changed since completing the 2020-21 FAFSA application, their EFC may not reflect their current need. Students may contact michael.pepple@avila.edu to apply for a professional judgment review through the Office of Financial Aid. Please note that any student with a current EFC of “0” does not qualify for a professional judgment.
Fund Distribution: Avila University will begin sending checks to the student’s home address on file beginning March 8, 2021
As of 8-31-2020 Avila University has distributed our total grant of $695,880. Until additional grants are made available, we will no longer be able to fund grant requests.
Avila University has received a limited grant from the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security (CARES) Act. All students who have experienced financial emergencies related to the interruption of operations on campus due to the COVID-19 virus are encouraged to apply.
Fund Description: The COVID-19 Student Emergency Fund is available to assist currently enrolled students who are experiencing a financial emergency, relating to the interruption of operations on campus due to the COVID-19 Virus. This Emergency Fund comes from limited federal stimulus funds (CARES Act).
Requests for emergency assistance will be based on what is defined as a COVID-19 related expense by the Federal Government. As such, the COVID-19 SEF Committee will consider each request separately.
Fund Guidelines: The Student Emergency Fund is not intended to be a means of ongoing regular support. It is for reimbursable COVID-19 expenses only.
The maximum amount available per student is not to exceed $1,000 per request with funds going directly to the student once documentation is received. Additional funding may be available for students dependent upon funds availability. You may submit up to three applications in total.
Distributions will be made until the fund is exhausted. A student must be currently enrolled to be eligible to receive a grant from the COVID-19 Student Emergency Fund.
Application Process: The downloaded application must be completed for funds to be released. The completed application should be emailed back to: COVID19SEF@Avila.edu
After the completed application has been received, the COVID-19 Student Emergency Fund Committee will review each application and documentation.
After all necessary information has been obtained, the request will be processed.
Applications are processed once a week.All applications will be reviewed and sent for processing prior to Wednesday of each week. Checks will be sent in the mail every Friday for applications received by 10 am (CST) the Tuesday previous.
- You must have been enrolled at Avila in the Spring 2020 semester to apply.
- One application per student will be processed each week for a maximum of $1,000.
- If more than one application is received per student per week, the extra application(s) will be rolled over to the next available week. No need to resubmit.
- Through July 5, students will be capped at $2,100 in total CARES Student Emergency Funding.
- You will be notified if your application is not approved or there are any issues, otherwise watch for a check in the mail.
Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students – Form Download
- An acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends 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.
- The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).
- The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
Avila University has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends 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.
The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $1,391,760.
The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of 8-31-2020 has distributed the University’s total allotment of $695,880.
The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 1231 students.
The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of 6-4-2020 is 277 students.
The method(s) used by the Avila University uses to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is based on an application process and reviewed by a COVID-19 sub-committee.
Avila University has used student text messaging, social media, and the Avila University web page. Faculty, Staff, and Athletic Coaches have been notifying students of the availability of CARES Act funding.