CRRSAA Emergency Funding for Students

*As of June 25th, 2021 THE UNIVERSITY HAS AWARDED ALL FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CRRSA ACT. THE TOTAL OF $10,750,423 WAS AWARDED TO 13,507 STUDENTS*

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) was approved by Congress and includes support for higher education, including emergency grants for students facing expenses due to COVID-19. UConn has received $32.1 million of which $10.7 million is designated for emergency grants to students. The remaining funds are designated for use by the institution to cover expenses related to COVID-19.

The U.S. Department of Education has issued guidance on distribution of these emergency grants to students, requiring that all recipients be U.S. Citizens or eligible non-citizens. To confirm this, the University will be requiring that students submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to UConn.

The grants must 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 child care.

The grant appears with the following name(s) HEERF2/CRRSAA Award and/or HEERF2/CRRSAA 2 Award.

We will be awarding through financial aid and disbursing directly to students via their student account.  The grant will be passed through PeopleSoft and will not be applied to or used to offset any charge, debt, tuition, fees, or other balance in a student account, nor will it be encumbered in any manner by UConn.

For students enrolled in direct deposit, they will have access to the funds in approximately three business days from the date of disbursement. For those not enrolled in direct deposit, the Office of the Bursar will issue a check.

The student may decline the award by sending the written request by email to financialaid@uconn.edu.  The student will return the grant to the Office of the Bursar by making a payment to their student account.

Phase 4 – Institutional Aid Applicant Block Grant

Total number of students awarded in Phase 4 as of 06/25/2021 96

Total amount of Grants awarded to students in Phase 4 as of 06/25/2021 $48,022

The passing of the American Rescue Plan (HEERF 3) on March 11, 2021, eliminated, and replaced, prior eligibility requirements stipulated by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (HEERF 2). These new regulations allow us to award unspent emergency HEERF 2 grants to populations who were previously ineligible. For more information on the American Rescue Plan visit https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/arp.html.

During the week of 06/21/2021-06/25/2021, we will be awarding block grants to Institutional Aid Applicants with a completion goal of 06/25/2021. To qualify students have to meet the following criteria:

  • UConn has received and approved a valid 2020-2021 Institutional Aid Application as of 06/22/2021
  • Enrolled and degree seeking for Spring 2021 term as of the end of the semester

Awarding Model:

EFC Award Value
0 $501.00
1 – 6,999 $500.00
7,000 – 20,000 $464.00
20,001+ $ -

The Office of Student Financial Aid Services has identified approximately 96 students that meet the above listed criteria and have a 2020-2021 EFC that qualifies them for a grant in the awarding model (EFCs 0-20,000). In total these students will receive approximately $48,000.

Phase 3 – 2nd Block Grant

Total number of students awarded in Phase 3 as of 06/23/2021 12,186

Total amount of Grants awarded to students in Phase 3 as of 06/23/2021 $4,658,329

The awarding of the Block Grant will begin during the week of 06/01/2021-06/04/2021, with a completion goal of 06/04/2021. To qualify for the block grant students have to meet the following criteria:

  • UConn has received an official 2020-2021 FAFSA as of 05/26/2021
  • Enrolled and degree seeking for Spring 2021 term as of the end of the semester
  • U.S. Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen

 

Awarding Model:

EFC Award Value
0 – 999 $450
1,000 – 2,499 $450
2,500 – 3,499 $450
3,500 – 5,577 $450
5,578 - 10,000 $250
10,001 - 15,000 $250
15,001 - 20,000 $250
20,001+ $0

The Office of Student Financial Aid Services has identified approximately 12,600 students (across all careers) that meet the above listed criteria and have a 2020-2021 EFC that qualifies them for a grant in the awarding model (EFCs 0-20,000). In total these students will receive approximately $4.9 million.

Phase 2 – Emergency Application Process

*As of 06/21/2021 the application has been fully closed.

On 05/24/21 the application process was closed while a 2nd round of block grants (Phase 3) was awarded. As of 06/02/21 the application has been reopened, all eligibility requirements remain the same.

Total number of students awarded CRRSAA in Phase 2 as of 06/23/2021 3,006

Total amount of CRRSAA Grants awarded to students in Phase 2 as of 06/23/2021 $751,322

Starting on 03/22/2021, students who are experiencing an expense related to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, tuition and child care) may complete an emergency grant application. To qualify for an emergency grant the student will have to meet the following criteria:

  • Enrolled in a degree seeking program for Spring 2021.

If eligible, the value of the grant will be $250.

Students with a completed 2020-2021 FAFSA

Students with a completed 2020-2021 FAFSA will receive a grant from the University’s  CRRSAA allocation, it will appear on their student account as HEERF2/CRRSAA 2 Award. A refund will be issued for the amount awarded.

The University has also received additional funding of $235,718 that is to be used for students at 3 of the regional campus locations. Below are the locations and the money allocated to each;

  • Hartford $8,678 (Funding comes from the AANAPISI program) as of 4/5/21 35 students have been awarded a total of $8,678
  • Stamford $169,521 (Funding comes from the DHSI program) as of 6/03/21 405 students have been awarded a total of $169,521
  • Waterbury $57,519 (Funding comes from the SIP program) as of 6/03/21 144 students have been awarded a total of $57,519

If a student from one of the above mentioned campuses completes an application, and the funding has not been expended, their grant will be funded using the appropriate program. When these funds are fully allocated, students from these campuses will be funded using the initial CRRSAA funding. 

 

Students without a completed 2020-2021 FAFSA (This includes Undocumented and International Students)

Students who have not a completed 2020-2021 FAFSA, and have remaining unmet cost of attendance, will receive a grant from institutional funds that will be applied to their balance owed (if any) to the University first with any remainder being refunded to the student.

Students that received a HEERF2/CRRSAA Award from Phase 1 are eligible to apply for this emergency grant. However, students can only apply for Phase 2 one time and subsequent applications will not be processed.

We are estimating that 4,000 students will be awarded HEERF2/CRRSAA 2 for $1.0 million. Institutional funds will be awarded until funds are expended.

The remaining CRRSAA funds, after the above distributions are made, will be set aside to determine how to best meet students’ ongoing needs later in the year.

Phase 1 – Block Grant

Total number of students awarded in Phase 1 as of 6/23/2021 12,662

Total amount of Grants awarded to students in Phase 1 as of 6/23/2021 $5,292,750

The awarding of the Block Grant will begin during the week of 03/08/2021-3/12/2021, with a completion goal of 03/12/2021. To qualify for the block grant students have to meet the following criteria:

  • UConn has received an official 2020-2021 FAFSA as of 03/04/2021
  • Enrolled degree seeking for spring 2021 term as of 03/04/2021
  • U.S. Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen

 

Awarding Model:

EFC Award Value
0 – 999 $500
1,000 – 2,499 $500
2,500 – 3,499 $500
3,500 – 5,577 $500
5,578 - 10,000 $250
10,001 - 15,000 $250
15,001 - 20,000 $250
20,001+ $0

The Office of Student Financial Aid Services has identified approximately 12,600 students (across all careers) that meet the above listed criteria and have a 2020-2021 EFC that qualifies them for a grant in the awarding model (EFCs 0-20,000). In total these students will receive approximately $5.3 million of our designated $10.7 million for students.

Awarding Updates

Below are the total amounts awarded, by date of data pull, for each Phase;

Phase 1 – Block Grant

  • 03/23/21- 12,718 Students $5,321,000
  • 04/21/21- 12,663 Students $5,293,250 (-55 Students; -$27,750)
  • 05/27/21- 12,664 Students $5,293,750 (1 Student; $500)
  • 06/23/21 - 12,662 Students $5,292,750 (Fully Awarded) (-2 Students; $-1,000)

Phase 2 – Application Grant

  • 04/05/21- 2,171 Students $542,572
  • 04/21/21- 2,838 Students $709,322 (667 Students; $166,750)
  • 05/27/21- 2,966 Students $741,322 (128 Students; $32,000)
  • 06/23/21 - 3,006 Students $751,322 (Fully Awarded) (40 Students; $10,000)

Phase 2- Application Grant (Hartford)

  • 04/05/21- 35 Students $8,678 (Fully Awarded)

Phase 2 – Application Grant (Stamford)

  • 04/05/21- 79 Students $19,750
  • 04/21/21- 111 Students $27,750 (32 Students; $8,000)
  • 05/27/21- 117 Students $29,250 (6 Students; $1,500)
  • 06/03/21- 405 Students $169,521 (Fully Awarded) (290 Students; $140,771)

Phase 2 – Application Grant (Waterbury)

  • 04/05/21- 34 Students $8,500
  • 04/21/21- 48 Students $12,000 (14 Students; $3,500)
  • 05/27/21- 54 Students $13,500 (39 Students; $1,500)
  • 06/03/21- 144 Students $57,519 (Fully Awarded) (90 Students; $44,019)

Phase 3 – Block Grant

  • 06/03/21- 12,188 Students $4,659,229
  • 06/23/21 - 12186 Students $4,658,329 (Fully Awarded) (-2 Students; -$900)

Phase 4 – Institutional Aid Applicant Block Grant

  • 06/25/21- 96 Students $48,022 (Fully Awarded)

 

HEERF Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reports:

09/30/20 Quarterly Report

12/31/20 Quarterly Report

03/31/21 Quarterly Report

06/30/21 Quarterly Report

09/30/21 Quarterly Report

12/31/21 Quarterly Report

03/31/22 Quarterly Report