2021 HEERF III Emergency Assistance Grants

September 2021

To date, The University of Akron has distributed more than $14 million in federal funding to support our students. Starting on Sept. 20, the University will begin processing emergency grant requests for students who are currently enrolled for fall 2021.

As in past semesters, these funds will primarily be distributed in two ways to our campus.

• Students who received a Federal Pell Grant disbursement in fall 2021 (as of Sept. 10) will receive a one-time grant of $1,200 with no application required. Disbursements will be authorized beginning on Sept. 20. Students meeting the criteria for the automatic disbursement will receive a direct email from the Office of Student Financial Aid.
• Non-Pell eligible students, enrolled for the fall 2021 semester, are invited to apply for an emergency grant (maximum $1,000). These funds can be used for any component of a student’s cost of attendance or emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus, such as food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or childcare. Students can also designate funding to help offset a current tuition balance. The application will be made available on Sept. 20 and will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on October 31.

Eligibility

According to federal regulations, domestic students enrolled in Fall 2021, who have experienced an exceptional financial hardship as a result of the Coronavirus and meet the prescribed requirements, are eligible for HEERF III funds. The American Rescue Plan (ARP) requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants or undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances. Institutions are expected to establish a transparent process for assessing need. Beyond Pell eligibility, other ways of prioritizing exceptional need could include students who may be eligible for other federal or state need-based aid or have faced significant unexpected expenses, such as the loss of employment, reduced income, or food or housing insecurity.

As announced in the Department OF Education’s final rule, “Eligibility To Receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students Under HEERF” (May 14, 2021, 86 FR 26608) (final rule), the term “student,” for purposes of the phrases “grants to students,” “emergency financial aid grants to students,” and “financial aid grants to students” as used in the HEERF programs, is now defined as any individual who is or was enrolled (as defined in 34 CFR § 668.2) at an eligible institution. Unlike HEERF I or HEERF II limitations, undocumented and international students may receive HEERF III funds.

The University is focusing current HEERF III emergency grant efforts to support those students enrolled in Fall 2021 courses, and who meet the eligibility requirements outlined here.

FAQ

Who is eligible for these funds?

According to federal regulations, any student who has experienced an exceptional financial hardship as a result of the Coronavirus and meet the prescribed requirements, are eligible for HEERF III funds. Currently, the University is focusing support efforts for those enrolled in Fall 2021 courses.

Pell-eligible students received an automatic disbursement of $1,200 beginning on Sept. 20. In the event you are a Pell-eligible student and have a continued financial hardship, please review the FAQ section for information concerning additional grant opportunities.

“I don’t think I’m eligible for these funds, what options are available to me?”

Emergency assistance options may be available to you through the Student Emergency Financial Assistance [SEFA] program.

To learn more, start by completing the Help-A-Zip referral form - select “emergency assistance.”

What can the funds be used for?

It is important that you provide a detailed account of how you have been affected financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can request grant funds to help toward emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, including:

• University tuition balance: may include applying requested funds toward an outstanding University of Akron balance—requires expressed written consent within the application.
• Food expenses may include unexpected grocery expenses for increased grocery expenses or a student supporting dependent children now home due to their school or childcare closure.
• Course materials may include but not limited to general use supplies such as writing utensils and notebooks; course specific supplies such as calculators, lab equipment, rental of musical equipment, paint brushes, and canvases unexpectedly required to be purchased due to campus disruption of regular operations.
• Technology expenses may include computer equipment, internet access expenses, printer supplies, etc. required for student success when transitioning to an online format from the traditional in-person class structure.
• Healthcare expenses may include the cost of unanticipated or unusual medical expenses due to Coronavirus or its effects, including mental health.
• Child care/dependent care expenses may include the cost of unanticipated or unusual care expenses for a student’s child or other dependents in the independent (based on FAFSA) student’s household.
• Transportation expenses may include the cost of unanticipated or unusual travel expenses related to the disruption of campus operations. This may include additional trips to the University to retrieve personal belongings or difficulty in making car payments due to income loss from this economic disruption.
• Housing expenses may include unanticipated expenses in securing housing and/or rent for residential students after the closure of campus housing in March. This may also include difficulty in making rent or mortgage payments due to income loss from this economic disruption.

You must document exceptional financial need within the application.

When should I apply by?

Non-Pell eligible students are encouraged to apply for a HEERF III emergency assistance grant before the application deadline, 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 31.

If you are a Pell-eligible student, no application is needed, as you will receive an automatic $1,200 disbursement. These disbursements will be authorized beginning on Sept. 20. If, as a Pell-eligible student you have continued, unmet needs which qualify for HEERF III emergency assistance funds, please see the following section: I am a Pell student, am I eligible to apply through the application?

How does the application process work?

Upon receipt of your application, information regarding enrollment will be reviewed by a team of UA staff. After the application decision has been made, the student will receive an email notification, to their UA email account, indicating the status of the application. Based on the volume of applications, it may take two business days to receive a message regarding the status of your application.

For students seeking tuition assistance:

1. If, at the time of application review, your account no longer has a balance, the award will not be authorized to your account. Instead, you will be issued payment directly.
2. If you have a balance on your account, which is less than you requested, the emergency grant will be applied to your tuition balance to address this need. The overage will be issued to you directly.
3. In the event you have a balance on your account that exceeds the request, the requested amount will be applied to the account to help minimize the balance.

Pell-eligible students in need of additional financial assistance (example: tuition assistance, housing, food, etc.) can complete the application beginning on Oct. 21 at 12:01 a.m. Any applications received before this time (submitted by a Pell-eligible student), will not be approved.

Please direct questions to uazipassist@uakron.edu.

May I apply more than once?

The maximum award is $1,000. We encourage you to submit one comprehensive application explaining in detail your exceptional need and financial request.

The application is locked to one submission per UANet ID. In the event you are asked to resubmit, you will need to receive an individual code.

If you submit your application in error and need to revise, please email uazipassist@uakron.edu.

I am a Pell student, am I eligible to apply through the application?

The University authorized an automatic disbursement of funds to fall 2021 Pell-eligible students (as of Sept. 10) the week of Sept. 20.

If, as a Pell-eligible student, you have an extenuating financial need outside of the $1,200 automatic disbursement authorized on Sept. 20, you may apply through this application beginning on Oct. 21. You must document exceptional financial need.

The University offers the Student Emergency Financial Assistance [SEFA] program. To meet with a ZipAssist team member and discuss possible support, please complete the Help-A-Zip referral form.

How long will it take for me to receive the funds?

The committee will review applications on an ongoing basis and make decisions as quickly as possible.

Facilitating the payment through the University may take up to five business days after approval. Checks will come U.S. Postal Service mail and may take up to 10 days to receive once issued. To expediate the payment process, we recommend enrolling into the Direct Deposit option available to you in the My Akron – Student Center.

Once an application has been approved, notification will be sent to the student's University inbox. In the event an application is not approved, the student will be notified as soon as possible to provide additional information or to clarify eligibility.

How will the funds be received?

HEERF III Emergency Assistance Grant funds will be sent by check to the address provided in the application. We recommend you regularly update your mailing address in My Akron. To expediate the payment process, we recommend enrolling into the Direct Deposit option available to you in the My Akron – Student Center. If this is your preferred method of receiving assistance, please ensure your direct deposit is set-up at least 24 hours in advance of applying for a HEERF III emergency assistance grant.

Could these funds be deemed taxable by the IRS?

We recommend you visit the IRS webpage for up-to-date information regarding if these funds have been deemed taxable.

Can HEERF III Emergency Assistance Grant funds be applied to my University balance or account?

Yes, this round of federal funding does permit the University to apply emergency assistance funds to an outstanding University balance, if written and clear approval has been given.

Within the application is a checkbox that reads “University Tuition Balance.” By selecting this box, you will be asked to provide explicit and clear approval for the University to apply the requested funds to your student account balance.

Any remaining funds requested and approved (above the outstanding balance of tuition/fees from Fall 2021) will be reimbursed to you at the mailing address listed within this application.

Can I make a payment to my University balance using a portion of the HEERF III Emergency Assistance Grant?

You can make a payment on your balance at any time.

What are my options if I lost my job?

HEERF III funds cannot be used to offset lost income but can be used to help toward expenses incurred due to that lost income.

It is recommended that you contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to discuss the details of your situation. It may be an option to request a Special Circumstance Form to determine if you are eligible for additional federal funds due to a reduction or loss of income.

What other options are available if I’m experiencing a financial hardship?

The University offers a variety of support programs to help students who are experiencing a financial hardship.

• Through the work of ZipAssist, students have access to the Student Emergency Financial Assistance (SEFA) program, which provides one-time assistance for unforeseeable emergency hardships to eligible students.
• The Campus Cupboard provides food and hygiene items each week to enrolled students. The distribution of items will continue through online requests, which are distributed with curbside pick-up from Simmons Hall.
• Students who are concerned about reliable technology for remote learning should seek assistance through the ZipsTech program. This program provides loaned equipment, such as laptops, hot spots and webcams so students can continue their education.

Information about any of these programs, or any concern related to enrollment at UA, can be sought through the Help-A-Zip referral program. A member of the ZipAssist team will work with the students to troubleshoot concerns and provide resources to help them succeed.

UA continues to provide free financial coaching through the partnership with the United Way of Summit County. Faculty and staff who wish to use this confidential resource are encouraged to visit Financial Wellness on the ZipAssist website.

Whom may I contact with questions?

Contact the following offices weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Financial assistance questions: ZipAssist – uazipassist@uakron.edu
• Financial Aid general questions: 1-800-621-3847
• Student Accounts and general payment questions: cashier@uakron.edu